Officially changing my name?

When do I need to do this, and on what exactly am I changing it on? Everything? Am I suppose to be doing this before our wedding, or after? Our wedding is in 3 weeks? Thanks!

Re: Officially changing my name?

your marriage lisence should arrive in the mail by the time you arrive home from your honeymoon. You change it on everything (if you want to).
You change it after the wedding.
3 weeks woohooo!

Re: Officially changing my name?

You cannot change your name until after your wedding. You need to change it on your license. There is a place for you to put if you are changing your name or not. You should call all of your credit card companies to ask them what their procedure is. Your bank accounts, DMV records, doctor's, employeers, lease companies, phone company etc..should all be notified.

Re: Officially changing my name?

I didn't get my marriage cert until 3+ weeks after the wedding...I still have been lazy about changing it, but you need the cert to do anything...

you should change drivers license, SS card (the secretary at work tells me this is extrememly important...but I don't know why...I'm scared of her, so I have to make sure I get that done), credit cards can be done over the phone, DO NOT change your passport...wait until its up for renewal...BUT remember to use your maidan name on any international flights

Re: Officially changing my name?

Yabbobay, why do you say that about maiden name for international flights? And for how long? Forever? Just wondering - thanks...

Re: Officially changing my name?

luvleyles...if you have a passport in your maidan name...they advise that you keep it that way until it is time to renew...so it will still have your maidan name on it and therefore your ticket MUST have the name on your passport...I used to work for an international airline and it was a big hassle for newlywed women who used their married name...

Changing my name - SS and passport

Yabbo - the importance of changing your SS card first is that if you are going to be changing your name elsewhere, they need to have your new name up to date with your social security number. Your SSN is used to identify you to the government, your creditors, your employer and many others for tax purposes. Plus, the SS administration will issue you a letter regarding the official name change, that you can use (in addition to your marriage license in some cases) to change your name with any other service or store or whatever.

Also, regarding the passport - I've never heard anything specific to just international flights - I think that after 9/11, airport ID is simply more critically important. However, I can tell you from personal experience that it does come in very handy (for reasons even other than traveling) to keep a photo ID that still has ypur maiden name on it. For the simple reason that, despite how thorough you might be about your name change, there could always be that one instance where you'll need to provide a photo ID with your maiden name.