Name Change

Tatum88

Has anyone started looking into changing your name yet? Are you getting rid of your maiden name entirely? I'm thinking about keeping mine as a middle name, but I'm not sure yet. Also, I found this place that's giving away a name changing kit that kind of does it for you I think:

http://www.myregistry.com/one-fine-wedding-day/post/2010/02/02/Win-a-FREE-MissNowMrscom-Gift-Card!!.aspx

MyNameIsNot

According to my friends that changed their names, the name change kits end up being a waste.  It really isn't that complicated. 

I kept my name.  Changing it just isn't my style.

trix1223

That name change kit is just a waste of money.  It's not all that hard to make the necessary changes.  It's just a way to sucker people into thinking it's harder than it is, and then making money off of people who fall for it.

trix1223

Oh, and yes, I changed my name way back when.  My legal name is now first name, maiden name, new last name.   However....I'm the only female in my family who did.  My sister kept her maiden name, and my SIL kept her maiden name.

My DIL changed her last name to our family name.  My DD changed hers when she was married in July.  My youngest DD has already said she won't change her name.  She's pretty serious with a guy now and hates his last name.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

I'm not changing. But if I were you, I'd write down who you need to contact about your name after-the-fact - post office, credit cards, bank, employer, etc. That will make it easy. It frankly doesn't seem too much more complex than contacting all of the above to change your address when you move.

lisarose7

I have an odd situation.  My FI wants me to keep my name because he has his dad's last name and hasn't seen or heard from his dad since he was a year old. He doesn't feel comfortable changing his name, but wants me to keep mine and plans to give our future children my last name as well.  It's important to me for us to have the same last name, though.  As a compromise, I plan to hyphenate and he's okay with that.

megk8oz

I'm in the process of changing mine, and I paid for the Miss Now Mrs kit. I honestly can't tell you if it was worth it or not, but I'm already getting the feeling it's not saving me "that much" time. Essentially, it's just a download of all the forms you can get from SS and the DMV, etc.

It also apparently includes letters so you can notify your credit cards and other bills, but since I don't have my new IDs yet, I haven't actually looked at any of that stuff yet (Figure I may as well take it one step at a time).

I personally have no real attachment to my maiden last name. It's my bio-dad's last name and he's been a very little part of my life. Most of my siblings (Technically my "1/2-siblings") have my step-dad's last name, and he's the guy that raised me, so I always felt kind of "left out" being stuck with mine-which is also hard to spell and pronounce. So I'm completely dropping my last name (My name will be First Middle Married).

Also, because of how I feel about my last name, I pretty much knew from a very young age unless I fell for a guy who's last name was "Buttmunch", I'd be taking this course of action when I got married.

goheels05

I went with first, maiden, last.  I liked my maiden name a lot and didn't want to lose it completely.

The kit doesn't make the process any more streamlined.  You still have to stand in line at the SS office, you still have to stand in line at the DMV.  Anything else is optional.  I still have stuff I haven't changed and it's been over a year--my car loan, most of my bills, etc.  As long as they are getting paid, they don't care what your name is.

kristinanddan

I had to go with first middle newlast, because in NY, keeping your maiden name isn't an option unless you hyphenate. I would have had to do a legal name change through the courts.

As far as the name change kits, they are a waste. You literally get your marriage certificate, then go to the ss office. You wait to get the new card, then you go to the dmv. For credit cards, I just had to call and give them my new name. For my bank accounts they wanted a copy of the license.

HKD817

I am planning on changing my name once I get married and I was looking into getting the name change kit as well, but from what I hear it really isn't worth the money. The process isn't too difficult and like "megk8oz" previously said, most of the forms you need can be downloaded right online from DMV or the SS offices. In the end though, it's up to you and what you are comfortable with.

sgervais88

I will be First Middle Married. I'm not that attached to my maiden-name. Not because of family drama or anything, I just don't mind changing it. I want our kids and us to have the same last name. So I'll be changing it.

Pirata13

I am also doing First Maiden HisLast when I change mine. I am almost 40, and just very attached to my last name.  I was very close with my grandparents and have my grandmother's ring, I just really want to keep my maiden name. I will be the only girl in my family to keep their maiden name at all.

Ken&Cass

For my first marriage I kept my original middle name Lee-anne and took my husband's last name. After we divorced, I never bothered changing it back because I was not looking forward to the hassle. Now that I am getting re-married my fiance has asked me to change back to my maiden name before the wedding so I don't have my ex-husbands name on the new marriage license. This time around, I've actually been considering making my maiden name my middle name and taking the new last name of my husband to be but I haven't decided yet. I will def take his last name, but I'm still not sure about the middle. Also, I don't think the kit is worth it.

millejj1

I'm doing First Middle-Maiden Last. I don't want to give up my last name or my middle name and both are short so I'm hyphenating my middle name!