NER/NWR: Question about changing your name

misshart00

I feel really stupid even asking this question, but the social security website has me so confused. And I'm at work, so I don't want to call and be on the phone for a while.

I have my name changed pretty much everywhere drivers license, work, etc. but I haven't changed my ss card. On the application, it says that they need your marriage license, drivers license, and birth certificate or passport. But on the website, it seems to say that they only need your marriage license as long as it has both names and its been within two years.

I'm confused about what i need to do. What has everyone else done?

itzMS

You shouldn't have been able to change ANYTHING without stopping at the Social Security office first. So, that's pretty weird.

Anyways...

The SS office needs a government issued photo ID and a certified copy of your marriage certificate. I also brought along a certified copy of my birth certificate, but I don't recall them looking at it.

Peledreamsofrain

Yeah, the website was really kind of unecessarily complicated, if I recall correctly.

I just went to the local SS office with a copy of my marriage license and a photo ID (in this case my new driver's license).

The Most Bored Lady In The World tm asked me for my ss #, and two items mentioned, and did some typing.

Viola, I was officially newly named, and the new card was in the mail.

Edit to add:  Just to be safe, you might want to bring in a third form of ID, such as passport or old SS card.  In case your state has super strict laws. 

misshart00

I agree that I could just take it all but I can't find my passport or birth certificate. So I'm wondering if I want to go through the trouble of requesting another birth certificate. As for changing my name on everything else, you can actually do that as long as they have a certified copy of your marriage license. I have friends that have changed everything but never changed their SS card. Maybe it's an oklahoma thing.

courtski2004

I brought my current SS card, picture ID, marriage license and the document from the SS site that I printed and filled out. Apparently people rarely bring all of the correct documents and the guy that processed my paperwork was so overjoyed that I had that I don't even recall him needing to review all of my supplementary documentation. He glanced at everything, and the longest part of the process was the wait time. Super easy. I didn't take my birth certificate and he didn't mention needing it.

arrestclementine

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_nernwr-question-about-changing-your-name?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:9c5de21c-8d93-4fdf-a3a7-caeb9e6467e3Post:4a0c1e85-3d8a-45d2-bf7e-5dec65dffc1a">Re: NER/NWR: Question about changing your name</a>:
[QUOTE]You shouldn't have been able to change ANYTHING without stopping at the Social Security office first. So, that's pretty weird. Anyways... The SS office needs a government issued photo ID and a certified copy of your marriage certificate. I also brought along a certified copy of my birth certificate, but I don't recall them looking at it.
Posted by itzMS[/QUOTE]

I went to the SS office first - they turned me away because my married name wasn't on the marriage license.  I had to go to the DMV first.  Every state is different.

When I went back to the SS office, I just had the paperwork filled out, marriage license and my new ID. 

AmandaSC1988

 I changed everything except the SS and eventually got around to the SS card. I don't know if the SS office is such a pain in other states but in OKC it is only open from like 10-3 and overall a pain...i ended up just mailing it in and it was super easy.

I just filled out the paperwork, sent in a copy certified copy of my marriage certificate and my passport. I don't know if they actually needed my passport but it was better that then them not changing the name. I got my documents back within a week and my card within 2.

misshart00

In Response to Re:NER/NWR: Question about changing your name:nbsp;I changed everything except the SS and eventually got around to the SS card. I don't know if the SS office is such a pain in other states but in OKCnbsp;it is only open from like 103 and overall a pain...i ended up just mailing it in and it was super easy.I just filled out the paperwork, sent in a copy certified copy of my marriage certificate and my passport. I don't know if they actually needed my passport but it was better that then them not changing the name. I got my documents back within a week and my card within 2. Posted by AmandaSC1988 Oh I've definitely heard the OKC office is a pain. I think I'll just do that and see what happens. Thanks. ETA: Did you send your old card too?

AmandaSC1988

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_nernwr-question-about-changing-your-name?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:9c5de21c-8d93-4fdf-a3a7-caeb9e6467e3Post:fd36c06a-4e9d-452e-a72f-38430b761b98">Re:NER/NWR: Question about changing your name</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re:NER/NWR: Question about changing your name: Oh I've definitely heard the OKC office is a pain. I think I'll just do that and see what happens. Thanks.
Posted by misshart00[/QUOTE]

Oh, I just wanted to add but you replied before I could edit. I am almost 100% sure you don't need the passport to prove citizenship if you already have a SSN.  I used it as my document to prove my identiy.. I could have sent my DL or Military ID, but I use those of a regular basis, so I just sent my passport.

