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Name changing experiences

bburks79bburks79 member
10 Comments
in Texas-Dallas and Ft. Worth
Married ladies,

How hard was it to get your named changed on everything?  My FI and I went and got our marriage license yesterday and the lady told me that I could physically bring it back in after the wedding and they would process while I wait and I could get a certified copy that day which is awesome.  We aren't going on our honeymoon until October but I'm still taking the week after the wedding off and would like to get as much changed in that week as I can. 

So with all that being said my main question is how hard was it to get everything changed and do you have any tips on how to get everything done successfully?  Thanks ladies!!
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Re: Name changing experiences

  • Tiffany618Tiffany618
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    It's not hard.   You can do it easily in one day once you get your certified marriage license. 

    Just go to the SS Office and pack your patience (although, it was quite an entertaining show during the wait, I must say) .... once your finished there just head over to the DMV and show them your marriage license.

    The whole process shouldn't take more than a few hours.  Once your done with those two you can go to the bank, start calling utilites, credit cards, etc.
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  • fallbride1109fallbride1109 member
    5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    I did the DMV first and then the SS office.  The DMV is right by my house so that was most convenient for me.

    Those 2 are relatively easy--it's everything else that is the pain.  I am still finding things I need to change my name on 9 months later.
    Planning the Meal
    With All the Trimmings
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  • NMac2010NMac2010
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    It was a pain in the butt in my opinion.

    BUT, the good news is, if you take a day off work you can get it done all in one day.

    We had our license back by the time we got back from the HM. I took Monday off work, went to the SS office, DMV, and got my passport changed and went to the bank, and everywhere else I needed to go all in one day. I made more phone calls than anything else. To credit cards companies, and tanning salon, gym, toll tag account, little stuff like that. And I sat at the DMV FOR-EV-ER!  It took ALL DANG DAY, but I did it. Now my name is offically changed on everything, and I've only been married 13 days! Now I'm just waiting for all my new cards and documents to come in the mail!

    For me, it was easier to get it all out of the way than letting it linger. But, that's just me.
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  • bburks79bburks79 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thanks ladies for all the advice!  I'm definitely going to try to get it done the week after the wedding.  I'm still a little worried because we are going on a cruise in October for our honeymoon and I will need my passport.  I'm thinking that I will wait on the passport change until after the honeymoon.  Since my reservation is under my current name. 
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  • NMac2010NMac2010
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    You are going to have to make sure that your plane tickets match your passport name, if not you will have problems.

    So I would either get a new passport expedited, or wait and do that until after. If you have had your passport for less than a year, they will let you make the change without having to pay anything.
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  • Tiffany618Tiffany618
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Wow you changed your tolltag, gym, and tanning salon already?   I figured I'd never bother to change those.
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  • fallbride1109fallbride1109 member
    5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    It took me forever to change my name at my bank.  Ditto the gym.  I mean, they just could not get it right.  There are so many things I never thought of:  AAA card, car registration, health insurance card, Blockbuster, car title, life insurance policy.  I mean, seriously, just when we think we are all done, we find something else.

    I still refuse to change my email, much to Ben's annoyance.  And I haven't done my passport yet either.  *sigh*
    Planning the Meal
    With All the Trimmings
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  • NMac2010NMac2010
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Yep, I'm really weird like that. It bothers me to think I have 2 names floating around out there. Guess it's just my anal retentiveness coming out!

    Not to mention, if those accounts don't match the name on the credit card that they're being billed to, there can be problems. And all our accounts draft automatically from our cards. So, they have to match our names.
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  • Tiffany618Tiffany618
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Natalie - Definitely true about billing issues.    I had my middle name changed to my maiden name though to avoid some of those issues.

    I'm sure I will get them all changed, some day. :)
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  • msealemseale member
    500 Comments Fourth Anniversary
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_name-changing-experiences?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:14d2bde5-7a4b-4395-91ce-0e48b615270fPost:1e48819d-5a13-47e0-b340-b1bdbbf4dd35">Re: Name changing experiences</a>:
    [QUOTE] I still refuse to change my email, much to Ben's annoyance.  And I haven't done my passport yet either.  *sigh*
    Posted by stephiehall[/QUOTE]

    Why is he annoyed that you won't change your e-mail?
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    Michelle & Michael
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    TTC - Since September 2011
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  • NMac2010NMac2010
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Oh and resumes...I changed those too, which came in handy today when I had to send it to someone and I didn't have to change my name at the last minute :)
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  • fallbride1109fallbride1109 member
    5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_name-changing-experiences?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:14d2bde5-7a4b-4395-91ce-0e48b615270fPost:60583a3d-dff2-435e-bbf8-21cea9cd6e8b">Re: Name changing experiences</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Name changing experiences : Why is he annoyed that you won't change your e-mail?
    Posted by mseale[/QUOTE]

    Because it has my old last name (Hall) which is my ex's last name since I was married before.  And I understand it bugs him but it would be such a major pain.
    Planning the Meal
    With All the Trimmings
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  • msealemseale member
    500 Comments Fourth Anniversary
    edited December 2011
    Ahh, I didn't realize that your old last name was your ex's... now I get it.

    I'm debating whether I want to change my name at work.  I'm going to for everything personal, but I have so many contacts and vendor relationships, I wonder if it will be confusing in the future.  I should probably just bite the bullet and do it, in the long run it will be more confusing having '2' names.
    Our last sunset in Hawaii...
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    Michelle & Michael
    Married - August '10
    TTC - Since September 2011
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  • Tiffany618Tiffany618
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Michelle  - I haven't changed my name at work and I don't plan to.  Everyone here locally knows I got married and all that, but I deal with a big chunk of the country and they would be clueless.
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  • NMac2010NMac2010
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Michelle,

    I changed my name at work. It was a pain too. But I've only been with the company for 2 1/2 years, and most of my relationships are within the company so it wasn't a big deal. Not to mention, I don't plan on being here long term.
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  • fallbride1109fallbride1109 member
    5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    I changed my name at work and my work email and it was, of course, a pain.
    Planning the Meal
    With All the Trimmings
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  • msealemseale member
    500 Comments Fourth Anniversary
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_name-changing-experiences?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:14d2bde5-7a4b-4395-91ce-0e48b615270fPost:2ae0d15c-7a1b-48e1-9ccc-8c56da874eac">Re: Name changing experiences</a>:
    [QUOTE]I changed my name at work and my work email and it was, of course, a pain.
    Posted by stephiehall[/QUOTE]

    I have to say, I just cracked up at my desk reading this.  This topic has come up so many times over the past few months, and you always describe it as such a PITA.  I'm not sure why this line was so funny, but the "of course" just made me laugh.  Thank you.
    Our last sunset in Hawaii...
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    Michelle & Michael
    Married - August '10
    TTC - Since September 2011
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  • NMac2010NMac2010
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011

    You know it's funny, DH didn't understand how much of a pain all this was. He goes "can't you just fill out all these forms online and send them via mail?"

    Ummm...no! He didn't understand you had to go everywhere in person, show them all the documentation, stand in line...ugh. Men have it so easy! We have to change our names, bear the children....

    haha ;)

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  • fallbride1109fallbride1109 member
    5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    Michelle, I think I just have more "stuff,"you know?  I own my home, my car is paid for, I have life insurance, etc.  I had no idea I had so much stuff with my name on it! 

    When you're old, there's more stuff to change.
    Planning the Meal
    With All the Trimmings
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  • serlaceserlace
    1000 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_name-changing-experiences?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:14d2bde5-7a4b-4395-91ce-0e48b615270fPost:d5c6a884-38ee-4ff3-8ba5-91b139f467ed">Re: Name changing experiences</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Name changing experiences : Because it has my old last name (Hall) which is my ex's last name since I was married before.  And I understand it bugs him but it would be such a major pain.
    Posted by stephiehall[/QUOTE]

    Are you talking about your personal email?  I ask because I have two email addresses with Yahoo and I set them up to flow into the same account.  So, you could start using your new email <a href="mailto:stephinewlastname@provider.com">stephinewlastname@provider.com</a> and all your emails still tied to Hall will still flow in.  Slowly you can change your email.  Would that help Ben feel better?
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  • fallbride1109fallbride1109 member
    5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    Wow, Lacey, thanks I had no idea.  That is what they did at my work--if someone sends an email to smh I still get it.  I'll look into that.

    Stephiehall is also my login everywhere.  *sigh*
    Planning the Meal
    With All the Trimmings
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  • msealemseale member
    500 Comments Fourth Anniversary
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_name-changing-experiences?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:14d2bde5-7a4b-4395-91ce-0e48b615270fPost:3530abd2-026e-4269-9462-4459953b4f58">Re: Name changing experiences</a>:
    [QUOTE]Michelle, I think I just have more "stuff,"you know?  I own my home, my car is paid for, I have life insurance, etc.  I had no idea I had so much stuff with my name on it!  When you're old, there's more stuff to change.
    Posted by stephiehall[/QUOTE]

    I completely understand and am not looking forward to starting this when I get my marriage license in the mail.  Luckily, I sold my house to DH a few months before the wedding (needed to refinance, and now he gets the 1st time homebuyers tax credit, wa-hoo!), but I still have the car, insurance, life insurance, healthcare, bank accounts, 401k's, IRA's, money markets, gym, toll tags, ugh, I'm going to stop thinking about it now...
    Our last sunset in Hawaii...
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    Michelle & Michael
    Married - August '10
    TTC - Since September 2011
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