Name Change ( SSN + Docs )

[flyerso6]

For those of you who have changed your name did the Social security office keep your marriage certificate? Also Did the BMV keep it when you got a new ID? I ask because I only have one copy at the momment. ( Just got it in the mail today )

[WebLady]

No one keeps the marriage certificate, they just want to see the certified copy (you will only get one without paying for another); they may make a copy of it.

[flyerso6]

Ok good, I found how to get more but they are $6 a piece plus shipping, ( Joys of getting married in another state :D ). I think my work keeps one so I am going to have to get at least one more. Also do you have the wait till you get your new ssn card in order to get a licence, or is the paper they give you at the SS office saying you did change it good enough?

[WebLady]

Also do you have the wait till you get your new ssn card in order to get a licence, or is the paper they give you at the SS office saying you did change it good enough?I think that may depend on your local area. I think the DMV wanted to see my SS card so I did that first.

[kgvettegirl]

No one kept a copy of my marriage license not even when I sent it to get a new passport. Just want to see it. I went to Social Security first then DMV then sent off for the passport

[Rainbow Brite]

For some reason I had it in my head that the name you write on the marriage license is what your name gets changed to (and I honestly don't remember what I wrote on it - haven't gotten my copy yet)...but my brother just told me that it's what you write on the social security paperwork that actually changes your name. Is that right? I hope so - because I want to keep my maiden name as my middle name and don't remember writing that on the license. I'm confused...lol

[Jacobs_Girl]

nope you have to legally go to the court house and change your legal name before you change your name on anything.

Sometimes different offices will let you change your name in their system with just a marriage licenses.

I am in the process of changing my name now.

I filed a petition and got the to do my newspaper clipping. It will run for 30 days and after that they will send me an affidavit then I go to court and get my name change paperwork.

[Rainbow Brite]

I thought you only had to involve the court system if you were changing your first name or changing your middle name to something other than your maiden name? Perhaps it varies by state?

[Jacobs_Girl]

I thought you only had to involve the court system if you were changing your first name or changing your middle name to something other than your maiden name? Perhaps it varies by state?

if you want to legally change your name then yes court is involved for any parts of the name.

You can change your name via your drivers license, SS card, Passport, but it isn't legally changed until you go through some kind of court process.

[Rainbow Brite]

if you want to legally change your name then yes court is involved for any parts of the name.

You can change your name via your drivers license, SS card, Passport, but it isn't legally changed until you go through some kind of court process.Eh, I don't really care about changing it anywhere other than SS, DL and Passport. Those are the forms of ID that everyone uses, so apart from that I'm not too concerned.

[Jacobs_Girl]

Eh, I don't really care about changing it anywhere other than SS, DL and Passport. Those are the forms of ID that everyone uses, so apart from that I'm not too concerned.

For social security you need these documents
If you need to change your name on your Social Security card, you must show us a recently issued document as proof of your legal name change. Documents Social Security may accept to prove a legal name change include:

Marriage document;
Divorce decree;
Certificate of Naturalization showing a new name; or
Court order for a name change.
If the document you provide as evidence of a legal name change does not give us enough information to identify you in our records or if you legally changed your name more than two years ago, you must provide Social Security with additional documentation.


Marriage, divorce or annulment: In addition to showing us a legal document proving your marriage, divorce or annulment, you must provide an identity document. That document must show your old name, as well as other identifying information or a recent photograph. (We can accept an expired document as evidence of your old name.)

[Rainbow Brite]

They don't say what counts as an "identity document." Couldn't that be a birth certificate, DL, etc? I'll obviously have the marriage certificate at the time I go to get a new SS card.

[Rainbow Brite]

Oh here's the answer...just had to dig a little deeper on their site:

---------

Identity
We can accept only certain documents as proof of identity. For example, as proof of identity Social Security must see:

U.S. driver’s license;
State-issued nondriver identification card; or
U.S. passport. If you do not have one of these specific documents or you cannot get a replacement for one of them within 10 days, we will ask to see other documents, including:

Employee ID card;
School ID card;
Health insurance card (not a Medicare card);
U.S. military ID card; or
Adoption decree. Your new card will have the same number as your previous card, but will show your new name. We will mail your card as soon as we have all of your information and have verified your documents.

---------

I've got a DL and a Passport, so I'm set. The marriage certificate will show my husband's last name (ie. the name I am taking). Sounds like that's all I need.

[Jacobs_Girl]

They don't say what counts as an "identity document." Couldn't that be a birth certificate, DL, etc? I'll obviously have the marriage certificate at the time I go to get a new SS card.

I believe when we got our marriage license it had my maiden name on it. So I don't think that is proof that I have changed it and the court house filled it out with my driver licenses.

[Rainbow Brite]

I believe when we got our marriage license it had my maiden name on it. So I don't think that is proof that I have changed it and the court house filled it out with my driver licenses.Maybe you're right. I've just never heard of anyone having to legally change their name before they could change it with SS, DMV, etc after marriage. I think I'm going to give the SS office a call and find out exactly what I need. Their site is pretty confusing.

