Name Changing--What do I need to do?

Greetings! We just got back from our mini-honeymoon and we are beginning to take care of all of the odds and ends and the reality of our day to day lives--bills, etc. I am taking my DH's last name and was wondering where do I start and how do I do it? I'm going to go to do the DMV and passport, but where else? I've seen those packets for name changing, but is it necessary? Is it helpful?

Thanks for your help!

You also need to go to the Social Security office, you will probably need to call the compnays for all of your credit cards, and dont forget work!

Did my DMV & SS on the same day DMV first.
I went to my banks after that and then called into my credit cards or just changed my name on the bills they send in the mail. The credit cards were the easiest part.

Called up my HR the next morning and fixed my payroll (taxes) and made the changes to my benefits. For me, I added Jim onto my benefits.

A week later, after I called my auto insurance, I realized I needed the title in my car to match the name on my driver’s license and had to go back to DMV.

But.. STILL I am trying to get my name right!!! It’ll be a year in October and I am constantly coming up against folks who want to add letters to my new last name (giving me the Korean or Caucasian version of the Chinese name) and some of my cards still show the wrong middle initial. Takes time to clean this stuff up.

Its really funny when I go to CVS with Jim and I walk up to get my stuff and have to ask “Who am I?” and Jim answers “XXX” … OH! And the folks behind the counter look at me funny. I hope to look back on all this with a laugh.

ETA: I should add, I also seem to forget how old I am too. Everytime I need to fill out paperwork, I’m really good at putting in my birthday but not answer _____ Yrs Old. I seem to inadvertently want to enter in 26 or 27. I’m 29 on Friday!!!! Maybe when I get to 30 it will be easier to remember.

Thank you everyone! Next question is do I need to have a copy of our marriage certificate to do the changes?

You need your original certificate for DMV and SS.


I did DMV the morning of my first day back at work and I just did SS this past Friday!!

It was much easier than I had thought it would be. I have kept my professional name the same but have changed my name personally to My firstname, My lastname, Hislastname -->no hyphen; we travel a lot and this was the easiest way.
START at SS -- go with your old card, another form of pic ID (thanks Patriot Act , and your ORIGINAL marriage license. They will take your old card and you will have a new one in a matter of two weeks. There is a form you will need to fill out -- which you can fill out there or print out from the net. FM me if you want the link.
Then with your new SS card, head over to the post office where you mail in your olkd passport and ORIGINAL marriage license. I did the express service a/w/a certified mail for $60 and everything came back intact )but many brides have done at regular speed without problems.
Biggest pain (just because of the line) was to head to the DMV -- there is a form there -- for me a bigger deal because I also changed my license to another state and show marriage license and, old drivers license and take another form of ID just in case. THey will issue you a temporary and new one will come in the mail.
For my office bank accounts, name did not change, for personal, brought ML to bank and they changed our joint account.
Despite what people have said, noone cared with what name change we did -- ie last name of mine mixed with his. Most of the entropy relates to who you get at each place.
I had our concierge from AMEX make the changes to my credit cards and travels programs and that is pretty much it. Please feel free to FM me for personal info if I can be of any additional help.