How to Change Your Name After Marriage

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Pin ItArticle EditDiscussAfter getting married, many people choose to change their last names. Some take on their spouse's last name, and some combine last names (either by hyphenating or making their maiden name their middle name). Officially changing your last name after marriage can be a lot more complicated than you might expect, so to keep it as simple as possible just follow these instructions.

Edit Steps

USA1Get a few extra copies of your marriage certificate. Each copy must be certified, which is why you can't change your name until after you're officially married. This is the most important piece of your name changing exercise.

If your state has the ability to issue both a short-form marriage certificate and a long-form marriage certificate (which contains your parents' information and places of birth), make sure you get the long-form marriage certificate. You'll need it when you go to the Social Security office.2Fill out the Social Security form SS-5. This is an application to update your Social Security information. To be approved, you will need several original documents (not photocopies) besides your marriage certificate, proving your age, identity, and U.S. citizenship or lawful immigration status. If you aren’t a U.S. citizen and don’t have DHS work authorization, you will need to prove that you have a valid reason for requesting a card.[1]

The SS office is usually packed with people who have complicated issues to resolve. Get there before the office opens and be prepared to be there for a while.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.[2]3Update your driver's license. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or equivalent should be stop number two. Look on your state's DMV website for the forms to fill out so you'll be prepared when you go. You may actually have to re-apply for your driver’s license using a basic application and cross-reference your current license on the form; again, this varies depending on your state. They may even want to take a new picture and update all your information.

Be sure to have your marriage license with you as they will use this to prove your new name. Include your new address, too, if you and your spouse are living in a new location.See what you need to do to change your vehicle title/registration. If you don't own your car (for example, because you have a loan out on it), you will likely have to fill out paperwork to send to your lien holder, who will then submit it to the DMV for change. Check with your lien holder for more information.4Update your name with other agencies. Once you have your new forms of ID in hand (both the SS office and the DMV take an average of two to three weeks to send your new cards), you can change your name with all the other agencies, as necessary. For example, if your paycheck is automatically deposited, you’ll have to add your new name to your account before you change it with your employer. Be extra diligent in informing your creditors, who might think you’ve stopped paying your bills if they don’t find out soon enough. Here is a list to get you started:

Place of employmentBanksCredit card companiesInsurance companies (health, home, fire, flood, vehicle, renters, life, etc.)Doctors (GP, ob/gyn, dentist, etc.)Utility companies (cable, phone, Internet, gas, electric, etc.)Cellphone companySchool, if you are actively enrolledStudent loansAlumni associationsClub memberships (Costco, gym, grocery store cards, etc.)Passport.

U.K.1Order several official copies of your marriage certificate. Some official bodies (for example, the Identity & Passport Service, and the DVLA) will insist on seeing an original, while for others a photocopy will suffice. Call to make sure.

2You can normally use your marriage certificate to change your name. Your marriage certificate is sufficient evidence when you want to change your name to:[3]

your partner's surnameyour partner's surname, but keeping your maiden name as a middle namea double-barrelled name formed from you and your partner's surnames3If you want to make any other sort of change to your name, you will need to change your name by deed poll.

4Notify all organisations and bodies that hold your information in their records. You may be committing fraud if you don't tell persons with whom you have contractual or legislatively obligated relations (although the common law may protect your choice of name usage). Find out whether each body needs to see the original marriage certificate, or whether you can send a photocopy. It's also a good idea to include a reference by which the organisation can identify you (for example, your account or policy number). Here is a list to get you started:

EmployerInland Revenue (obtain your reference and address from your employer)Department for Work and PensionsGPDentistDVLAIdentity & Passport ServiceBankBuilding Society (mortgage and/or savings accounts)Credit card and store charge-card companiesFinance/loan companiesNational savings and investmentsInvestment companiesCompanies that you have shares inPension companiesInsurance companies (for example, motor, medical, life, property, property contents etc.).

Ireland1Obtain several official copies of your marriage certificate. Some official authorities will require an original, while for others a photocopy will suffice. Call to make sure.

