Changing your last name in Va

TAMANDCRYS

Hi 
 I am getting married in Va and wanted to know if anyone had information on the process of legally changing your last name. Since it is not legal to be married what do you say is the purpose of the name change. How soon do you start the process. My wedding is 10/15/2011. Any help is great! Thanks

babygyrul83

Hi,

I live in Maryland and since me and my partner are legally married in D.C., I went to the MVA and Social Security Administration with the marriage certificate and had my name changed. You have to go to the SSA first before going to the MVA and then with the marriage certificate, it was easy to have my name changed. You have to have a legal document, i.e. marriage certificate to change your name or go to the courts to petiton to have you legal name changed. Hope this helps.

TAMANDCRYS

Thanks for your reply. What is MVA? So basically if you are presenting an official wedding license even in a state that does not acknowledge it they should grant the name change anyway? Did  you change your name in Virginia or Maryland?

2dBride

MVA=motor vehicle administration.

However, there is a big difference between MD and VA.  MD recognizes legal same-sex marriages from elsewhere, while VA does not.

Social Security will let you change your name based on a legal same-sex marriage, even if you live in a state that does not recognize it.  However, people have had trouble getting the change of name recognized for state driver's license purposes.  At that point, they end up with different names on their Social Security cards and their driver's licenses.

However, if you go through the legal change of name process in Virginia, you can cite wanting to have the same name as your partner as a reason for the change.  At that point, Virginia is not recognizing the marriage, but merely recognizing that the name change is not for any fraudulent purpose.  You can start the name change process whenever you want.

Incidentally, if the two of you plan on having children together, you may want to move out of Virginia before then.  Unlike many other states, Virginia will not allow a second-parent adoption by a same-sex partner.

xtinazeternity

Anyone can change their name legally.  You can change literally change your name to "Apple Juice" if you want to.  You just gotta follow the steps and make you sure you change with the Social Security Department and get a new SSN card.  That is what makes it legal.

daffins2012

I was wondering the same question since we will marry in MI...Thank yall so much.