[Jacobs_Girl]

Maybe you're right. I've just never heard of anyone having to legally change their name before they could change it with SS, DMV, etc after marriage. I think I'm going to give the SS office a call and find out exactly what I need. Their site is pretty confusing.

Good idea! But so far the process has been very simple, its just the waiting period.

When I was down there, there were 2 other ladies there changing their name to their husbands as well. good luck

[kgvettegirl]

Going before a judge to change your name is only if you are returning to your maiden name after a divorce. Thanks to 9/11 you have to prove how you were before the name change and why you want to change your name.

To change your name after marriage is alot easier. Take your birth certificate, your marriage licence and a picture id with you to the social security office. Make sure when you fill out the paperwork you put your name exactly like you want it. First Maiden Married or otherwise they will automaticly make it First Middle Married. Then go to the other offices DMV, Passport, Bank and they will also do a name change. Passport has to be within one year of issue or you pay a fee. You don't need a lawyer or the court to make your name change for a marriage.

[HisMuse]

I can't believe how much work it is to change it, somehow I imagined it was easier :( I need to get my passport from my mom somehow and probably will have to take an extra day off of work to do all this stuff :(

[sweetvenus]

Going before a judge to change your name is only if you are returning to your maiden name after a divorce. Thanks to 9/11 you have to prove how you were before the name change and why you want to change your name.

To change your name after marriage is alot easier. Take your birth certificate, your marriage licence and a picture id with you to the social security office. Make sure when you fill out the paperwork you put your name exactly like you want it. First Maiden Married or otherwise they will automaticly make it First Middle Married. Then go to the other offices DMV, Passport, Bank and they will also do a name change. Passport has to be within one year of issue or you pay a fee. You don't need a lawyer or the court to make your name change for a marriage.

I think this must depend on the state. I changed my name when I got married the first time (2002) and back after the divorce was final (2007), and all I ever needed was either the marriage certificate or divorce papers and my ID. I've never had to go to court for anything.

[Rainbow Brite]

I asked the lady who called me today to let me know our marriage certificate is ready (woohoo!) and our minister about the name change, and they both said I just need the marriage certificate and ID. Guess I'll find out for sure next week when I go to the SS office...lol

[flyerso6]

I have never heard of having to goto the court to change your name. I thought that if you were changing your name for any reason other than marriage or divorce then you had to goto court and petition to have your name changed, do the whole newspaper thing etc. I just went to the social security administation office in my local area. Took my drivers licence ( maiden name ), social security card, and marriage certificate and changed my name. They took my social security card, gave me a paper saying my new name and my social security number to act as my card until I recieve the new one in the mail. I got my new drivers licence just as easy. I also changed it at work just as easy. Now if I needed to do it through court I am postive my work would have made me do so. I haven't done my passport yet because they keep your marriage certificate, I orderd another just for that reason and it hasn't arrived yet.

Im curious to know if anyone has had to goto court to change their name? I guess it depends on the state?

[arlene]

The rules are different in each state. Here in Arizona all I would need to do is show our marriage certificate to the IRS office first. When other offices see that I've gone through the IRS process, then changing my name at the SS office and DMV office will be easy. I had to double check and triple check and ask my other married friends to make sure I didn't have to go through any kind of court process. The things we women have to go through to take our mens names. :grinhappy:

[Rainbow Brite]

I was right - all I had to do was take my marriage certificate and driver's license to the Social Security office and fill out their application for a new card with my new name on it. She said I should get it in the mail within 7-10 days :) I'm so excited!!

[HisMuse]

When I went I only needed my marriage license.

[mitch]

Here in the UK is so easy to change names.

I changed my surname from my ex-husbands to my FH's four years ago by Deed Poll. I went online, filled out a form from the Deed Poll Office in London. Sent a Postal Order for £35 and a week later i got my name Deed. Lawyers want anything from £150 + Tax and it can take ages to go through court. I cut out the middleman and went straight to the Deed Poll Office.

In theory when i get married in October i don't have to change anything. Because as a Divorcee i can legally us Mrs as a title without being married.

For newly weds everything is changed using the Marriage Certificate only. There's no charge for changing names. They just take a photocopy of the original Licence and give it back to you. There's no need to get extra legal copies from the registrar.

I had more problems getting my wedding booked. Because i cant find my Birth Certificate i had to used my Driving Licence as Photo ID which states Date and Place of Birth. Also my Degree Absolute as proof i was divorced and my deed to prove my name now.

[firespirit]

I think this must depend on the state. I changed my name when I got married the first time (2002) and back after the divorce was final (2007), and all I ever needed was either the marriage certificate or divorce papers and my ID. I've never had to go to court for anything.

I was exactly the same way. Married in '98 everything was automatic. Divorced in '03 and again everything was automatic (it was written in the decree that I was chaninging my name back though).

My ex legally changed his name when he was 18 to change it to his stepfather's name. He did have to go before a judge and post in in the paper for 30 days.

[LoLo62808]

I just went to the courthouse today, they told me that whatever I sign my marriage license as will be my new married name, then I take it to SSN, DMV, Credit Cards, etc and get it changed that way. I hope that helps!

[Rainbow Brite]

I got my new SS card!! I love it!! Teehee :biggrin: