Guide to change your name legally after marriage in New York

Changing name legally after marriage is something quite common. It is a part of tradition and culture to take your husband’s last name after marriage. Changing your name legally is not an easy task. It requires effort, concentration and attention to every single specific detail. Different questions can come up in your mind when you thinking of getting your name legally changed. You will wonder on how to get started, what the procedure is and how to get started for this process. This is the time where you need to fill several forms, make payments here and there and also visit offices. Understanding the prerequisites for this process and preparing yourself accordingly is utmost important. It is a long process so most of the couples tend to complete it after their honeymoon.

If you want to legally change your name after marriage in New York, you need to do the following-

•    Change your name on the social security card
•    New York’s driver license name change
•    Vehicle title and registration name change
•    NY voter registration name change

Changing your name with the SSA

The very first thing you need to so is changing your name with the Social Security Name Change. It is very important to go with SSA as later when you go with DMV or vehicle registration, they need to verify your social security number. There is no provision of applying for the name change online, so you have to either send an application through mail or apply in person. To find the nearest office to your place, you need to check with your area zip code in the SSA.Gov website.

Known as for SS-5, you need to complete this application for Social Security Card. For this the documents that are needed are as follows-
•    Marriage certificate, this is the legal name change document
•    ID proof such as driver’s license, state issued non-drovers ID card, US passport. SSA can also accept employee ID card, health insurance card, US military ID card
•    You need to provide US citizenship such as US birth certificate, US Consular Report of Birth or Certificate of Citizenship

The entire process of name change with SSA does not involve a single penny. It is absolutely free. The important thing you need to remember here is to submit originals of the documents or certified photocopies. Regular photocopies are not accepted in this place. You need to pay a small amount of fee to get certified photocopies but that will help you to have a peace of mind and not get worried about submitting original documents. Your new Social Security Card will be mailed to you after the application process is over.

Change your name with the New York DMV

Your next destination is Department of Motor Vehicles after you get the Social Security Card. You can get your driver’s license name change along with vehicle title and registration name change done here with ease. DMV does not accept name change application through mails or online. You need to get the entire process done by being present at the DMV office. Check the DMV.NY website to figure out the nearest DMV office to your place. The documents needed for name change are as follows-

The current DMV documents where you need to get your name changed
Valid New York’s driver license or a combination of the following documents-
Social Security Card
Marriage Certificate
US military photo
US passport or passport card

Apart from the following documents mentioned above you need to complete the application form known as MV-44. You can get the driver’s license or learner’ permit here for $13 and New York non driver ID card for $5. However, vehicle registration and certificate of title are free of charge here. When you apply for the name change process in DMV, you will get your new driver’s license, registration and the title in the next ten days.

Update records of voter registration

You can go for updating the voter registration records to get your name change after marriage. You can go for this process at the same time you apply for name change in DMV. Till the time your request is processed, you won’t be allowed to go to the polls. You need to use the New York State Voter Registration form to update your voter information directly with New York County Board of Elections.

The last thing that you need to do is change your name with US passport. This is an important part of legally change your name after marriage process in New York. If your passport was issued less than one year before your name change then you need to go for form no DS-5504. If your passport was issued more than a year before your name change then you need to go for form no DS-82. You need to be very careful and do each of the steps carefully for your name change process.

Don’t Make These 5 Mistakes in Name Change After Marriage

Replace your middle name with a maiden name, choose for a hyphenated last name, take your husband’s last name as yours or simply don’t change to a new married name at all – which option do you liked the most? Well, if you are considering legal name change after marriage, there are certain things you shouldn’t do.
Millions of newlywed Americans go for legal name change every year after their marriage. But not all of them get through the name change process in hassle-free manner. Some make mistakes and end up regretting them. In this post, we have shared 5 mistakes you should avoid while legally changing to Mrs. from Ms.

Say no to these 5 mistakes

Making an impulsive decision

Remember, once you begin with the legal name change process and get through it, it won’t be easy getting back to your maiden name again. So, discuss with your spouse and family, and take the required time to make a right decision. Besides, if you have changed your maiden name in social security card and not changing it in other documents like driver license, bank accounts, etc., it can create some troubles regarding your identity and tax deductions later.

It is very important that all your important documents to feature exactly same name. So, if you want to choose name change after marriage, do it for all documents like passport, bank account, driver license, vehicle registrations, credit card, insurance, subscriptions, etc. if you have no confusion, remember to get your marriage license immediately as you tie the knot. Marriage license will be used as one of the primary identity proof for your name change applications at various government offices.

Source: https://hitchswitch.wordpress.com/2016/11/12/dont-make-these-5-mistakes-in-name-change-after-marriage/

Understanding the positive side before You Hyphenate Name after Marriage

Indeed getting married is an amazing and special feeling. Yet we can’t deny the fact, it’s equally stressful event. Like every to-be-bride, you want your wedding to be just perfect and it is this desire and lots of responsibilities that come along with it brings in stress. You also need to think about making major decisions like changing to a married name. If you want to hyphenate name after marriage, it is essential that you understand all aspects associated with it.

