How to Change your Last Name when You Get Married

Getting married is one of the biggest steps in life. Changing your name after your marriage is easy. Not all married women take their husbands last name. Taking ones husbands last name after marriage is a personal choice. For those who wish to take their husbands last name it is fairly simple.

Things You'll Need

• Certified copy of your marriage certificate
• Visit Department of licensing
• Visit Social Security Administration
• List of businesses that you will need to change your name with

Instructions

1. Get a certified copy of your marriage certificate. You know, the piece of paper that you and your new hubby signed shortly after your marriage ceremony with the officiant that did the ceremony. You are going to be using this document and your current identification to change your last name so make sure you have a certified copy to take around with you.

2. Now go to the Department of Licensing and tell them you need to change your name on your drivers license due to marriage. They will have a form that you fill out and you will need to present your current identification and your marriage certificate. In a few minutes you will have your first official document in your new married name.

3. Take your former Identification, your social security card, your marriage certificate and your new identification to the Social Security Department. You can look it up online to find the office nearest you and the hours they are open. Here you will be required to fill out some forms. After they have verified your documents you will receive your new social security card in the mail in a few weeks. This can also be done on a mail in basis but you will have to send the original certified copy of your marriage certificate in with the documentation. They will return it but it may take a few weeks. I myself prefer simply going in to one of their offices to accomplish this step.

4. Now that you have completed your license and social security card you can think about other places you should change your information. Consider your utilities and your lease. If you will be moving to a different location you can wait until you move to take these steps thus only making one change.

5. Don't forget your car title and your car insurance. Both of these will need to be changed as soon as possible. In the case of the car title many states require a spouses name to be on the title as well as the insurance so find out what your state requires.

6. Call your credit card companies and ask them what the procedure is for changing your name to your new spouses. They will also ask if you want to add your spouse onto your credit card at this time so make sure to discuss this with your spouse prior to calling them.

7. Send out a postcard or simple form letter to friends and family letting them know you have now changed your last name so that they can keep in touch.

8. Make sure to change your name with the post office also as sometimes they will not forward mail without knowing that you have a new name. You might also want to put in a forward in your new name so that they will make sure you get all of your mail.

Tips & Warnings

• Over the next year or so you may remember other things you forgot to change. Change them as you think of them.