Name Change / Marriage Cert. question

So the dumb town hall worker I got when we applied for our marriage license gave us a COPY, not the original with the seal on it, when we left. So the copy was what was signed by the minister and 2 witnesses. We went back on Friday to get the correct copy, and then I had it signed by the minister and witnesses this weekend.

Question: the lady at town hall who handles marriage licenses /certs once they come back after the wedding said that once I bring it in all signed, she will give it back to me and I can take that to DMV, etc to change my name. Someone on here once said you need the copy from ALBANY to do that. Anyone know for sure?? I was hoping to go to DMV and Social Security this week.

TIA!

Jen,

You can bring the one you have with the seal on it to DMV and SS and all. That is what I did, and that is what they are looking for. HTH!

Thanks Kim and Marisa! I read something on one of these boards that said you had to wait for something to come from Albany ... guess that person was incorrect, or maybe they were talking about a different thing ...

Thanks!

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Posted by RisiLeigh

Jen,

You can bring the one you have with the seal on it to DMV and SS and all. That is what I did, and that is what they are looking for. HTH!

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Thanks - one more question - does DMV and SS keep the paper? Or do they just make a copy and give you the one with the seal back?

And, is there anywhere I need to go in person besides DMV and SS?

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Posted by JBoothIn2008

Thanks Kim and Marisa! I read something on one of these boards that said you had to wait for something to come from Albany ... guess that person was incorrect, or maybe they were talking about a different thing ...

Thanks!

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if you have a professional license (ex doctor)you have to send a certified copy of your marriage cert to the albany office, i think that where the confusion is from

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Posted by JBoothIn2008

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Posted by RisiLeigh

Jen,

You can bring the one you have with the seal on it to DMV and SS and all. That is what I did, and that is what they are looking for. HTH!

---

Thanks - one more question - does DMV and SS keep the paper? Or do they just make a copy and give you the one with the seal back?

And, is there anywhere I need to go in person besides DMV and SS?

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they give it back to you

and i had to go to my bank in person and go take new picts for my passport, but they also send you everything back along in a separate envelope around the same time you get your new passport

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Posted by JBoothIn2008

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Posted by RisiLeigh

Jen,

You can bring the one you have with the seal on it to DMV and SS and all. That is what I did, and that is what they are looking for. HTH!

---

Thanks - one more question - does DMV and SS keep the paper? Or do they just make a copy and give you the one with the seal back?

And, is there anywhere I need to go in person besides DMV and SS?

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I dont even recall the DMV making a copy of it, I think they just looked @ it. SS made a copy & gave it back.

You just have to go to your bank, everything else I changed online or by phone.

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Posted by kslmbuggie

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Posted by JBoothIn2008

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Posted by RisiLeigh

Jen,

You can bring the one you have with the seal on it to DMV and SS and all. That is what I did, and that is what they are looking for. HTH!

---

Thanks - one more question - does DMV and SS keep the paper? Or do they just make a copy and give you the one with the seal back?

And, is there anywhere I need to go in person besides DMV and SS?

---

I dont even recall the DMV making a copy of it, I think they just looked @ it. SS made a copy & gave it back.

You just have to go to your bank, everything else I changed online or by phone.

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Great, thanks Kim. I changed all my cc's and I just need to go to DMV, SS and my two brick and mortar banks now. I hope ING can be done over the phone. :)

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Posted by JBoothIn2008

Great, thanks Kim. I changed all my cc's and I just need to go to DMV, SS and my two brick and mortar banks now. I hope ING can be done over the phone. :)

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wow i totally 4got about ING! maybe we'll have to fax it in if they even require it at all since they dont have any physical locations.

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Posted by kslmbuggie

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Posted by JBoothIn2008

Great, thanks Kim. I changed all my cc's and I just need to go to DMV, SS and my two brick and mortar banks now. I hope ING can be done over the phone. :)

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wow i totally 4got about ING! maybe we'll have to fax it in if they even require it at all since they dont have any physical locations.

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I just took a look at ING's site and this is what they said about it:

If the name on your account is misspelled, call 1-888-464-0727.

