Changing last name

Re: Changing last name

• Love is Bald

  

  December 2010 edited December 2011

  Congrats and welcome back!!! :)
  
  Here is some info from a knottie on my wedding month board who just eloped in Vegas:
  
  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_september-2011-weddings_name-changing-advice-those-plan?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:649Discussion:32630fec-19f3-4a1d-8654-b74d30504f9cPost:d0a63df3-651c-4ad9-ae70-8245892a9346">Name changing advice for those who plan to</a>:
  [QUOTE]Hi ladies, Some of you know I was planning a Sept wedding but eloped instead.  Well I am currently in the process of changing my name and let me tell you, it is a lot of work!  There are a few things I found out, that you may find helpful.  Order at least 2 copies of your marriage license.  I got two and immediately stored one for safekeeping and am using the other one to take out and about.  
  
  Go to Social Security first.  Go on their website and find to find your local office.   When you check their website, its says you can do the name change by mail.  What they don't tell you is that if you chose to do this by mail you have to send in your original marriage certificate and your original id.  You get them back, but I wasn't comfortable mailing my id and being without it for 1-2 weeks.  Also, don't try to make an appointment.  I waited on hold to make one, only to find out they don't schedule appointments for name changes.  My advice is to get to the office early in the morning if possible, and middle of the week, middle of the month is supposedly the best time. 
  
  If possible, fill out your Dept. of Motor Vehicles paperwork before you go there.  If you have car(s) titled in your name, don't forget that needs to be changed too.
  
  If you are changing your insurance at work, they will ask for a copy of your marriage certificate most likely.  It happened to both me and DH.
  
  Keep a list of what needs to be changed.  Start now.  There are things that only come up quarterly or even once a year...for me it was our gas bill and property taxes.  I would have forgotten if we didn't get the bill this month.  Another thing to consider is ordering checks for your checking account.  Don't order 3 boxes of checks a  month before your wedding, you know?   Once you change your name on your id, you are going to need new checks.  Also if you have to call your bank or credit card, or any other bill you have your name on for any reason, while you have them on the phone, ask what you will need to do to change your name.  I've found each company has different requirements.  Some require a copy of the marriage certificate and it has to be faxed, while some just take your word for it.  If I had to do it again, it would have been nice to have a handy spreadsheet so I could have all of the information in one place. Happy Planning!
  Posted by Traceyd14[/QUOTE]
  
  HTH!

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• hz80408 member

  

  December 2010 edited December 2011

  I agree with pp, accept that we only have one official copy of our marriage license and that's all I've needed.
  
  1.  Go online to SS website and get the name change form. Fill this out before you even go to the office. 
  
  2. Take ur name change form, marriage license and official state/gov id (license, passport etc) to the SS office.
  
  (I went to the downtown office on the first Tuesday of the month at 1pm...definitely don't recommend, I waited in line over an hour)
  
  3.  It only took about a week for my to get my SS card with my new name.  Then I went to DMV with new SS card, marriage license and drivers license.
  
  4. Once I had a license with my new name I sent letters including my account number, a copy of new license and marriage licnese to places like my CC, gym, insurance, etc.  I also went to the bank.
  
  After being married 2 months, i think all I have left to change in my passport.

  Mrs. Blog | Ms. Bio
  
  

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• Berni09

  

  December 2010 edited December 2011

  Thanks for all the info!

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