Hyphenating name is a great idea

Whether you want to change your name legally after marriage or not, you must get your marriage license issued. Once you have your marriage license, you can ponder over the married name change idea. In early years, it was a part of the customary traditions that brides need to change her last name replacing it with her husband’s last name after marriage.

In those early years, if a bride decides to keep her maiden name even after marriage, she used to have some awkward stares from the society people wherever she goes. However, as the time passes, more and more women confidently kept their married name after the marriage. But there are some modern women choose to have even better name change solution – they prefer to hyphenate name after marriage instead of abandoning the maiden name or accepting the spouse name.

However, there is another side of changing to married name that you may want to consider. When you are married and live as a couple, you represent yourself as a unit or a family. And it is a wonderful idea that all the members of the family share a common surname. When you accept your spouse last name, it is a way to show your commitment towards that family goal. Hyphenating name help you keep your birth name and you also accept your spouse’s name at the same time respecting the tradition.

Source: https://hitchswitch.wordpress.com/2016/10/24/understanding-the-positive-side-before-you-hyphenate-name-after-marriage/

Things You Need to Know Before You Legally Change Your Name After Marriage

There is no lawsuit in USA judiciary system that makes it compulsory for women or men to change their name after marriage. So, if you have walked the big aisle recently, it’s not mandatory to legally change your name after marriage. You can continue with your maiden name.

Yet, it is more like a tradition that women change their last name and accept their spouse’s last name after tying knot with the man. Over last years, there is also a growing community of couples where men adapt their wife’s last name as their surname or maiden name. If it is a same sex marriage, one of them choose to change his or her last name post wedding so as to have a common family name and make identity of their coming children clear.


It’s not really a tedious and complex process to legally change your name after marriage. You just need to have ability to be patient, spend a really good amount of time behind the task and have knowledge of the right steps in right sequence. Many newlyweds find it mind-numbing to work through lots of paperwork to get their name change done officially.

Source: https://hitchswitch.wordpress.com/2016/09/15/things-you-need-to-know-before-you-legally-change-your-name-after-marriage/

Learn the Must-Dos of Name Change After Marriage

Make your last name a middle name, hyphenate your and your spouse’s last name, take your partner’s last name or just don’t change anything in your official name; well, these are some of the most common options you have for name change after marriage. In USA, more than 2 million couples tie knot every year and they got to choose from these name change choices they have.

With the many options they have got today and a lot of other consideration including emotional, financial and other concerns, today’s women truly find the decision making for name change after marriage a bit difficult task. For one it may take a few hours or a minute and for some even years and years may not prove to be enough for making a correct decision.

In short, it is strongly recommended that you consider all the aspects as well as consequences of name change after marriage.

Source: http://hitchswitch.livejournal.com/1166.html

Is it Necessary to Legally Change Your Name After Marriage?

Are you thinking to change your name? If yes, then there are two significant factors that you ought to think about - the precise reason why you need to legally change your name plus the current state you are residing. Both of these are appropriate factors in this process. The process to legally change your name after marriage is one of the simplest ones if you are completely aware about the formalities necessitated, or know the right source that can guide you through. You just need to possess your important documents and get it changed, thereby reflecting your new name.

Basically, this may be accomplished by offering certified copy of official marriage certificate, driving license, identification card, and social security card to the concerned authority. These all are very important, but it may not be just restricted to motor vehicle bureau, banks, social security office, schools, or voter’s registration office. Moreover, it may be really helpful for you to have the list in advance and in this way, you will not forget any vital company and agency.

Source: http://hitchswitcusa.tumblr.com/post/149023116652/is-it-necessary-to-legally-change-your-name-after

5 Steps that Smoothen the Process of Name Change After Marriage

Going by the usual tradition globally, after marriage, a woman is bound to change her name by leaving her father’s name and taking up her husband’s family name. Even though this practice of name change after marriage is not mandatory, most women do it, thus living up to the traditional norms. It is imperative to undergo this name change formality in a legal way, documenting the new name in all the authorized records so as to avoid any chaos later on.

Many aspects are important with regards to changing name post marriage. The way you look at things is the key. Some may feel that the process of filling forms and engaging in legal hassles is tiresome. Others may look at the benefits associated with completing this process and find easier ways to get things done to perfection. So you need to choose between the hard and smart way. So to find smart ways, you need to know about them in the first place.


Source: http://hitchswitcusa.tumblr.com/post/149362505717/5-steps-that-smoothen-the-process-of-name-change

4 things you must know before you legally change your name after marriage

While you may change your name (first, middle and last name) legally for any reason you may have, but most of the time is the women who find the need to change their surname after marriage or divorce. Indeed events like marriage and divorce impact the women￢ﾀﾙs lives more.

Getting a marriage certificate will surely let you change your last name but you will not be officially known by the new surname or name until you submit your name change application with the social security administration. If you want to legally change your name after marriage, here are a few things you ought to know first.