DramaGeek

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_nernwr-question-about-changing-your-name?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:9c5de21c-8d93-4fdf-a3a7-caeb9e6467e3Post:a4ae0ce3-8dc0-4294-a3c0-e68f7c75a8b6">Re:NER/NWR: Question about changing your name</a>:
[QUOTE]I agree that I could just take it all but I can't find my passport or birth certificate. So I'm wondering if I want to go through the trouble of requesting another birth certificate. As for changing my name on everything else, you can actually do that as long as they have a certified copy of your marriage license. <strong>I have friends that have changed everything but never changed their SS card. </strong>Maybe it's an oklahoma thing.
Posted by misshart00[/QUOTE]

I did this, but I'm in Oregon.  Then a few years later i changed it all back.

itzMS

That's pretty frightening that in some states you can change your name locally, and on your credit cards, etc but not legally with the Federal government.

I'm glad my state doesn't allow that.

shanliann

i have changed everything but my social security and my drivers license! i did credit cards, bank accounts, household bills, work stuff, with the marriage license.

lauralaur

I just brought in the application, copy of my marriage certificate and a driver's license. I thought you needed to bring a photo ID with your old name i.e. the name on record with Social Security? However, CT doesn't let you change with the DMV until you change with SS anyway so maybe I have that wrong.

ETA: No wait! Now I remember, they need ID with your maiden name. A co-worker of mine's wife was in the same situation you are where EVERYTHING but SS was changed and they had to track down a copy of her birth certificate to get her name changed with SS.

coopsbaby

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_nernwr-question-about-changing-your-name?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:9c5de21c-8d93-4fdf-a3a7-caeb9e6467e3Post:f65baea3-6f80-4da8-a586-3428c173f40a">Re: NER/NWR: Question about changing your name</a>:
[QUOTE]That's pretty frightening that in some states you can change your name locally, and on your credit cards, etc but not legally with the Federal government. I'm glad my state doesn't allow that.
Posted by itzMS[/QUOTE]

<div>
</div><div>ITA itzMS! I couldn't change anything back to my maiden name after my divorce until I did my SS card.</div>

Kate61487

I took my marriage license, DL, passport, and SS card.  I'm not sure which of those they actually *needed* (they looked at them all), but I was of the 'better safe than sorry' mentality.  I would think the SS office would need some sort of proof of citizenship, so if you don't have your passport or birth certificate perhaps your old SS card may help? I'd be hesitant to go with nothing but the marriage license and a DL, especially one that already has the name changed (but like some others, IL requires the SS to be done first).

Your marriage license has both names on it?  Mine only has my maiden...

Ali092011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_nernwr-question-about-changing-your-name?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:9c5de21c-8d93-4fdf-a3a7-caeb9e6467e3Post:f65baea3-6f80-4da8-a586-3428c173f40a">Re: NER/NWR: Question about changing your name</a>:
[QUOTE]That's pretty frightening that in some states you can change your name locally, and on your credit cards, etc but not legally with the Federal government. I'm glad my state doesn't allow that.
Posted by itzMS[/QUOTE]

Wanna hear something creepy? My middle name/initial is on my birth certificate, my undergraduate diploma, my Master's diploma, every single tax form I've ever filled out, my driver's license, and basically every other document I've ever filled out.

When I went to change my name at SS (which you have to do in CT before you can change your license or anything else), they made me come back with my birth certificate because my license didn't match my current SS card. They said they never had any record of me having a middle name and that technically my license and my SS records implied that I was two different people. Both of my parents were shocked to learn that I never legally had a middle name! But never, ever in my life did anyone else pick up on this or say anything. I feel like I basically got away with using a fake name my whole life.

misshart00

In Response to Re:NER/NWR: Question about changing your name:[QUOTE]I took my marriage license, DL, passport, and SS card.nbsp; I'm not sure which of those they actually needed they looked at them all, but I was of the 'better safe than sorry' mentality.nbsp; I would think the SS office would need some sort of proof of citizenship, so if you don't have your passport or birth certificate perhaps your old SS card may help?nbsp;I'd be hesitant to go with nothing but the marriage license and a DL, especially one that already has the name changed but like some others, IL requires the SS to be done first.Your marriage license has both names on it?nbsp; Mine only has my maiden... Posted by Kate61487[/QUOTE]

In Oklahoma, you have to fill out your application with your maiden name and name "as it will be known." You also have to sign the marriage license with your full new name.