Name Change Question/Help

missrekaeagle

I was on hold with the Social Security office for 30 minutes with no answer, so I hope my knottie sisters can help.

On the name change form (SS-5) there are only 3 spaces for your new name. If I add my new last name I will have 4 names (First, Middle, Maiden, Last). I really don't want my maiden name and married last name to both be apart of my new last name because it's entirely too long. I was thinking I could add my maiden name to middle name without dropping my middle name. Is that plausible/possible? Does it even make sense?

What did you other married ladies do?

tamtam7

Hmm, I don't know.  I'll have to take a look at the form to see what you're talking about.  I'm hoping to go there in person sometime this week.  I'm actually going tomorrow for work, so I'm hoping I will have my Certified Married Certificate by then.  I hope I get a cool Rep so that I can ask them your question.  I would suggest actually going into the office rather than trying to do it online, because it is hard to reach them by phone.  But what I plan to do is drop my maiden name and keep my middle name. 

missrekaeagle

Thanks for the advice Tam! I'm thinking about going in person today since I've had my certified marriage certificate for a few days now and I don't have to work. I just wanted to have the form already completed before I got there.

tamtam7

I envy you.  I am hoping that DH will be able to go to the Register of Deeds today after work and pick up the Certified copy.  It's such an inconveniece because I live in Greensboro but work in Winston Salem, so I won't have time to get there before they close if I go after work, and I can't take off anymore time from work  I want to pick it up in person because I fear that if I send it in the mail it will take forever for them to send it.  I don't know why they don't just automatically send it to you in the mail after the officiant signs the marriage license and just tack on the $10 fee for the certified copy when you apply for the license.  That would just make things so much easier rather than have people take off time from work to go down there.  And this is a huge hold up and is preventing me from getting things accomplished.

missrekaeagle

It took them less than a week to mail my certified copy back. I had my officiant send it off with my $10 check after the wedding, and things went off without a hitch. I'm sorry you've been caused such an inconvenience. It's hard doing official business with a busy work schedule.

tamtam7

That's smart.  I didn't know that I could do that.  See, we went to the Justice of the Peace, in the same building, so you would think that they would have offered that as an option to us, but they did not.  I'm really annoyed.  If we could have done it that way we would have had it by the time we got back from the honeymoon. 

winter443

I say going in person would be your best bet.  I didn't fill out a paper in advance and I didn't even have to fill out a paper at the office.  I just took the certified copy of my marriage license to the office and told them I was changing my last name and signed something.  It was pretty simple.

smooth84

Ooooh let us know how it turns out. Thats exactly what I want to do. I even asked the clerk when we went to get our marriage license today...she did mention though that I would have to legally change my name to First Middle Maiden Last so that may be something thats beyond social security.

Mypasmita

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_name-change-questionhelp?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:400Discussion:7071e2ba-42dd-4c9e-b9e2-19c8af63ca2bPost:5b20c168-b5d1-4962-abdd-469d4c731eb4">Re: Name Change Question/Help</a>:
[QUOTE]I say going in person would be your best bet.  I didn't fill out a paper in advance and I didn't even have to fill out a paper at the office.  I just took the certified copy of my marriage license to the office and told them I was changing my last name and signed something.  It was pretty simple.
Posted by winter443[/QUOTE]

so funny cause I am coming from there and I did exactly what Winter did. I didn't fill out any forms. Just handed my old SSC and my marriage license. the clerk entered the info on her computer then handed my a receipt and said my card will by in the mail in two weeks.... It took 5 minutes. It took a little longer for the driver's license because there were way too many people!

mjjlaw2001

I dropped my maiden name and just listed my first name, middle name and new last name and that is how it is on my SS card but some people drop their middle name and make their maiden name their new middle name.