Changing name after being married for 6 years.

The Social Security office will let you change your name based on marriage at any time. However, some states have deadlines for driver's licenses. For example, Georgia requires that you report the name change within 60 days. And having your Social Security number and driver's license in different names is likely to cause problems. So you really want to check with your local driver's license bureau.

But if you are separated, I would also think about what you would do if you end up divorced and later remarry. If you're telling your son now that you are changing your name because you want to have the same name as him, would you keep that name on remarriage? (Keeping your original name is easy to explain, but keeping the ex-husband's name is harder.) Or would you change it? (After telling your son that having the same name as him is important, he could see a second marriage and associated change of name as a betrayal.) Given that you've kept your own name for 6 years of marriage so far, I would think carefully before changing it.

I would think you can still change it. However I’m not sure I understand your reasoning. You didn’t have the same last name as your son before, so why do you think it will make a difference now?

When I divorced my sons father, I changed back to my maiden name even though it would be different than my sons. He was young then, so I just told him I gave back the name since we were married anymore. Honestly I’m not sure he even cared that much. As for the schools and his coaches, no one cares about that either. They don’t even say anything when my fiancé (who obviously has a different last name) signs him up for things and does activities with him. My point is, after years of experience with different last names, no one thinks twice about it.

I don’t think you’re silly or foolish for thinking about this. I think it’s very considerate that you would be willing to change your last name to make things easier on your son. I think you’re heart is in the right place, I just don’t think to your child it makes a difference. You will always be mommy to him. I wish you luck with the separation, no matter which way things end up.

I’m not sure I agree with your reason for changing it - but regardless, if it’s been 6 years, you may need a court order to change it. It’s been too long since the marriage to change it based on that. My friend waited 2 years and needed to get a court order prior to changing her SS card. Not a big deal, just an additional step.

I think the first thing to do is check with all the places you'd need to change your name and make sure they're all "okay" with it. Like was mentioned above, you don't want it changed in half of the places and not in the others. You need to be consistent for legal reasons and just the ease of remembering what your name is! Your reasons are your own and no one really needs to agree with them, but maybe discuss with your child and child's father to make sure it won't cause a big fight later on?

I think it would depend on your state's procedures, but I don't see why not. Your still married technically.