Why should you get a New Married Name?

Getting a new married name will avoid confusion in various circles and help you get all documentation in order

Traditionally, all women after marriage changed and used the last name of their husband, but the important question is “Why?” Well, earlier it was felt and assumed that a husband would build a house and after marriage the wife would come and stay in it so the surname has to be adopted by her.  In most cases, even till date, the children are given their father’s surname rather than the mother’s maiden surname.

Usually, a woman takes her husband’s surname, but though uncommon, the reverse of this is also happening; many husbands are taking on the surname of their wives. Now-a-days, the thought process that a woman needs to take her husband’s surname is slowly changing and many women are keeping their maiden names even after marriage. But, getting a new married name doesn’t mean that you lose your identity, it just binds you into the new family.

Reasons to Change your Maiden Surname after Marriage

• Once you are married, you become partners for life and everyone sees you as a package. So, what’s the harm in having a common tag or label for identification? It becomes easier to identify your family as Mr. and Mrs. Cruz (say) and even the children get the same surname, therefore all of you are tagged as the Cruz family. Don’t you think it is easier?

• Generally, when you are attending an official party, you are addressed as Mrs. so and so, but if you are using your maiden name, then people often get confused in how to address you. Should they call you by your first name or is it Ms. so and so? Why make life more complicated than it already is? A new married name makes life so much simpler for you and your family.

• Yes, once you are married, you are probably going to have a joint bank account in your new name; not to forget the marriage certificate, security cards, and the birth certificate of your children that will have your name too. Also, when you buy a property jointly, then, to avoid the paper work from getting complicated, it is a good idea to have the same surname. So, if you happen to be newly married and have changed your maiden surname to that of your husband, you need not go through the trouble of proving your marital status and identity every time you plan to start a joint venture with your husband. It is a wise decision to get a new married name and make all paper work easy.

• Remember that if you change your name it definitely does not mean that you (as a person) are going to change in any way. There is so much more that changes for you as woman when you get married, like you move into a new home, adjust with your husband and his family, etc. So, why create confusion over a surname? A change in your surname is not going to change your identity or your personality, then why resist it?

Things to keep in mind if you are thinking of a new married name

Life does change after marriage, and along with it you have a change in name too. As you want to be a part of your husband’s family, you decide to change your last name so that you have a sense of belonging with the whole family. Yes, it is a big step to have a new married name and before you consider changing your last name legally, there are a few things to be kept in mind.

• After marriage, changing your name to your husband’s name is quite easy; all that you have to do is start using his last name. The first place where you will have a new name is on the marriage certificate which you will obtain from the office of the Registrar of Marriage. That’s where the journey of your new married name begins! Yes, using your changed name in social settings is not a problem at all, but in certain places like banks, your driving license, social security card and other legal and financial matters may require documentation to prove your new identity. Mostly, in all these cases, your marriage certificate should suffice. 

• The next important step would be to change and update your name in all documentations and identity cards because these days it is almost impossible to do any financial transaction without having a copy of the same. All you need to do is submit your old documents along with your marriage certificate, a copy of the official government gazette, and a copy of a joint notarized affidavit. Once your name is updated, do ensure that your income tax papers and all other important papers are updated with your new name.

• The next important step would be to change and update your name in all documentations and identity cards because these days it is almost impossible to do any financial transaction without having a copy of the same. All you need to do is submit your old documents along with your marriage certificate, a copy of the official government gazette, and a copy of a joint notarized affidavit. Once your name is updated, do ensure that your income tax papers and all other important papers are updated with your new name.

• Some important offices have to be notified about your legal name change like the passport office, post office, registrar of voters, your creditors and debtors, insurance agencies, Department of Records, social security administration, banks, financial institutions, department of motor vehicles, state taxing authority, telephone and utility companies – and most importantly, don’t forget to notify your employer.

• You may think that you can go through all the processes by yourself, but the task is not as easy as it sounds and may take more than a month for your new married name to be updated in all essential documents. Therefore, it is always advisable to speak with a qualified family law attorney in your area so that you do it the right way. Agreed that it sounds overwhelming, but the sooner you update your documents the lesser problems you will have in future. Enjoy the feeling of being tagged into a new name and a new family.

For more information visit www.hitchswitch.com