Comments on: How to Change Your Name After Marriage

on 6/29/2009 I WAS TOLD BY MY WEDDING PLANNER THAT IT COST MONEY TO CHANGE YOUR NAME AFTER MARRIAGE I'VE BEEN DOING MY RESEARCH AND FROM WHAT I'VE READ THUS FAR IT IS TIME CONSUMING BUT FREE UNLESS I PURCHASE A KIT IS THIS TRUE?

on 5/4/2009 Thank you for sharing.

on 4/10/2009 Definitely check the law of your state, but be warned that the law often has little effect on how tyranocrats operate. Though generally legal, few bureaucrats accept common law names (except at marriage). Moreover, some court cases state that the tradition was originally to take the name of the person with the most land, which was generally the male.

on 1/12/2009 What are the laws regarding notifying your employer? Do I have to give them a copy of my marriage/divorce papers to change my name?

on 1/9/2009 Anyone can change their name at anytime for any "legal" reason. By "legal" I mean not for an illegal reason such as running out on a debt. You may simply start using your new name. The SSA or IRS or DMV is not the ultimate authority on names. You are the only authority on what your name is. What matters is what your are called and known as to those that matter. You can change your name on your license when it comes up for renewal if you want. If they don't believe you, that's their problem.

Just call me,

Soup T. Nutz

on 12/19/2008 Rev. Ron said: A woman needs to have the Motor Vehicle bureau change it first, then go the Soc. Security office and change it there and they automatically send that info to I.R.S. for tax info. She's now legal. A man MUST go the civil court and fill out forms and sign a document that attests to the fact that he is not changing his name for illegal reasons or fraud. He does not require an attorney. He simply follows the requirements of the court. He will probably have to see a judge to swear that his information is true. A judge must sign off on his application and that's all. He must inform some county, state & federal agencies gov't (where applicable) with a Certified Copy of his court sanctioned "name change."

on 7/4/2008 it depends on where the marriage license was issued. In some states, the license has blanks on it for your new names after marriage if either spouse wants to change. If you don't fill those in, your name doesn't change. In other states, it's implicit. Changing or not changing the name on the driver's license is not what causes your name to legally change. You have to check the law in the state she was married in.

on 4/20/2008 For women, I was under the impression that your name is changed automatically if you do not indicate otherwise. I know someone who got married and thinks that because she did not change her drivers license that her name has not legally changed. But she did not make in special request on the marriage license. Anyone know the scoop on this?

on 4/20/2008 For women, I was under the impression that your name is changed automatically if you do not indicate otherwise. I know someone who got married and thinks that because she did not change her drivers license that her name has not legally changed. But she did not make in special request on the marriage license. Anyone know the scoop on this?

on 4/20/2008 For women, I was under the impression that your name is changed automatically if you do not indicate otherwise. I know someone who got married and thinks that because she did not change her drivers license that her name has not legally changed. But she did not make in special request on the marriage license. Anyone know the scoop on this?

on 4/20/2008 For women, I was under the impression that your name is changed automatically if you do not indicate otherwise. I know someone who got married and thinks that because she did not change her drivers license that her name has not legally changed. But she did not make in special request on the marriage license. Anyone know the scoop on this?

on 4/20/2008 For women, I was under the impression that your name is changed automatically if you do not indicate otherwise. I know someone who got married and thinks that because she did not change her drivers license that her name has not legally changed. But she did not make in special request on the marriage license. Anyone know the scoop on this?

on 4/20/2008 What a pain in the neck! No ladies, you DON'T have to change your name when you get married. Women should have more respect for themselves and their families. The "tradition" of women changing their names upon marrying stems from the archaic medieval pracatice of a man purchasing his wife so that she becomes his "chattel". Thus, she would give up her identity and take his name so everyone knew to whom she belonged. Who's name do the kids get when you keep your name? Pick the husband's or the wife's. Hyphenating gets silly. Of course, if you want everyone to have the same name, do what you want and go through the trouble indicated in the "How to" instructions. I just don't think it should always be the husband's name. Most women are the heads of their families. What makes his family more important?

on 4/20/2008 What a pain in the neck! No ladies, you DON'T have to change your name when you get married. Women should have more respect for themselves and their families and keep their birth name. This "tradition" surely stems from the archaic medieval practice of a man purchasing his wife and claiming her as his "chattel". Thus she gave up her name, or identity, so all knew who she belonged to. As to what to name the kids, pick one of the names. Hyphenating is silly. What do you do with a hyphenated name when you get married and you want to change names? Someone's name is eventually going to be dropped. Why should it always be the woman's?

on 4/8/2008 Is this an American site or a British one? The advice seems to be aimed at the UK user but the site is .com and the word Cheque is spelt Check here. Even more confusing the prices are in pounds but the above comments are from someone in Texas.
I would have thought that the advice would be different according to where you live.