2Change your name by Deed Poll. A Deed Poll is simply a letter that declares that you wish to give up your old name and take up a new name. Any adult can complete one at any time. (A non-citizen must first obtain a licence for a Deed Poll by contacting the Change of Name Licence Section at The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.) In Ireland, you can either get a solicitor do a Deed Poll for you or you can do one yourself. Note that to do your own, you must:[4]

Get the necessary documents in person from the Judgments Section of the Central Office of the High Court.Bring your original birth certificate as well as your marriage certificate and a photo I.D. such as your driving licence or passport.Bring the affidavit to a solicitor or a Commissioner for Oaths (for a small charge).Bring the completed documents back to the Judgments Section in the Central Office of the High Court in person.Pay stamp duty.3Update the relevant organisations. Be sure to include a copy of your marriage certificate as well as a number by which the agency or organization can identify you (for example, account or policy number). Here is a list to get you started:

EmployerInland Revenue (obtain your reference and address from your employer)Department of Health & Social Security (write to the Contributions Agency at your local Social Security Office)DoctorDentistPassport OfficeBankBuilding society (mortgage and/or savings accounts)Credit card and store charge-card companiesFinance/loan companiesPremium bond officeInvestment companiesCompanies that you have shares inPension companyInsurance companies (for example, motor, medical, life, property, property contents, etc).

Canada1Use your marriage certificate to change all your identification. If you are a woman, your maiden name remains your legal name. This is the most common practice in Canada.[5] Documentation to update may include your:

Health cardDriver's licensePassportBanking informationCredit cards.2If you want to change your legal name, complete the Election to Change Surname form. This changes the name on your birth certificate. If you do this within 90 days of getting married, there is no charge.[6]

Australia1Use your marriage certificate to change your identification. If you were married in Australia, you don’t need to register a name change. (However, note that if you were married in Victoria, you will need to apply for a marriage certificate by filling out an application form, providing proof of identity, and paying a fee.[7]) Showing your marriage certificate will work with most major documentation, such as changing your passport or your driver’s licence.[8] Documentation to update may include your:

Health cardDriver's licensePassportBanking informationCredit cards.

New Zealand1Register the name change with Births, Deaths and Marriages. You can find the name change form online.[9] There is a fee associated with this. The name change applies also to a civil union.

2Apply to the various agencies and organisations to update your information. Documentation to update may include your:

Health cardDriver's licensePassportBanking informationCredit cards.

Edit TipsIf you have automatic payments set up (for example, your gym charges your credit card on the first of every month) update your billing information when you get the new card.After you change your name with the bank, order new checks (cheques).If you're a licensed professional (doctor, lawyer, even a dental hygienist or massage therapist), you will have to register a name change with the licensing boards and any associated organizations, many of which ask for a marriage certificate or other proof of your change of name. If you have an established career in your field, you may want to keep your old name for professional purposes.Note that in the UK, you can change your name on your passport up to three months before you get married in order to facilitate international honeymoon travel.[10]

Edit WarningsDon't order your credit cards before you have your new ID. If you get carded on a purchase, you won't have an ID to match.Beware of identity theft. It is not unheard of for not-so-nice people to steal your old name. Because of your marriage, your old name is not entirely gone for good and can be linked to your new name. Make sure you shred or otherwise destroy any unnecessary documentation for your old name.Beware of any non-governmental fees for changing your name. There shouldn’t be any in most cases. If there are, make sure you are dealing with a reputable company and everything is on the up-and-up. Some government agencies may charge a fee to issue documents in your new name, but many will not.

Edit Related wikiHowsHow to Get Married in OntarioHow to Change a Name With the Credit BureausHow to Change Your Name (USA)How to Change Your Name by Deed Poll (UK)How to Tell People You're Keeping Your Maiden NameHow to Change Your Name on FacebookHow to Elope in Las Vegas

Edit Sources and Citations? http://www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.pdf - US Social Security form SS-5 (PDF)? Bankrate article on changing your name? http://deed-poll-office.org.uk/advice/woman-getting-married Deed Poll Office - Advice for a woman on getting married? http://www.courts.ie/offices.nsf/0/B43B2E45023B633B802573D10045B030?OpenDocument - Central Office of the High Court’s information on Deed Polls? http://www.ontario.ca/en/information_bundle/individuals/119599 Ontario.ca, On assuming your spouse’s name? http://www.ontario.ca/en/information_bundle/individuals/ONT06_018602 Ontario.ca, On changing your name? http://online.justice.vic.gov.au/CA2574F700805DE7/page/Name+change-Change+your+name-Name+change+after+marriage?OpenDocument&1=40-Name+change~&2=10-Change+your+name~&3=10-Name+change+after+marriage~ - BDM: Name Change After Marriage? http://online.justice.vic.gov.au/CA2574F700805DE7/page/Marriages-Apply+for+marriage+certificate?OpenDocument&1=20-Marriages~&2=10-Apply+for+marriage+certificate~&3=~ Victorian BDM: About Marriage Certificates? http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Services-Births-Deaths-and-Marriages-Forms-Fees-and-Information-Brochures?OpenDocument#six? http://www.weddingguideuk.com/articles/legal/changingyourpassport.asp - Wedding Guide UK on changing your passportArticle Info Featured Article

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