How to Change a Name after a Marriage in Tennessee
Planning a wedding can be a stressful time. When the long-awaited day is over, you can begin a new life with your spouse. Changing your name may be the first step to starting the rest of your life. Whether the wife takes her husband's name or he takes hers, the process is not as difficult as it may seem. Following the proper procedure to change your name, allows you to focus on your marriage.
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Instructions
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Change your name through the Social Security Administration by filling out Form SS-5. You can retrieve this from the SSA website or by calling 800-778-1213. File this form by mailing it to the Social Security Administration or by taking it to the nearest SSA office. Include a form of identification and the certified copy of your marriage license received at the time of your marriage license application. The SSA will mail you a copy of your Social Security card with your new name and notify the Internal Revenue Service within 10 days. There is no charge to change your name.
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Change your name with the Department of Motor Vehicles of Tennessee. You must change your name at your local DMV station, since you cannot complete this process through the Internet. Take along your current drivers license and marriage certificate. As of 2010, the fee for receiving a new license ranges from $8 to $12, depending on the number of times you have applied for a duplicate drivers license.
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Contact your employer to change your name. Make sure that your benefits such as health insurance and retirement accounts reflect the name change.
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Change your name through companies and agencies that handle your accounts. These companies include banks, landlords, credit cards, insurance, medical offices, utilities, the post office and any groups to which you belong.
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Contact your attorney to update any legal documents such as wills, trusts, contracts or powers of attorney.
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Tips & Warnings
The state of Tennessee issues a copy of your marriage license immediately upon application. There is no waiting period. The only requirement is that it is signed by the person who performed your marriage.
