If you have gotten rid of your wife’s last name, there is going to be a legal document to sign over your name. Your marriage certificate may already have your new name on it, but there are still some steps you need to take to change your identification documents and officially get your new name on them. Here’s a quick and dirty primer on how to do it:
Get Your Marriage Documents In Order
First, you will need to gather your marriage papers. These include your original marriage certificate and any certified copies. The certified copies are mandatory as proof of your name change. If you don’t know where to obtain them, call the county clerk’s office in which your marriage license was recorded. They will give you official copies of the papers for a fee.
Re-Acquire Your Social Security Card.
Once you have your official marriage certificate, you will need to renew your Social Security card. It is generally the first ID you can alter after you get married. The newest Social Security card can be applied for online, by mail,l or at your nearest Social Security office. In the application, you will need to show identification, citizenship, and why you are changing your name (here, marriage). The other paperwork you may be required to submit is for foreign-born U.S. citizens and immigrants, listed on the official Social Security website.
Upgrade Your US Driver’s License.
Once you update your Social Security card, you can also update your driver’s license. You will have to visit your state’s DMV in person to do so. Every state has its requirements, so check the DMV website for your state’s requirements (your certified marriage certificate and new Social Security card). Some states may even ask for residency or a new picture. Probably require an appointment so check on that at the DMV website.
Fill In Your Passport and Travel Papers.
So if you have a US passport, update it to match your new last name. Your passport is updated according to the validity of your existing passport. The name change can be applied for by filling out a straightforward form with the U.S. Department of State if your passport is still within a certain period. Your passport will probably be expired or near to expiring, so you will have to apply for a new one. Check out the State Department’s passport website to determine what documents you will need to bring.
The official government agency that will issue the update for your travel documents should be contacted if you aren’t a US citizen and want to replace a passport from your country of residence.
Consider Name Change Services
You can do it using name-change services such as HitchSwitch or NewlyNamed if you’d rather not fill out multiple documents. These are made for post-marital name changes. You can fill out all of the forms online, they will provide you with government forms ready to fill out and walk you through filing.
Tools such as these make the name-changing process easier for you and guarantee that you’re doing everything you need to, from your Social Security card to your passport. Such services generally provide you with your name-change kit with all the documents you need to fill out to federal and state departments.
Name change after marriage is simple enough but takes time and attention to detail. Gather your marriage papers first, and follow through with replacing your Social Security card, driver’s license, passport, and other vital documents. Save yourself some time or just make sure that everything is done properly, hire a name change service to help you with the process.
