WR- Name Changes

Steph0871

So I'm trying to figure out the order for doing all my name change stuff. I know I have to go in person to do my SSN card (damn local SS center.)  So I think I'll do that first, then License....

What about credit cards? Student loans?  Did you have to prove your name change to all of them?  How long did it take? Will I get all new CC numbers too? I'm dreading updating all of my financial stuff again.

Blueyed228

I am dreading doing this.

katiewhompus

I did SS card, then straight to DMV. Next up was bank and credit cards. Bank required a copy of the marriage certificate, credit cards were fine with a copy of my new driver's license. Student loans, car loan, etc were fine with either driver's license or new SS card. Phone (Sprint) was fine with driver's license.

ETA: Yes you will get new cards with your new name on them. Most of the time they will let you sign your new name to your old card as long as you have it changed in their system so you have some time.

Loopyseven

You need your SS card to get your Drivers' license changed (at least in Ohio) so that has to be first.  I went Monday and am waiting for my new card in order to go to the license bureau and change the license.  Then I'll start working on the credit cards/bank accounts/etc.

LesPaul

I went to DMV first, as soon as I had the official marriage certificate.  Fortunately in CO I got to keep the old license (with a hole punched in it) so I can show both identities when necessary.  Then I went to SSA with my marriage cert and new DL and got a letter on the spot that documented the name change; I got a new SS card in the mail about a week later.  Some CCs you can change online - for most of my accounts (including trash and other miscellaneous vendors) I prepared a form letter in Word and sent it out with a copy of the marriage cert.  Remember to change your life insurance and voting records too.  Everything was very easy, and I got replacement CCs quickly with the new name.

katiewhompus

Steph, in VA they require the SS to be changed first. I got a letter of certificate from the SS office to take to the DMV since it would take 4-6 weeks for the card to come in. They may do that for you.

K Byte

It was horrible. I changed my Social Security card first, which required an actual trip to the social security office along with the most upstanding *cough* citizens of society. Then I went to the DMV for a new license, and did all my credit cards, insurance, and bank stuff/new checks after that as a lot of them needed the new drivers license and/or a certified copy of your marriage certificate. We went down to the county courthouse to get a few of these I think a day before we left for our honeymoon (a few weeks after the wedding) and they were $1 each.

I don't even know how to change my name for bank correspondence because it's still arriving in my maiden name, despite changing my name at the actual bank and getting new checks. And I changed my name for my car payment but can't figure out how to change it for other mailings I get from Toyota. I'm just going to let some stuff sit for awhile I think. I dunno, I figure I got all the major stuff taken care of (drivers license, checks, credit cards, insurance) so everything else if the companies can't figure it out I'm not going to stress over it. But yeah it requires a lot of phone calls to people in India and standing in line when you'd rather be at work since most places are only open business hours.

anna.oskar

Looks like South Dakota has a really hassle-free name change policy.

+Brought Marriage Certificate, Passport, old license and 2 proofs of address to the DMV and walked out with a new license in 20 minutes

+Brought new license, marriage certificate and SS card to the Social Security office, took 30 minutes due to wait and my new card arrived in a week.

+Brought new license and marriage certificate to the bank, they changed all account info and new cards arrived in about a week in the mail. Exactly the same as my old but with new name.

+Other accounts: i called them to inform and student loan, cc, utility companies, and insurance all just needed me to fax them a copy of the marriage certificate.  It was all taken care of after just an hour or so of phone calls.

katiewhompus

K byte, that's me with my damn checks and my address. I changed the address with the bank back in May and every time I go to check re-order it has my old address. I emailed them (as the bank said to do) and they just keep sending me back "please reply with a confirmation email", I do, and they just send the same email again. I call and get put on hold for an hour and end up giving up.
I hate banks.

JennaV26

My name-changing process has been such a pain. Changing it with the SSA was a piece of cake, but I think my problem is that I'm also changing my residency to a new state.
 
Changing Residence + Name Change = Major Hassle

Things keep coming up that I never thought about: Alumni associations, voters registration, vehicle titles, domain registrations... In two years I'll probably still be finding accounts with my maiden name.

MISSCOURTNEY20

In Illinois, you have to go to the SS office first. I am still trying to decide of I am even going to legally change my name. I haven't even talked to my FH about this yet. I probably need to in the next 13 days though huh??

katiewhompus

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_wr-name-changes?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:f7b25f1c-50b8-4a5b-9e23-7500c1057ea1Post:f144b76c-9c63-4a77-9d67-9bab325d557f">Re: WR- Name Changes</a>:
[QUOTE]My name-changing process has been such a pain. Changing it with the SSA was a piece of cake, but I think my problem is that I'm also changing my residency to a new state.   Changing Residence + Name Change = Major Hassle Things keep coming up that I never thought about: Alumni associations, voters registration, vehicle titles, domain registrations...<strong> In two years I'll probably still be finding accounts with my maiden name.
</strong>Posted by JennaV26[/QUOTE]

I can verify this! I need to figure out what to do with my student records still. Most of my applications requiring them asks for a maiden name so I have been ignoring them.

LesPaul

I still haven't changed my name with the mortgage company; need to do that.  And probably add DH to the deed.

amanda7486

When I went to the DMV, I just checked a box that said update voter registration information and within a week, I had a new voter registration card sent to me.  I hope it's that easy for everyone else!  I did have a hard time with the title to my car but I think that was just because the tag was almost expired and things didn't move as fast as I had hoped.  I think most everything is changed now and I can definitely see how changing your name and moving to a new state would be complicated!

bethziobro

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_wr-name-changes?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:f7b25f1c-50b8-4a5b-9e23-7500c1057ea1Post:ae3cb157-0fab-4b72-9f32-88fe08c4930a">Re: WR- Name Changes</a>:
[QUOTE]In Illinois, you have to go to the SS office first. I am still trying to decide of I am even going to legally change my name. I haven't even talked to my FH about this yet. I probably need to in the next 13 days though huh??
Posted by MISSCOURTNEY20[/QUOTE]

Actually, this isn't the case.  I was able to go to the DMV first with a copy of the marriage license, then went to SSA, banks, & did everything else with the new photo ID