How do you change your last name?

[happylalagirl]

HI everyone!! For those of you who are now married and have changed to your married name... what do you need to do? I will need to change my name and our daughter's name. She had taken my last name since we were only 19 years old when we had her and no where close to being married... I just want to have the paperwork ready to go for when we get back!!! I've waited a long time to become a Mrs. Thanks for all your help! Only 19 more days to go!!!

 

[Maggimus]

Im with you on this. It is very odd to get home and not know what to do. I was told that when you get married you just start signing your name the way you want it to be (and provide the marriage certificate to those legal companies who need it). It is odd though because now that I am back when I still sign my debit card (still maiden name) I am confused what to sign. I feel like I am going by an Alias right now.

I would love to know the proper answer to this!!

As for your daughter- it might be more difficult. I hope you get the answers you are looking for!

 

[purplegirl247]

I'm not married, so can't say for sure, but here's a quick rundown on what you have to do, including a bit on changing names of minors. http://www.soyouwanna.com/SITE/syws/changename/changenameFULL.html I don't know if some of the procedures vary from state to state though. I imagine you'd have to change your social security and all that official stuff, yes? Good luck! (and be sure to let the rest of us know for later; lol!)

 

[WDWAurora]

I'm not sure about your daughter, but for you, you go to the Social Security office first. Make sure to take a copy (official) of your marriage license. You'll probably need your old social security card and your driver's license, too. After you've done that, wait 24 hrs (or however long they tell you) and go to the driver's license office. They'll be able to look up your name change in the computer and get it changed there. The next stops should probably be your banking institutions. (We had 2 to go to) We needed a copy of the marriage license everywhere. They didn't keep them anywhere-so we only needed the one copy.

Any other questions? Did I hit the main points? I'll be happy to help if I can!

 

[cryssi]

I think you've got it!

Social Security, first of all. They will take and keep your old SS card, so don't plan to get a new job or anything LOL (I actually changed my name in the 2 days I had between jobs...I had to go BACK to SS the next day when the new info was in the system to get a printout since they had taken my old SS card). Plan to be there for 2-3 hrs...

Then DMV...like WDWAurora said, they will look you up in the system. I think you need your marriage license as well. We actually got many official copies of the license, but I've also been using the same one over and over.

I received my new SS card within the week (went on monday, got it on friday) and my new driver's license the next...

Credit cards you just have the primary cardholder call and change the name...they will send you a new card immediately.

hth!
c

 

[Maggimus]

I lost my SS card years ago- can i just take a copy of my birth cert?

 

[cryssi]

I think you have to fill out an application and take your driver's license...hang on...

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber/


for changing name:

http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=315

replacement card:

http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=251

hth!