If your name has changed, please mail a copy of your marriage certificate or legal proof of the name change to:

ING DIRECT
P.O. Box 60
St. Cloud, MN 56302-0060

I'm confused - did you revise the marriage license or the marriage certificate ?
The original marriage license is to be sent to the Department of Health in Albany for recording and used to issue the NYS marriage certificate.
It usually only takes about 7 to 10 days to get the original marriage certificate from the D-O-H.

You need the marriage certificate to change your name. The license only allows you to get married. The certificate is the official registration from the state that you are legally married and also indicates what your married name will be.

The certificate is what you need to show at SS and DMV, and also at all the other places that require documentation of your marital status.

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Posted by SusiBtoM

I'm confused - did you revise the marriage license or the marriage certificate ?
The original marriage license is to be sent to the Department of Health in Albany for recording and used to issue the NYS marriage certificate.
It usually only takes about 7 to 10 days to get the original marriage certificate from the D-O-H.

You need the marriage certificate to change your name. The license only allows you to get married. The certificate is the official registration from the state that you are legally married and also indicates what your married name will be.

The certificate is what you need to show at SS and DMV, and also at all the other places that require documentation of your marital status.

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This is what I was asking originally, Susi. I didn't revise the license - the town originally gave me a copy, not the license with the seal. When I went back to the town to pick up the correct one - the one that should have gotten signed by my minister and witnesses - I asked if I had to wait for a copy from Albany before I went to DMV and SS, and the lady at the town hall said no, what she gives me back when I return the license with the signatures is all I need.

If I have to wait, I will - but the town hall told me I didn't have to wait for Albany.

Give the clerk a thump on the head.

You are not married until the state says so and issues the marriage certificate.
The license only permits you to get married, and has an expiration date if you don't use it,hence the 60- day period.

sending you FM as well.

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Posted by SusiBtoM

Give the clerk a thump on the head.

You are not married until the state says so and issues the marriage certificate.
The license only permits you to get married, and has an expiration date if you don't use it,hence the 60- day period.

sending you FM as well.

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Is it a shock at all then that they gave me a COPY of the marriage license when FH went and got it, not the actual license???

Now that I think about it, she even said when she called to tell me that I had to come back in to get the one with the seal on it, 'Albany will not accept a copy.' If I don't need to wait for Albany, why did I need to come and get the copy with the seal on it??

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Posted by JBoothIn2008

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Posted by SusiBtoM

Give the clerk a thump on the head.

You are not married until the state says so and issues the marriage certificate.
The license only permits you to get married, and has an expiration date if you don't use it,hence the 60- day period.

sending you FM as well.

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Is it a shock at all then that they gave me a COPY of the marriage license when FH went and got it, not the actual license???

Now that I think about it, she even said when she called to tell me that I had to come back in to get the one with the seal on it, 'Albany will not accept a copy.' If I don't need to wait for Albany, why did I need to come and get the copy with the seal on it??

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Jenn what town did you go to?

I went to the town of oyster bay, and they print the marriage certificate right there and give it to you, not the license, but the certificate with the raised seal. It says Certificate Of Marriage Registration on it.

If you get the license back by mail it comes from the town not Albany, which is why in LI it comes back so quicly.

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Posted by kslmbuggie

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Posted by JBoothIn2008

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Posted by SusiBtoM

Give the clerk a thump on the head.

You are not married until the state says so and issues the marriage certificate.
The license only permits you to get married, and has an expiration date if you don't use it,hence the 60- day period.

sending you FM as well.

---

Is it a shock at all then that they gave me a COPY of the marriage license when FH went and got it, not the actual license???

Now that I think about it, she even said when she called to tell me that I had to come back in to get the one with the seal on it, 'Albany will not accept a copy.' If I don't need to wait for Albany, why did I need to come and get the copy with the seal on it??

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Jenn what town did you go to?

I went to the town of oyster bay, and they print the marriage certificate right there and give it to you, not the license, but the certificate with the raised seal. It says Certificate Of Marriage Registration on it.

If you get the license back by mail it comes from the town not Albany, which is why in LI it comes back so quicly.

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Ohhhh. Maybe that is what she is talking about??? I went to Huntington. I will just have to see what I get when I go tomorrow I guess.

Thanks to all of you for your help!!!!