Changing your last name

mzlildncr

Hi ladies.
We are getting our marriage license this weekend in Summit County! That lead me to wondering how the heck do I go about changing my name? I am doing things a bit differently though. I am keeping my first, middle and last name and adding FI last name also.
My current last name will become a 2nd middle name. Where or who do I need to call to do start the changes once we are married?
Please email me b/c I rarely check this board.
mzlildncr02 at hotmail.com

JKohio

Your first contacts should be the Social Security office and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. From what I understand, you can do either one first, but I did the SS office first. You'll need your notarized copy of the marriage license with you for both. After you change your name with those offices, you will have the documentation needed to change your name with your banks, credit cards, insurance companies, employer, library cards, retailer cards, etc. -- anything with your current name on it. Requirements for the various organizations are all different, but when you ask, they'll let you know what you have to do to update your info.

cwheels82

So I had to go downtown again before I went to the SS office.  I took the copy our minister gave us back to the same place where we picked up our marriage license in the courthouse.  Then they gave us certified copies to take to the SS office.  I got a couple because I wasn't sure who'd ask to keep one (SS office, DMV, school, etc.)  This was all for cuyahoga county.  Not sure if it is the same everywhere. 

starshine985

I'm in Cuyahoga County and did the same as JK said.  I did not, however, need to go back downtown for certified copies of anything.  The SS office only wanted to see my old license and the marriage certificate.  They made copies of what they needed and I was on my way.  I then went to the DMV with the same items and was given a new license.  I'm not sure if Summit works the same way, though I can't imagine they're all that different...  GL!!

JKohio

I didn't have to make any special trips downtown. When we got the license initially, I signed up to have them mail us 2 or 3 copies of the certified license (once it was available). IIRC it was only something like $1 a copy?

starshine985

Apparently I'm the only one who never bothered to get copies of the certified license... haha.  I just took the original with me everywhere.