How To: Change Your Name After the Wedding
How To: Change Your Name After the Wedding
Congratulations on your big day!!! We love getting to work with so many wonderful couples on their wedding where two people become one family. We love to celebrate how families come together, but as difficult as wedding planning can be, changing your name after the wedding can be almost as difficult.
A good majority of our brides still like to change their last name after the big day.
Whether they change it completely, drop their middle or last name, or hyphenate something (like I did), it can be a difficult process to complete with many items to check off.
Changing your last name after your wedding can be a little bit of a crazy process but it doesn’t have to be one. Here are the steps you need to get this done and be on your way to a happy life with your new last name!
1. Obtain your marriage certificate
This depends on where you are, but you you will need your marriage certificate in order to change your name officially at most locations.
Some people get them along with their marriage license, sometimes it gets sent to you, but however you receive it you need to keep this certificate handy. It is basically the proof saying that you are married! You will need to for changing your name officially.
2. Head on down to the social security office! Or Mail works too!
Once you’ve completed step 1 and have your marriage certificate in hand, you’re ready to change your name on your social security card. This is a critical next step, as you won’t be able to continue the name change process without your new social security card.
Fill out the SS-5 application that the Social Security Administration has readily available on their website for name changes.
You can update your Social Security card one of two ways:
Via the Mail: Send the SS-5 application form, along with all the proper documents outlined in the form--including your marriage certificate--to the SSA. It will take them approximately 4 weeks to return your new Social Security card.
In-person: Find the closest Social Security Administration office near you. Make sure you bring all the appropriate forms with you--including your marriage certificate, birth certificate and photo ID (e.g., driver's license, passport, or state ID card)
You will have to complete this step of changing your name with the Social Security Administration before you proceed to any of the others. Once it’s done you get to move on to the rest of the list.
3. Time to head to the DMV, look pretty they take your picture!
Unfortunately, the next step requires a visit to your local DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) in order to get a new driver’s license with your new married name.
Don’t forget your documents for this trip or you will have to leave without a new license. You’ll need to bring your new social security card, your marriage certificate and your old driver’s license or state ID in order to receive a new one.
Luckily they have made it pretty simple with their kiosks. You basically tell it you need a new license because you lost it and then get in line and show them your certificate and old license and they make you a new one! They also have staff that will direct people to kiosks or the correct line so this process is not something to dread.
4. Money, Money, Money
Once you have officially changed your name on your identification then you will need to change your name on your money too! The quickest way to change your name at your bank is to visit your branch in person.
Make sure you bring your marriage certificate, your new driver’s license and that you know your account number(s)! They can easily change your name on the accounts when you bring these items in person.
5. All of the other things that have your name on it:
You will also have to change your name in a number of other places. Sometimes it feels like this list is so long you won’t be able to finish it, which is why some people pay a service like HitchSwitch
Here’s a list of some places you might consider contacting to update your new name:
State Department (For Your Passport)
Credit Card companies
Landlord or bank (if you have a mortgage)
Post office
Car title
Voter registration
Your attorney
Insurance companies
Doctor’s offices
Exhausted just thinking about it? You can use different services to change your name for you with no fuss and no work. Choose a HitchSwitch package right for you, fill out their form and they will do the rest. If you have any questions along the way, their support team is super helpful! It makes changing your name after marriage painless.
Changing your name is a personal decision and we have brides that do it and brides that don’t. Regardless of your choice, we are happy to guide you through either choice!
