Name change help california!

In CA i know you have to post notice of your name change in a newspaper and such since you didn't get married in CA. On my marriage license (ok so i've been reading about it) it will ask me what name i want to go by legally after the wedding, and then i file documents based on that.

I live in CA and got married in Ohio. My marriage certificate didn't even have a space for my new last name, so it lists me as Kelli MaidenName. As far as I know, the marriage certificate is not the official document declaring your new name. You have to first go to the Social Security office to change your name and bring a marriage certificate. Once that is processed, everything else can get changed like driver's license, banks, etc. I've officially changed most of these things (except Driver's License - DMV appointment is tomorrow!) and nobody ever said anything about having it in a newspaper.

If you have your 'real' license back from NYC, call SS and ask them how to do this. They are the first stop.

Thanks everyone! This might be great news. I'll get in touch with SS, the question is whether or not I have to go through a whole name change process just to keep my maiden name, but maybe I don't have to! Thanks for the feedback much appreciated

@Kelli it's if your changing it and it's not associated with a marriage. My mom hyphenated her name when she got remarried when I was still a minor. After I turned 18 she changed her name to officially remove my dad's last name, she's the one who told me about that requirement.

I am in CA and got married here. When we got our license I had to pick my name. They told me that was the time to do it, or I would have to pay to have it legally changed etc. I'm in your camp I just made it so I have two middle names. Not hyphenated either. Now I just have to make sure I get my name changed everywhere!

Don't quote me, but I think in order to change your name with government agencies one of the items they'll ask for is the marriage license. After 2009 the laws changed and either spouse can change their middle or last names, but not their first via the marriage license. So I can keep my maiden last name as my middle and take on my FHs last name as my new last name, however once the marriage license has been filed you cannot amend the marriage license to change your name. This is CA only so I don't know how other states work, but start with the county recorder's office and ask them, but you may have to go through the normal name change process.

Hmmm interesting thanks @jana. yeh the issue is i don't want to lose my middle name, so the pickle is with having 4 names, which they wouldn't allow me to do in NY where the marriage license was issued, I've been on hold with SS for 45 minutes trying to ask them lol great waiting music. you may be right about having to go through a whole other name change process which would be a hassle. so crazy there's all this stuff to deal with after the wedding! nuts.

Right! I do have a post wedding checklist and that does not look as fun as the wedding planning checklist. Boring! Good luck!