I got married 2yrs. ago but i have not yet changed my last name. How can i change it, and why is it important?

Answer 1

To change your last name is easy. Take you marriage certificate to your local social security office and apply a new social security card. Your social securitynumber remains the same only you last marrital name changes. Next go to your local DPS office and reapply for your driver license and ID. they may require to see your marriage certificate. The cost my be around $50.00 depending on how much your state charges to renew DL and ID
Changing your last name to your maritial status give you stronger evidence incase something happens to your husband, Sometimes it considered as an honor and have privilages in your husbands community. Sometime its a sign of respect and love to your husband

Answer 2

If 2 yrs have passed and you haven't gotten your name changed either one of two things are occuring either you are insecure about your marriage and even though you have already taken the plunge you are experiencing anxiety because you are afraid of commitment and may see changing your name as dramatic endevour. or you could just be really busy and it has never really crossed your mind to change it.
Changing your last name isn't important to some people but hold high value for others it all depend on what you and your spouse think is important. I see it as a symbol of the union but I personally like my last name and wouldn't change it unless I was getting an upgrade.
Im pretty sure but not exactly sure that you can get it changed at a social security office. However, if you don't want to change then don't especially if it doesn't bother your spouse. If you like your last name better than their's then keep it. Basically do whatever makes you happiest. But also be willing to make sacrifices for your marriage this may be the 1st of many.

Answer 3

You have a bit of a job ahead of you. You will need to call or go on line and request (if you call) or fill out ( on a web site) a change of name form, for the following.
Social Security, Dept of Motor Vehicles, your bank, all credit cards, insurances, investments, utitlies, phone, credit union, credit reporting agencies, Post Office, doctors even the ones you may only see once year (mamograms), pharmacies, mortgage company, property taxes, just about every one you do business with in any way. You will have to be very careful with your incoming mail after that though as you will be recieving new credit cards and other documents with the name updated on them. My daughter hyphenated her name Smith-Jones because she was handeling business for her father and step-mother and it made it a lot easier. She still had to do all of it but if you are or may in the future helping a family member with their finances it does make it easier. You asked why it makes a difference, when you go to handle business for you and your husband in his name they will always question your idenity if the name is different. Your husband would have to write each company and tell them it was alright for you to conduct business on accounts in his name. The you would have to do the same for him. Legal matters are even worse, I heard a discussion on a TV show and a woman asked why her sister had so much trouble settling her husbands affairs when he was killed in an accident. One of the first questions was had she changed her name when she married. She had not, and he said they sometimes think it is an ex wife trying to get something she was not entitled to. He also said that even hyphenating the name will solve a lot of problems.

Answer 4

Its not a requirement to change your name but if you want to, you will need to start with taking your Marraige Certificate to the Social Security office, Once you change your name on that then go to the DMV. Once those are fixed, you can change your name on everything else by showing a copy of the marriage license or your other id's when they come in.

Answer 5

If all of your accounts, and identification are in your maiden name, it's not important to change it.
Some women change it to show unity in the family by having one last name, some women choose to keep their maiden names, since everyone knows them by that and they like it, or whatever the reason and some choose to hyphenate it with their husband's, which I think is the most confusing of the three. I feel either take his last name or don't, hyphenating it seems dumb to me.

In the US, all you need to do is get a certified original copy of your marriage certificate and take it to the Social security office to get a new card, to the bank to change your bank accounts, to the drivers license bureau and you may have to send it to the credit card companies to have your name changed there. The cost is free except for the cost of the drivers license, certified copy of your marriage certificate and postage. You don't have to go to court. They consider your marriage certificate enough cause to change your name.

Answer 6

You simply notify anyone who needs to know (DMV, Social Security, credit cards, bank, etc) that you've gotten married and had a name change. Some may require a copy of your marriage certificate.

Why is it important? If you decided to take his name, then your legal name is now and you need to get your legal name on things as soon as possible.

Answer 7

It's only important to change your name if it's important to you or your husband. You can change your name at the social security office. You usually have to have birth certificate, current social security card and your marriage license.

Answer 8

Beats me why it's important. It isn't important at all as far as I know. I've been married 24 years. Never changed my name at all. I sign all legal docs with my name, spouse uses his name and the kids have my name as their third name before their dad's name as their last name.
It's the 21st century. This isn't an issue still is it?

Answer 9

I didnt change my officially for 2yrs either, i just never got around to it! all you have to do is take you marriage license to the license place...(you may want to call, in MO we had to have certified copy + birth certificate) then I took my new ID and marriage certificate to the Soc. Sec. office and applied for my new card....it was really easy!

Answer 10

Go to City Hall with proof of who you are and a marriage license and change your name.