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Name change question - complicated!

julz33 Posted: Oct 14, 2004 03:28 PM+

julz33 MEMBER SINCE: 8/03 TOTAL POSTS : 11524 WEDDING DATE: Sep 24, 2004

Posted: Oct 14, 2004 03:28 PM

Name change question - complicated!

SO I am all ready to go change my name. We are in the process of buying a house so my attorney told me to legally change my name ASAP (before closing) so that the title will be with my new last name. Then my MIL said not to change my name on the Driver's license yet because I will just have to change it again when I move into our new house for the new address. Where to you have to change your name to make it legal? Would SS be enough for the title and then I can do the D.License later?

xjulietx Posted: Oct 14, 2004 03:31 PM+

xjulietx MEMBER SINCE: 4/03 TOTAL POSTS : 6638 WEDDING DATE: Jun 20, 2004

Posted: Oct 14, 2004 03:31 PM

Re: Name change question - complicated!

From what I understood, your legal name is what is on your marriage certificate, regardless of whether or not you change it on your other documents.

CherylBooch Posted: Oct 14, 2004 03:46 PM+

CherylBooch MEMBER SINCE: 1/03 TOTAL POSTS : 2819 WEDDING DATE: Apr 17, 2004

Posted: Oct 14, 2004 03:46 PM

Re: Name change question - complicated!

Why is it a problem if you change your name on your license and then change your address on it a few weeks later?

SS should be enough... but if (for whatever reason) they ask you for a photo ID- you won't have one.

julz33 Posted: Oct 14, 2004 04:24 PM+

julz33 MEMBER SINCE: 8/03 TOTAL POSTS : 11524 WEDDING DATE: Sep 24, 2004

Posted: Oct 14, 2004 04:24 PM

Re: Name change question - complicated!

I don't have any time for the DMV. I guess I could go twice if I had to.

So my marriage license should be good enough for my attorney?

Kriss2c Posted: Oct 14, 2004 04:33 PM+

Kriss2c MEMBER SINCE: 1/04 TOTAL POSTS : 4830 WEDDING DATE: Sep 18, 2004

Posted: Oct 14, 2004 04:33 PM

Re: Name change question - complicated!

Posted by xjulietx

From what I understood, your legal name is what is on your marriage certificate, regardless of whether or not you change it on your other documents.

I closed in Jersey, so it might be different here in NY. But the marriage certificate was the evidence of my new name that I needed to provide at the closing.

eroxgirl Posted: Oct 14, 2004 04:33 PM+

eroxgirl MEMBER SINCE: 11/02 TOTAL POSTS : 6593 WEDDING DATE: Jun 19, 2004

Posted: Oct 14, 2004 04:33 PM

Re: Name change question - complicated!

You don't have to have DMV send you a new license when you change your address. You can change your name and get a new license, and when you move you can just send a letter with the new address and they'll keep it in their records.

Niecey Posted: Oct 14, 2004 04:56 PM+

Niecey MEMBER SINCE: 6/01 TOTAL POSTS : 5965 WEDDING DATE: Oct 26, 2002

Posted: Oct 14, 2004 04:56 PM

Re: Name change question - complicated!

I think you would only have to go to DMV once to change the name. I think you can d o the address by mail. I would get the name done with.

RobNette Posted: Oct 14, 2004 05:26 PM+

RobNette MEMBER SINCE: 8/04 TOTAL POSTS : 435 WEDDING DATE: Sep 26, 2004

Posted: Oct 14, 2004 05:26 PM

Re: Name change question - complicated!

Marriage Certificate and SS is the main name-change that I've read on...after that everything else is easy.

Heck..i've lived at a new address for 2 years, and I never changed my Driver's Liscence!

I'm doing that now though!...now that EVERYTHING is wrong on there!

...xept my hight. that hasn't changed.

btrflygrl Posted: Oct 14, 2004 09:44 PM+

btrflygrl MEMBER SINCE: 7/03 TOTAL POSTS : 11114 WEDDING DATE: Mar 06, 2004

Posted: Oct 14, 2004 09:44 PM

Re: Name change question - complicated!

SS makes it 'legal' as does the marriage certificate. License is a mere technicality...SS is more important since your DL is tracked by your SS #

Maribelle7777 Posted: Oct 15, 2004 11:15 AM+

Maribelle7777 MEMBER SINCE: 5/03 TOTAL POSTS : 5699 WEDDING DATE: Apr 30, 2004

Posted: Oct 15, 2004 11:15 AM

Re: Name change question - complicated!

Posted by xjulietx

From what I understood, your legal name is what is on your marriage certificate, regardless of whether or not you change it on your other documents.

Nowhere on my marriage cert does it say 'Mary Cxxxxx' (new name)
It has my maiden name and I signed the license with my maiden name.

I was told when you change your SSN that is the 'legal' change.

Best thing is to ask your attorney, Julz. I think they'll know.