I've got some questions about name changin'.

Before I call my credit card company and make an ass of myself or something, how the hell do you change your name?  I'm assuming I'll sign some nifty paperwork when I sign my marriage certificate, right?

Common sense says I'll get a new ID card and will have to request new credit cards, but what about social security card?  Does that stay my maiden name or do I have to get that thing changed, too?

And would I call my credit card company before I have it changed to warn them so I can have a new card relatively quick or am I stuck waiting the few weeks it takes for them to make me a new card?

.. And just in case I can really, honestly convince him, can Alex take my last name to make my life easier and his hell? :)  Even though his is easier to say, spell, and remember I'd still like to taunt him with potential torture.

I called the credit company, they sent me some, yes, nifty paperwork, but that was back in the dark ages when you actually talked to someone with english as a first language.

What I spaced out doing was inform social security of the name change, but filed jointly with my brand new name, oh tax time was a true joy that year!

The very first thing you have to do is change your name legally.  You have to go to the county clerks office and get your named changed on your social security card.  Then you start the long never ending process of changing your name on everything else.  Banks and other financial places will want to see the legal form the clerks office gives you.  My advice is to call all the places and find out what the need from you and make a list so it is not such a hassel. Good Luck

I'm in Texas, but I'm assuming it works pretty much the same everywhere....I took my marriage license to the Social Security office and filled out the paper work to have my name changed.  They make sure you filled out the paper work correctly and copy your marriage certificate, then you get a new card in the mail.  Driver's license worked the same way. 

Also, if you'll be sharing joint bank accounts with your husband, they'll want to see your marriage certificate, too.  I added my husband to my existing accounts, and he had to go in person to sign the paperwork. 

As for credit cards, I never have changed mine from my maiden name.  When I use it, I just sign with my married name, and I've never been questioned about it, although I think you can call the company and request a name change. 

.. What the hell is a clerk's office and how do you find those?

You have to show proof that your name should be changed; marriage certificate.  I sent a copy of my new drivers license along with my marriage certificate to my credit card companies when I sent the request in.  Giving them a "heads-up" won't really do anything except frustrate you when you realize they have no idea what you're talking about later on.  For SS and the DMV, you have to go into the office with the original marriage certificate (or you can mail it in for SS, not for DMV)...this also goes for your passport.  Also, go in person when you change you name at your bank...for security.

If you can convince Alex to take your name, you have to tell me your secret.  Derek would never take my last name...he was upset that it took me so long to change it to his.

Good luck! - Wanda

Here's what I had to do, and I assume it's the same for all states...

1. Request copies of your Marriage Certificate.  You'll need these to mail in to some places.  2 or 3 should be plenty. (In CA, you can often times write out a check before your wedding, and have the officiant mail it off with the paperwork so your license is there when you get back from your honeymoon.  It helps speed things along.  In most states, you ARE NOT automatically sent a copy of your marriage certificate.)
2. Change your name with Social Security.  You'll need marriage certificate and maybe other documents.  Check online, it says everything you need.
3. Change your name with your DMV.  This can only be done AFTER you have your new Social Security card.  While there, make sure to fill out any paperwork for cars that you own/make payments for/lease.  When you try and call your loan company, they'll need your name to be changed with the DMV.
   
4. Change your name at your bank/credit cards/insurance/employment/etc.  Once you have your changes with Social Security and the DMV for a new ID, you pretty much can do the rest.

Good luck with everything.  Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions.  It can totally be a pain to change your name, but just take everything in order and you'll be fine.

Happy Name Changing!! 

Holy ****, too much information to process.  I thought getting married was supposed to be fun, not overwhelming. :(

one thing i did was put both my maiden and married name on my bank card (like i was hyphenating, but i don't).  that was whenever i needed to use  a card or something i hadn't changed yet, i had something to prove i could be either person!  i'm in texas, our dmv wouldn't change it until i did my ss first, but make many copies of your marriage certificate and carry them around for awhile!

For me my credit cards were really easy to change. For both of them I just called and they changed it. I didn't have to fill out any paperwork or anything- kinda scary now that I think about it- oh well I don't have either of those cards anymore

Luckily, there's nothing you can do to change your name beforehand, so it's only a pain afterward.

It's not so bad if you make a list and slowly check things off.  Plus, checking online ahead of time will save so many headaches of getting somewhere and not having the right paperwork.

The SS website lists where offices are, what paperwork is needed, etc., and the DMV sites are the same way.  Some SS and DMV offices even take reservations and they can be made weeks ahead of time.  That'll help with waiting in lines and I definitely recommend it.

I kept my name.  :-)

If you can convince Alex to change his (my husband is actually pondering the idea of BOTH of us changing our names to something new) ... well ... it's harder for a guy to change his name.  He would have to go before a judge (along with taking other steps) in order to do so.  Thank you, patriarchy!

Wtf, seriously?  Can't that be considered sexist?  Girls can sign a paper and change their names but dudes have to go through a whole lot more nonsense?

What crap.

Of course it's sexist.  It's a patriarchal world in which we live.

Yeh the whole thing is a big pain in the a**.  I went from a nice 5 letter last name to Schiefelbein. What?  How do you say that? It took me a year to get used to writting it.  I am a big list maker, that is the only way I kept it all straight.  Just start at the top and work your way down.  SS card, DVM, Banks, Credit Cards and all the little stuff.  You really don't have to spend the money to change your car titles, at least in Illinois/Wisconsin they told me not to bother.

I still have a credit card with my maiden name on it 3.5 years later!

It was all a pain just 'cause there were soooo many places to contact and get it changed, i think I made a big list and just worked through it from the most important to the least. Lost of paperwork, and showing copies of my marriage certificate later (I carried a copy in my purse for about a year), almost everything is done. Obviously I got bored and still have to get that darn credit card changed. It's kinda getting embarassing... sigh

Never changed my name.  I probably never will.  My sister has been married over 10 years and still hasn't changed hers either.

I love my boyfriend and I had never considered not changing my name when I got married, but I really don't want to be Sara Smith.  BLAH!

btw CD, a county clerks office is usually attached to city hall, or a court house.  Just google it by your county. 

Original Post by jewelsmcblah:

Never changed my name.  I probably never will.  My sister has been married over 10 years and still hasn't changed hers either.

 Just curious, what are your and her reasons? During a convo with my bf about marriage I started feeling really weird about having a different last name. He suggested hyphenating it, which sounds like a good idea to me - actually he thinks it's better if I would. But I dunno, Vogue-Räsänen is still kind of weird (plus I'd have to learn how to roll the 'R' like they do in Finland). He also toyed with the idea of taking my name, but I don't think he really would :P