If you are planning to change your name after marriage, there are a number of good resources out there that can help you get through the process. I’ve posted a few of the places I used online and my checklist here.
Make sure you order extra certified copies of your marriage certificate. I so far have needed 4 copies. Photocopies are not acceptable to most name change processes.
Social Security: Request a new Social Security card or cards reflecting the name change. You may need this to get a new license. Here is the form and instructions. http://www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.html. You will need to send in an original certified marriage certificate. Within 10 days of filing your name change form, the Social Security Administration will notify the Internal Revenue Service. This is important because if you file a tax return with your new name without the IRS being notified, your return will be rejected.
Passport name change can be expensive. An expedited passport name with overnight delivery (which they recommend) is about $150 and comes in about 2 – 3 weeks. Regular delivery service is $60 but can take up to 6 weeks. http://travel.state.gov/passport/fri/ChangeName/ChangeName_851.html
Order replacements for checks, business cards, credit cards and other documents that contain your old name.
Change your name at your place of employment / school.
License / Car: You will likely need to go to the department of motor vehicles for a new driver’s license. You will also likely need a new social security card first.
Change your name on your car registration, car insurance and car title. This site was very helpful: http://www.dmv.org/changing-your-name.php
Others:
Mortgage companies
Frequent-flier program
Post office
Utility companies and anyone you get bills from.
Place of Employment
Banks
Credit Card Companies
Insurance Companies (Health, Home, Fire, Flood, Vehicle, Renters, Life, etc.)
Doctors (GP, OB/GYN, Dentist, etc.)
Utility Companies (Cable, Phone, Internet, Gas, Electric, etc.)
Cell Phone Company
School, if you are actively enrolled
Student Loans
Alumni Associations
Club Memberships (Costco, gym, grocery store cards, etc.)
Hi Suzanne, Do you have any thoughts on the pros/cons of changing your last name? I feel like relatively few professional women do, so I almost felt rebellious doing it, ha ha.
Such a touchy topic – some are vehemently against it, others for it. For me, I feel I am early enough in my career for it to not be as big a challenge, and some of the reasons I wanted to beef up this site was so that I could “claim” some of my prior “Minassian” work under my new name. I haven’t had any problems yet, as I have been hyphenating at work for a few months and will do the full switch soon.
Hi Suzanne, thanks for this list, its great! Two questions for you, is there an order that you followed or *had* to follow to be successful? At what point in the process is your new name considered *legal* is that when you do the social sec/IRS one?
Hi Deb. I did work first which automatically did med insurance and I got replacement cards in the mail very quickly. Then I did the passport and social security and am simultaneously doing the ones that don’t need proof like frequent flier miles / credit cards / checks. Once the social security card comes through I will do the DMV stuff as in my case I need to bring it to the DMV. The link in the entry to the unofficial DMV guide is great (Mass is here – http://www.dmv.org/ma-massachusetts/changing-your-name.php#Driver_License_and_ID_Card). Hope that helps.
The spouse needs to update info too – primary beneficiary paperwork for insurance policies, living wills, medical information release (HIPPA) forms, etc.
The DMV in Rhode Island is a little less than helpful, and their hours aren’t all that convenient. I think the order you presented holds true – get certified copies of the marriage certificate ordered, and get the Social Security card ASAP as you’ll need both to get anything else done. For the health insurance cross-coverage we needed a copy of the marriage certificate also, same with the auto insurance to get the group/family discount. You will both need to be present at the bank for anything to do with your checking account, though the account was joint prior to our being married, I still needed to be present for the new signature cards to be signed – though that may have been a policy specific to that chain.
Be sure to update your name with any place sending you money or 1099′s for the year. At tax time that could be mildly problematic, or if you changed banks when you were married, you may have trouble cashing checks.
Good and informative post.