A Word to the Wise on the Name Changing Process

So several months ago when I was looking up how to do the name change stuff, a post on here was very misleading on the whole process and between that and what the woman at our town hall told me, I just wanted to give people a heads up on how to change your name.

I'm going to number just because it would have made my life SOOO much easier if someone had done that for me!

1. In most states, including the state of New York, checking a box when you fill out your marriage certificate saying that you are planning on changing your name will automatically change it.
2. After your wedding whenever you want, but the sooner the better just for logistical reasons, take your marriage certificate to the Social Security office and apply for a new card with a name change. (Note: It is free and you will need both your parent's SS# for that.)
3. Only after you have received that card can you change your driver's license and Passport. Driver's license is really cheap and Passport is something like $70. I think both can be done through the mail.
4. Social Security will NOT contact your financial accounts for you. You will need will need to call each of your credit card companies and banks and let them know of the name change.
5. You will also need to take a copy of your new SS card to your job and update your tax info if you plan of filing jointly next year.

Hope that helps some people out because I was told I would need to file additional paper work to change my name and went through a whole huge confusing process, take extra days off of work, only to get to the county clerk's office and have them tell me that I don't need to do that.