I looked over my name change kit last night and I'm overwhelemed! Where do you start? What has to be changed first??? OMG!! There's so many things to remember, the credit cards, work, social security, voter registration, driver's license, car registration, bank accounts..... ACK!!!!! Any tips???
Also, when did you girls do this? How long can we wait?
Thanks!!
Karen
jennbaby
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Re: NAME CHANGING...OVERWHELMED!!!
I am done!! I did it right after my HM.
I went to the SS office first! It was free & took 5 minutes literally! Iused the original ML & DL picture ID.
Next I went to DMV, took one hour (the lines) & had no problems! You have to take a new photo & bring original ML certificate & old DL. They keep your old one though.
Next the bank, mine wanted my original ML certificate & Driver License. They made a copy of the original ML.
Credit cards I did over the phone & I already got the new ones!
Its been almost one year...and I'm not finished yet...if you are overwhelmed...only do a little at a time (I am just lazy and forgetful)
I would say SS and Drivers License first (keep your old license with you...just in case and for old checks)
then you only have to call up credit cards...when you go into banks...just remember to bring your MC...if you have time sit down with someone and ask to change it...
I haven't changed anything about my cars yet (except insurance...you get a discount being married)
honestly...I think you could...they don't ask for any proof
CatchI22
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Re: NAME CHANGING...OVERWHELMED!!!
I took my sweet old time, but the SS was first RE work purposes. They needed it ASAP. I JUST did my drivers license yesterday, LOL, at the license express on 34th street. next up the passport! You can change your name on your title/registration when they send you the form to renew you registration, I just got mine in the mail and all you have to do is send in a photo copy of your new license. Although I am in the middle of changing car insurance and it is such a pain in the ARSE to explain why there are all these differnt names on everything! SO I wish I did it earlier
Scoop
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Re: NAME CHANGING...OVERWHELMED!!!
I took off a few extra days after the honeymoon and went and did everything except my passport in one day. My passport was expiring this past May and they told me to wait until then.
I recommend taking a day off and doing everything in one shot.
OctBride
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Re: NAME CHANGING...OVERWHELMED!!!
Keep in Mind, when you do your license at the DMV you should do your Registration and Title to your car, all at the same time.
kmcwed
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Re: NAME CHANGING...OVERWHELMED!!!
ACK!!!! Still sounds like a lot of work....
Maybe I just need more time to unwind from things and it won't feel like such a huge task.
Thanks girls!!!
LisaT
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Re: NAME CHANGING...OVERWHELMED!!!
just do one thing at a time - its really not so bad. I didn't use any name change kit, it really wasn't necessary. It may make it seem more overwhelming than it is.
The only trouble I had was with my car registration because my leasing company took forever to send the right documents. Everything else was painless and quick.
Here's the order I did them in: SS DMV (you can change voter registration at the same time, at least in CA you can) payroll & bank accts CC's passport utility bills
I started a few weeks after we got back from our honeymoon. Most was done in a month or two, but there's no rush.
mmm
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Re: NAME CHANGING...OVERWHELMED!!!
I read somewhere that woman should keep at oleast 1 credit card in their maiden name (for credit purposes). Is it possible to do that, or would that be confuisng? I have a savings account, can i keep that as my maiden name (i haven't changed anything yet)?
IrishTracy
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Re: NAME CHANGING...OVERWHELMED!!!
The DMV gave me back my liscence.
IrishTracy
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LisaT-How much was it for the passport? I'll need a new one! Hopefully I'll get a good photo for that!! The one I have now is GROSS!!
jennbaby
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Re: NAME CHANGING...OVERWHELMED!!!
Tracy they kept my old one
LisaT
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Tracy - they don't change your passport. They just type an amendment in the back with your new name and send it back to you. So no new picture for you! There's no fee.
LisaT
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Re: NAME CHANGING...OVERWHELMED!!!
mmm - there's a difference having a credit card in your name and keeping one in your maiden name. Its always a good idea to have credit on your own, rather than just being on your husbands cards, but there's no advantage to having one in your maiden name (as far as I know)
Al and I have our own credit cards - but everything else is joint. No need for us to see where every dollar the other spends goes (and we both collect miles that way)
Jenn524
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Re: NAME CHANGING...OVERWHELMED!!!
Can't you do the driver's license by mail? Why do we have to go in person to do it?
HeatherandNick
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Re: NAME CHANGING...OVERWHELMED!!!
DMV will take a new picture
Karen H
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Re: NAME CHANGING...OVERWHELMED!!!
Somewhere online I had seen a form for name changes, and created my own using their format.
It had a paragraph explaining that I was changing my name due to marraige and had the 'old name', change to 'new name', and spaces to fill in the account number and other necessary info. I did the same for our change of address when we moved. It was real easy to just fill in a few blanks and mail it off, plus I could keep a copy to keep track of what I'd done. Just keep them handy and whenever a bill or mailing comes in, record the info and mail it off. Also, most magazines could be changed online which was really convenient.
