Most couples take the opportunity of marriage to change their names for various reasons. In most cultures, the woman drops her maiden name and picks her husband’s name to reflect her new status. However, both spouses can make any changes to their name when applying for a marriage certificate. While most couples would like to go ahead with a legal name change after marriage, there are fears about the duration the process takes and myriad requirements when making an application.
This article seeks to demystify the process by highlighting the time required to complete the process. Keep reading.
Overview of Name Change after Marriage
The most important thing to remember when applying for a name change after marriage is the marriage certificate. Now, before your wedding, you must apply for a marriage license and the name you use on this document will reflect on the marriage certificate.
A marriage certificate is a legal document and once you get yours, you can start using your new name. For this reason, you need to decide on any name changes before applying for a marriage license. Warmed with certified copies of your marriage certificate, you can apply for new documents including a driver’s license, passport and social security card. You will also send notifications to all institutions that still know you by the old name.
Time it takes to legally Change Your Name after Marriage
Time is of essence when applying for a name change after marriage. It is no wonder that the first thing couples want to know when applying for a name change is the time it will take to start using their new names. After a hectic wedding process, it is understandable that you want to move on with your life and you wouldn’t like the name change to hold you back.
Now, every state has its unique name change requirements and this might affect the duration it takes to finalize this process. However, knowing the time each stage of the process will take can help you plan. Take a look:
1. Application For a Marriage Certificate
This is the most crucial step if you want to change your name after marriage. You have to apply for a marriage license for your wedding to go ahead and this doesn’t take much time. However, a marriage certificate, which is the legal document you need to go ahead with a name change, comes after about 2 weeks from the application date. You need to request for certified copies from the county clerk’s office to proceed.
2. Social Security Card Application
Once you receive certified copies of your marriage certificate, you should apply for a new social security card. Your number won’t change but the name will to reflect the changes on your marriage certificate. You should apply for a new card on the Social Security Administration's website and this will take about 10 business days. This document is crucial for the name change process and you will have to await its arrival to proceed.
3. Driver’s License Application
Once you receive your new social security card, the next step is a visit to your local Department of Motor Vehicles office for a new driver’s license. For this application, you need a certified copy of your marriage certificate, your new social security card, old DL, photo ID, proof of residence and any other identification document they might require. DMV’s rules vary in every state and this will affect the time it takes to process everything. However, you should have your new DL in about two weeks’ time.
4. Updating Your Passport
If you have a passport or you wish to apply for one, you need a certified copy of your marriage certificate as proof of a name change. It is important to note that updating your passport should wait until after your honeymoon if you intend to travel. You will need to check the State Department’s website for the right application form depending on the age of your original passport.
You have to attach a certified copy of your marriage certificate in your application, proof of residence, new passport photo and original passport. The update will take about 10 business days and you will receive the new passport through mail.
5. Name Change Notifications
Once you acquire new identification documents, you have to send out notifications to relevant institutions, people and authorities about the name change. These include your employer, post office, bank, insurer, creditors and debtors, utility companies, professional licensing boards or associations, Mortgage Company, Credit Card Company, alumni associations, newspaper and magazine subscriptions among others. This will take lots of time.
If you decide to go about a name change the old way, you will use a lot of time and this is where a legal name change service comes in handy. These services provide all forms you need to complete in one place and help you fill and mail them. They also send all notifications to save you time and ensure the name change process is less stressful.
This article seeks to demystify the process by highlighting the time required to complete the process. Keep reading.
Overview of Name Change after Marriage
The most important thing to remember when applying for a name change after marriage is the marriage certificate. Now, before your wedding, you must apply for a marriage license and the name you use on this document will reflect on the marriage certificate.
A marriage certificate is a legal document and once you get yours, you can start using your new name. For this reason, you need to decide on any name changes before applying for a marriage license. Warmed with certified copies of your marriage certificate, you can apply for new documents including a driver’s license, passport and social security card. You will also send notifications to all institutions that still know you by the old name.
Time it takes to legally Change Your Name after Marriage
Time is of essence when applying for a name change after marriage. It is no wonder that the first thing couples want to know when applying for a name change is the time it will take to start using their new names. After a hectic wedding process, it is understandable that you want to move on with your life and you wouldn’t like the name change to hold you back.
Now, every state has its unique name change requirements and this might affect the duration it takes to finalize this process. However, knowing the time each stage of the process will take can help you plan. Take a look:
1. Application For a Marriage Certificate
This is the most crucial step if you want to change your name after marriage. You have to apply for a marriage license for your wedding to go ahead and this doesn’t take much time. However, a marriage certificate, which is the legal document you need to go ahead with a name change, comes after about 2 weeks from the application date. You need to request for certified copies from the county clerk’s office to proceed.
2. Social Security Card Application
Once you receive certified copies of your marriage certificate, you should apply for a new social security card. Your number won’t change but the name will to reflect the changes on your marriage certificate. You should apply for a new card on the Social Security Administration's website and this will take about 10 business days. This document is crucial for the name change process and you will have to await its arrival to proceed.
3. Driver’s License Application
Once you receive your new social security card, the next step is a visit to your local Department of Motor Vehicles office for a new driver’s license. For this application, you need a certified copy of your marriage certificate, your new social security card, old DL, photo ID, proof of residence and any other identification document they might require. DMV’s rules vary in every state and this will affect the time it takes to process everything. However, you should have your new DL in about two weeks’ time.
4. Updating Your Passport
If you have a passport or you wish to apply for one, you need a certified copy of your marriage certificate as proof of a name change. It is important to note that updating your passport should wait until after your honeymoon if you intend to travel. You will need to check the State Department’s website for the right application form depending on the age of your original passport.
You have to attach a certified copy of your marriage certificate in your application, proof of residence, new passport photo and original passport. The update will take about 10 business days and you will receive the new passport through mail.
5. Name Change Notifications
Once you acquire new identification documents, you have to send out notifications to relevant institutions, people and authorities about the name change. These include your employer, post office, bank, insurer, creditors and debtors, utility companies, professional licensing boards or associations, Mortgage Company, Credit Card Company, alumni associations, newspaper and magazine subscriptions among others. This will take lots of time.
If you decide to go about a name change the old way, you will use a lot of time and this is where a legal name change service comes in handy. These services provide all forms you need to complete in one place and help you fill and mail them. They also send all notifications to save you time and ensure the name change process is less stressful.
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