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.