Changing the name - use a service or do it on my own??

sstrom22

I've seen lots of ads for things like "Ms. Now Mrs." and other online services that say they are like "Turbo Tax" for changing your name.  Anyone use one of these or planning to?  Is there one better than the other?  Can I do it now (our wedding is a month away) so I have all of that set up to mail out afterwards, or do I need to wait until after the wedding?

Advice?!?!?! 

Thank you!
Sarah

stacie+luciano

I'm just going to order extra copies from the court house (ours are like $3 per notarized copy) so I can take that to the SS office and Drivers licence office and work. I don't think I would pay for the kit unless its going to be way cheaper than if you went to the clerk and did it there.

kd.joseph

Save your money! Start at the SS office, once you change your name there it's all downhill. Next is the BMV, and than from there go to your banks, and call your CC companies.

Mrs.B6302007

I vote to save your money and DIY. It's not as time consuming really as it might feel like right now becuase you're still planning the wedding and it's just more on your list of things to do. 

kgettingmarried

I didn't even know they had a service for name changes.  I would just do it myself and make sure it gets done right.

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_changing-name-use-service-own?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:1256e5a7-c181-49f0-b270-2da29d4af046Post:81a2f46f-3d9a-44c9-9b2f-5f0ab82e699c">Re: Changing the name - use a service or do it on my own??</a>:
[QUOTE]Save your money! Start at the SS office, once you change your name there it's all downhill. Next is the BMV, and than from there go to your banks, and call your CC companies.
Posted by kd.joseph[/QUOTE]

This and this exactly.

You don't need a name change service. If you are willing to do a bit of legwork, you can do it all yourself without the assistance of any service.

KatyRoseM

I don't believe the services even save much leg work.  Just do it your self, its not that hard.

Milsey32

I would not want someone else doing something that important and handling my information like that (is it really trustworthy to do something like that online?) I would rather save the money and do it myself to make sure it's done right

Avion22

It's not that hard, it just takes time, and you have to do things in a certain order.   Plus, if you do it yourself, it's free (except the maybe $5 you might be charged to get a new driver's license).

Having done this twice  before (been married, then widdowed, then changed my name back to my maiden name), I would recommend calling places before you go to change your name to be sure you know what documents they need.  Then you can figure out what order you need to do things in.  I find you can do most of it in one or two days.

trix1223

I can't believe the things people will pay other people to do for them.  This is just goofy and a waste of $$, IMO.

But gosh....good luck!

AbbeyS2011

Ditto PPs.  It is not difficult at all.

People have done it for years before these kits came along.  Just another person trying to separate a fool from their money, and I doubt you are a fool.