Starting the Name Change Process!

I just got the updated SS card this week. It was easy at the office, just a little bit of a wait. Now I have to find time to go to the DMV to do that.

Finding time to do all this is a pain right now (due to work insanity).

Congrats!! I'm definitely going to change my last name and keep my middle name. I'm totally dropping my own last name.

Good luck!! That's one part of the process I'm not looking forward to.

I'll be dropping my current last name, keeping my middle name, and taking my FH's last name.

My FSIL got me a gift certificate to one of those name changing services, i'm going to need to take a look at how it works.

i would like to keep my last name as my middle or a second middle name, i am not sure if i will be able to do it.

@Denise, that's awesome, how long did it take to get the SS Card after you went to the office? And thankfully my job is super flexible (I make my own hours) so I can go whenever I want really. I was just commenting to DH today though that I feel bad for people that have to make the time to take off work or use their lunch break.

@Butterfly and Elizabeth, I thought about doing that all the way until about a week or two before applying for our marriage license. I then decided to have two middle names. I love my last name a lot too. @Elizabeth, my middle name is Elizabeth...so that's why I wanted to keep it!

@Surfergirl, I thought about doing the name change service but I didn't feel like paying to have someone do what I can do on my own. If you have a gift certificate though that's great! Also, at least in the state of California, I could put down two middle names without a hyphen. So if that's what you want, I was able to so you should be okay as long as your names aren't like 20 characters each.

HIH, I have two middle names now also. The most difficult part for me has been with my bank. I have my entire life with them (checking, savings, stocks, car and homeowners ins, mortgage) and you'd think that I was the first woman ever to change her name. It's been a nightmare.

Im right in the middle of the name change process! did the same as you, made my maiden name a second middle name! I started with online/social media bc obviously that's easy. For me, SSA was super easy. In MD, you keep your original license and then have to go in person or order by mail certified copies to change your license, passport, mortgage, etc. My second stop was to HR for work to add H to my health insurance (I only had 30 days from our wedding) and get my name changed with them and that was pretty simple too. Changing my name on my license at the MVA (pretty sure it's the DMV in every other state lol) was a HUGE hassle because apparently the info on their website is incorrect (?!) so I had to make 2 trips there. Once you have a new ID, you can change your bank accounts, etc! I just changed those yesterday and also contacted the registrar where I'm currently a graduate student and the alumni association where I got my undergrad. Today I plan to call the mortgage company and all my credit cards. Plan to send a copy of your marriage license away to change your name on your passport- I'm working on that package right now too. There's a form you have to fill out and you have to submit new photos. Good luck!

I don't have any helpful advice... I'm still fighting this process. The first time I got married, it was quick, easy, and painless. I think I had everything done in a couple of weeks. This time, it has been a hassle everywhere the exception of the SSA and the DL office. Surprisingly, they were very easy. Banks, investment companies, etc. have been horrible. I tried to order new checks with my new name, and I got a nastygram from the check company because the information didn't match - even though I've already changed my name with that bank. I'm so frustrated.

HIH- thats exactly what i want, I just cant bare to totally get rid of my last name but do want to take my FH (and i also don't like a hyphen). i have a friend that has 2 middle names but those were given to her when she was born so i'll need to look into the changing process.

Ugh all i needed for work was my SSC changed so i still have yet to do my drivers lisence- you have to take a new picture so i'm waiting to look decent one day and go after work. Needless to say i don't look decent often...

So exciting! I just went to the Secretary of State yesterday for my license! Now I get to start calling all the credit care companies and banks to see what I need to do! And I can't forget my passport!

Ugh I need to do this.

Surfergirl, my sister moved her maiden name to be a second middle name and I plan to do the same. The DMV did try to tell her she couldn't do that, but she had already changed her name with SS, so clearly she could and the DMV had to agree. I think they were just being lazy.

Wow thanks @annakay for all the details, you're moving a lot faster than me! We were told the marriage certificate could take a few weeks so we waited a little while, and we had to have DH's dad pick it up and mail it to us since we got married in California and not Hawaii. But it's only been a month so not too bad.

The thing I'm worried about is changing my name as a grad student too actually. I guess just contacting the registrar should do the trick but by the time I get to that point it'll be mid semester so not sure how that'll work. I also have to make sure I get my license before my birthday in November since it expires then anyway, and then I need to get my passport before Christmas time because then it'll be within one year of when I got the passport so I don't have to pay for a new one. But yeah there are a lot of steps.

@Lara, I'm sorry it has been so difficult with your bank, my bank said it is really easy and I just need to show them my ID and marriage certificate. But we'll see. My worst thing will be insurance probably. Since I was injured on my honeymoon I used my maiden name but I filed a claim and I want them to deposit my reimbursement to my bank account which will have my new last name but all my records have my maiden name and such. So hopefully things don't get messed up there.

Oh and side note in case anyone is interested (since I haven't started a post in a while) my thumb is healing pretty well. Yesterday all the scabs came off and it looks really good and I think scarring will be minimal and not too noticeable thankfully. The swelling has gone down and I can move it a little more. The worst is that my nerve isn't fully working still so it feels numb or tingly so it's hard to use my thumb for even basic things because it feels weird, but that should improve over time. It has been almost 4 weeks since the accident now. So progress is being made!

You are all moving faster that me. I haven't even started changing mine yet. Thanks for the motivation. I am going to start this month.

I was going to just drop my middle and use my last name as my middle, but my mom calls me by my middle name. So now I am torn on if I should just have 2 middle names.

1) I did not need my new ss card to do my drivers license, they just needed my marriage certificate. Might be worth it to call your local dmv and ask specifically what they'll ask for.

2) When I went to do my passport they said I had to file by mail myself, they would not do it for me. Would have saved me a trip to know that ahead of time. And of course, double check your picture. I sent one that was 7 months old, which is unacceptable.

3) I've been keeping a copy of my marriage certificate in my purse so when new things come up that need to be changed I'm prepared for it. It's come in handy a few times.

I'm still doing this process.

I've done everything but my two of my credit cards.

I'm dropping my last name it's way to long and I'm keeping my middle name. I have some concerns since I'm also my grandma caregiver, with having to switch over all of my info connected to her and her accounts.

I'm moving so fast because I'm a teacher and I wanted to make sure I had it all taken care of before I went back to work Once the school year starts I will have nooooo time to do anything lol.