Consider the choices you have

Unlike the older day, in today￢ﾀﾙs time you have more choices when it comes to changing your name after marriage.

• You can continue with the same name you were born with.
• You can take your husband￢ﾀﾙs last name. The process is more straightforward for newlyweds.
• Change your last name legally adapting your spouse￢ﾀﾙs surname but don￢ﾀﾙt change your name in the professional sphere.
• Keep your surname as middle name with your husband￢ﾀﾙs surname as last name
• You can hyphenate your last name with your husband￢ﾀﾙs last name, and you both can have a new surname. 

Do consider the pros and cons of all these choices before concluding for one.

Get any name you want, there are some restrictions though!

There are people who aren￢ﾀﾙt happy with their birth name and if you are one of them, good news is you can change your name to whatever you want to keep. However, there are several restrictions or exceptions I would say in this name change process. For example, you can￢ﾀﾙt have a name of a celebrity as that will be consider as a mischievous act. Besides, you can￢ﾀﾙt have numbers, punctuation signs, or something obscene in your name.

While you legally change your name after marriage, divorce or for any other reason, make sure you get the spelling and format of the new name 100% correct. According to a leading name change service provider firm, they receive many clients year-round who want to change their name legally due to incorrect spelling.

It￢ﾀﾙs relatively easier changing surname post marriage and divorce

If you are a newlywed and you have decided to change your last name,  you will not need an order from the court. You simply need to write your new surname (your husband￢ﾀﾙs surname) on your marriage license and show that license to social security administration, bank and all other places as a legal proof of your surname change. This process is mostly same in all states of the country. And if you have filed for the divorce and want to keep your older maiden name again, it will be taken care by the judge during your divorce procedure. You will be having your divorce decree and then after you can use your old last name again.

It makes sense hiring a name change service!

Filling a name change application isn￢ﾀﾙt as complicated as it may seem to you. However, if you don￢ﾀﾙt want to follow the procedure yourself, you need not to hire a lawyer. Instead you can hire a name change service. Professional name change services provider companies offer different packages for different cases.  These companies will bring you a checklist of all documents and paperwork you will need at one place, simplifying your process of name change.  Such companies aim to save their clients￢ﾀﾙ a good amount of time and hassles involved in this very intimidating procedure.
Every state has different laws for legal name change process. You will need to learn about the name change rules in your state. Or as said above, you can always hire a professional name change service to make things streamlined and easier for you!

Vital Guidelines and Step-by-Step Method to Legally Change Your Name After Marriage

From ages, it has been a tradition that women expect their husband's name post marriage. This tradition has been followed by women everywhere around the globe. However, times have completely altered this mindset. Lot of changes have taken place on the marriage front. With same sex marriages happening these days, the concept to legally change your name after marriage has also seen lot of modifications.

Some options that women have

As mentioned earlier, preferences have changed with regards to changing married name and women are nowadays seen using lot of options for the same. Some of the options that women have are as follows:

• Taking the last name of spouse
• Keeping their own name as before
• Hyphenating own name and spouse's name
• Creating an altogether new name that is not same as both partners and using it
• Keeping their own name; however, using spouse's name for children or choosing the hyphenating option for them

Methods to legally change your name after marriage

As is clear above, options to change name after marriage are many. This brings the topic about how to exactly engage in the process of changing married name. There are two important methods that can be used for this purpose as listed below.

• Change name via common usage

It is entirely the wish and liking of the woman concerned whether she opts to take up her spouse's name post marriage. However, if you really intend to change your name to your husband's name, then common usage method is relatively easy.

This method has been traditionally followed and the wife was allowed to adopt the name of her husband post marriage. This method is also applicable for individuals who are into same sex nuptials. However, as same sex nuptials are quite new, there are some states that are yet to offer this method and hence, court orders will be necessitated for the same.

For utilizing this method, applicants need to follow the below mentioned steps:

• You need to first get the marriage certificate copy that reflects the new name you desire to take
• You will then require to update the new name on the driver's license for which a copy of marriage certificate will be needed
• You will need to get Social Security Card changed with your new name which again will require your marriage certificate
• Updating the new name across insurance plans, banks, employer records and passport will be next in line

This process can be considered as relatively simple for completion; provided you have the marriage certificate in your possession. This method is also good if you already have children or are planning to give birth so that the entire family shares similar names. So overall this method is quite simple. However, still if you feel to stay away from all the paperwork, then opting for services of agencies engaged in the name change process can be a good choice.

• Opting or court order to legally change name post marriage

Almost every state renders online forms that need to be filled in order to obtain a court order for changing your married name. You need to visit websites of your respective courts to follow instructions or meet clerks at the court desk for getting information regarding the same. If you feel this is overwhelming, the hiring services of an attorney is the option.

Both these options can be completed easily if you are aware of the process and have the time in hand to finish things. However, if you cannot spare time and are not knowledgeable about the processes, then online agencies involved in legal name change processes can be a beneficial choice.