I'm Married Now, so when do I change my name??

In order to change your name after marriage you would have had to indicate the name change on your marriage license (at least in CA, not sure about other states but I'm guessing it's the same). If you didn't you would have to go through the courts (and pay), I believe.

There is no rule that says you HAVE to change your name, or get rid of your maiden name completely. You can hyphenate, use your maiden as your middle, or don't take his name at all.

I made my maiden my middle and took his. This is a personal decision.

I will say, changing it was relatively easy.

EM is right...or at least it's the same in NJ.

Why wasn't this discussed before the wedding?

How did you fill out your marriage license?

Whether you change your last name is a deeply personal decision, and one that only you can make.

However, if you do change your last name, you will need to update all of your bank accounts and other accounts.

My H and I both took a new, hyphenated last name. We're just waiting on our new social security cards to get new drivers licenses and go to the bank, etc.

I had to indicate my new name on my marriage license.. however I've been married for 31 days now and still haven't officially changed my name (with social security or anywhere) in the county I got married I had to wait 3 weeks before sending in my application for my marriage certificate, so I just did that last week. Then I will start this dreadful process of changing my name.

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My marriage license did not ask that.

@GymRat, yes we did. I am at the point where I have to make a decision. He is a yes change and I am at a maybe change and our opinions haven't changed.

@BookcaseHat your husband was down with changing his name???? How did you get him to agree to that?? It's a great idea to start a new family.

I changed mine but waited until the first of the year to avoid having two W-2s at the end of the year. Yes, you'll have to change a lot of stuff. A friggin lot. Credit cards, bank accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts, payroll. Car registration, mortgage account, utilities. Doctor, insurance, milkman, vet's office, gym. The list is never ending.

@Monique -- I didn't have to "get him" to agree to it, we both liked the idea of forming our new family with a new name that equally represents both of us.

@bookcasehat I love that idea!!

There's a bunch of lists on Pintrest on the steps to take.

It's not difficult to change your name. I changed it when I married the first time, changed back to my maiden name after the divorce, and changed to my current last name when I re-married (kept maiden as middle). It's not really any more difficult than changing your address.