Changing your name?

I've noticed on a couple of my checklists that you are to start preparing documents to change your name and I was wondering what you have done so far? I printed some forms online from SS and for my passport and filled them out so that when we have our marriage license I can just drop it in the mail but I was curious to see where everyone else is at? Also to the newly weds: how long does it take to get your marriage license back after you are married?

I have only started in my head :) I have to get a WA license with my old name so I can surrender it. I'm sure it would be more complicated to apply for a new license and also do a name change at the same time.

I'd like to know when you get the marriage certificate as well. I've been married a month and half and don't have anything yet.

We got our marriage certificate two weeks after the wedding.  I went in person to get it.  I changed my SS and DL in one day.  I went to SS with my certificate and I took the receipt I got from SS to DMV.  When I got home I mailed out my passport application with my mariage certificate along with my old passport.

HTH

It took over a month for us to realize that we didn't get a free copy of our marriage license (Contra Costa County, CA). You'd think that since you have to show your license to get your name changed that they'd send 1 free copy. We had to go back to the county office and purchase a copy.

Just like Ms.Sumomo, I made appts with the SS office and the DMV and got those done the same day. Then, I sent in for my new passport, went to my bank to change my name on my accounts, then started calling credit card companies. I couldn't really do any of this until after the wedding. I think the only stuff you can do before the wedding is print out some of the forms.

Good luck!

So I can't change my name on my SS or DL until after my marriage license comes back? That could be weeks...

Yes, it's a total pain!  You have to order the certificate first, then do SS, then do license.  I've done those and gotten a new bank account and credit card, but I'm waiting to do my passport because I'm traveling to Canada next month and booked the tickets before the name change.  It's all very confusing! 

Wil, it sounds like you haven't ordered your certificate yet - you would think they would send you one but they don't.  And you have to order it from the county you got your license in, not the one you were married in (if they're different).

So you apply for your marriage license, then you get married and sign the license and then take it and turn it in to the court, wait for your marriage certificate to come back (in the mail?) and THEN after I get it back I can change my name on my DL and SS card? It seems like theres too many-and then's

There are two legal documents - the license and the certificate.  They're not the same thing!  Before you get married, you get your license, and that's what gets signed at your ceremony and returned to the county.  THEN you order your certificate, which will be available about ten days after they process your license.  THEN you can change your SS, and THEN you change your DL (at least in CA, you have to do SS before you can do your DL). 

There are too many THENs - it's a really tedious process!

yep there's a lot of "and thens."

After the wedding you can just mail in the signed certificate (I'd recommend registered mail so you can track it). Then wait a little while for them to record all the info. Then you have to either order a copy of the license or go and get one in person. They won't send you a copy for free. Which is really lame.

THEN you can begin the process to change your name.

The only thing you can do before the wedding is download and print the forms.

It's not a quick process, but it works. Good luck!

So do I make copies of my marriage license myself to send to the bank, credit card companies or do I get ALL of these copies from the county?