Name change after wedding??

sditt05

Does anyone know if there is anything I need to do with the states or counties to get my name changed after the marriage license is certified??? Do I still need to go to the court and such to get everything finalized?

Or am I all set to change everything with the Soc Sec office and license and such??

Anything would help!!

Sarah

wittyschaffy

When you apply for your marriage license, they should ask you what your name will be after your marriage.  Once you get the official marriage certificate, it will show your new name.  That official form (with a state seal) is what allows you to proceed to the next step of changing your other documents like Drivers License, SS card, etc.  Once you apply for your marriage license, you shouldn't have to do anything further unless you change your mind!

tpender13

Ditto Witty. FYI, the only SS office in the metro where you can apply for a new card is in St. Paul, and apparently the lines are always crazy long. But you can go to any SS office in the country, it doesn't have to be in your state/county -- I went to one in IA where MIL works.

shan87

Be careful with the license.. Check when it expires, if it is soon tell them you want to RENEW your license (with your new name) not just change your name. My girlfriend noticed all they did was change her name  and had to renew her license a few months later.

I am also trying to figure out how to change my car title. I know you need the current title so you should be able to do both at once. I hope this is the case because I'd hate to make a ton of trips to the DMV

wittyschaffy

Hey Shan - I never changed the title to my car.  Just sold it on Tuesday and when I signed the title saying I was selling it, I signed it with my married name and "a.k.a. Maiden name".  I figure if they have a problem with it, they can contact me and I'll provide my marriage license.  My title also shows my address 2 moves ago so its wrong all over.  I didn't re-title my house either until DH and I re-financed my mortgage and legally had to add him.  Since we were re-filing the title, we updated my info.  It really is just a matter of showing that piece of paper that verifies that you married name is the same person as you maiden name.  No biggie.

EmilyCMN

Yeah I agree with the PP don't change your car titles or mortgages. Our mortgage guy just said when we sell to bring the marriage certificate.

There are a ton of good websites that explain the name change process. I have never heard of having to go to court. I think it is just a trickle down process. Start with social security, then driver's license, then I would think banking and work... then tie up the rest...

Looks like this place will do it for you: http://newlastname.org/get-started-marriage
Kit: http://www.weddingvendors.com/name-change-kit/
step-by-step: http://www.weddingvendors.com/name-change-kit/

wittyschaffy

Personally - I wouldn't pay someone to jump through the hoops to get your name changed. It really doesn't cost much at all to change your documents.  Social security was free, Drivers License was minimal, passport was a little spendy (not gonna lie), bank and credit cards were all free - did have to pay for new checks.  It does take a little bit of time to do but truly, it isn't that big of a hassle.

Plus, feel free to call me paranoid but all that info is pretty sensitive and if it fell in the wrong hands, could have a ton of damage done to your identity pretty quickly.  My Dad has been the victim of identity theft and THAT is a big hassle to deal with. 

wittyschaffy

Oh - and the court thing I think applies when you change your name outside of marriage. 

sditt05

Thanks SO much everyone! That's all along the same lines as I was thinking, I just didn't want to miss something!

Luckily for me I work in St. Paul so I'll probably swing over sometime right when they open and spend my morning there instead of at work!

Off I go on my paperwork and everything!! Thanks again everyone

maybe984

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_name-change-after-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:81Discussion:15593bfa-e7ab-474e-9093-8e5045647fdbPost:911f818d-50ce-4aee-be07-4c259739672b">Re: Name change after wedding??</a>:
[QUOTE]Luckily for me I work in St. Paul so I'll probably swing over sometime right when they open and spend my morning there instead of at work! :) Posted by sditt05[/QUOTE]

Actually, the SS Office is in Minneapolis, just south of downtown... not St. Paul. If you go early in the morning, you should have good luck with lines and such. Try to avoid Fridays, though.

tpender13

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_name-change-after-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:81Discussion:15593bfa-e7ab-474e-9093-8e5045647fdbPost:5ea8d8e7-6d35-49f2-a2f9-74197521c0e2">Re: Name change after wedding??</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Name change after wedding?? : Actually, the SS Office is in Minneapolis, just south of downtown... not St. Paul. If you go early in the morning, you should have good luck with lines and such. Try to avoid Fridays, though.
Posted by maybe984[/QUOTE]

There are SS offices all over the metro, but I'm almost certain that the only one where you can actually get a new card is in St. Paul.

EDIT: You were right, Maybe. I found this on the SS website...
NOTE: FOR SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS, TWIN CITIES RESIDENTS MUST USE THE SOCIAL SECURITY CARD CENTER, LOCATED AT 1811 CHICAGO AVENUE, SUITE 2, MINNEAPOLIS MN. CARD CTR HOURS ARE THE SAME AS FO HOURS. LOCATED 5 BLOCKS SOUTH OF THE METRODOME, AND TWO BLOCKS NORTH OF FRANKLIN AVENUE ON CHICAGO AVENUE

ogrady88

According to the website you don't need to go in person at all:

If you live or receive mail in Brooklyn, N.Y.; Queens, N.Y.; Orlando, Fla.; Sacramento County, Calif.; Phoenix, Ariz. (Maricopa County and Apache Junction Area); Las Vegas, Nev.; or Greater Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, Minn., you must apply in-person or by mail to a Social Security Card Center for an original or replacement Social Security card.

shan87

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_name-change-after-wedding?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:81Discussion:15593bfa-e7ab-474e-9093-8e5045647fdbPost:fef57faf-70e3-4202-95f8-174f88a0d950">Re: Name change after wedding??</a>:
[QUOTE]According to the website you don't need to go in person at all: If you live or receive mail in Brooklyn, N.Y.; Queens, N.Y.; Orlando, Fla.; Sacramento County, Calif.; Phoenix, Ariz. (Maricopa County and Apache Junction Area); Las Vegas, Nev.; or Greater Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, Minn., you must apply in-person or by mail to a Social Security Card Center <strong>for an original or replacement Social Security card.
</strong>Posted by ogrady88[/QUOTE]

that does not include name changes. I asked. You still have to get the name change on your SSN in person.

kengirl16

This may be a silly question. If we plan to go on our honeymoon abroad immediately after the wedding, I use my old passport and ID with my maiden name right? Even though the marriage license is signed, I won't run into any trouble in customs?

howtochangeyourname

no you will not run into any problems, just make sure to follow the name change steps when you get back are done as fast as possible.