Changin'' Names...

[FD21Bride]

How long does it take to officially change your name? I hear social security is the longest, maybe up to 8 weeks to get your new card.. Also, how exactly do I go about all this, anyone know?

Thanks!

 

[njc]

You have to visit your local Social Security office to change your name, but once it is changed there, its changed. They give a piece of paper saying you have changed your name and your cards are in the mail. Mine took maybe 3-4 weeks... cant remember. I needed my DL, SS card and marriage cert.

I changed my drivers license first, and they yelled at me that i had to go to SS first... SS told me i had to go to DMV first. So they dont know what to do either, but it all worked out. There is really no wrong or right way to do it as long as DMV and SS are your first two stops... the big key in changing everything is your marriage cert.

After that it was mainly a matter of calling places (employer, banks, CCs, etc)... some wanted a copy of my marriage cert., others just changed it.

HTH!

 

[Logan Sapphire]

Yeah, mine didn''t take very long at all either. I think it took me a couple of weeks to get the new SS card. Also, the SS office told me that the DC DMV would accept their paper for the license change without needing the actual card, but sadly for me, I live in VA, so I needed to wait.

 

[njc]

Date: 4/18/2006 9:07:35 AM
Author: Logan Sapphire
but sadly for me, I live in VA, so I needed to wait.

See, thats so weird... I am in VA too and they changed it first! Maybe the trick was i still had my old SS card?

 

[sosst7]

I also live in VA and heard something different - DMV needs to get it together! I heard that once you go to the SS office about 48 hours later when the information is uploaded, you can just go to DMV and have your license changed because the information should already be in the system. Is this correct?

Logan Sapphire and NJC - do you guys live in Northern VA? Maybe we should have a PS get together with other ladies in the area!

 

[aljdewey]

Date: 4/18/2006 8:35:26 AM
Author:FD21Bride
How long does it take to officially change your name? I hear social security is the longest, maybe up to 8 weeks to get your new card.. Also, how exactly do I go about all this, anyone know?

Thanks!

Not long at all./...at least here in North Shore/Boston.

I filed my signed marriage license with my local City Hall the day after my wedding, and they gave me a certified copy right then on the spot.

I went on my honeymoon the following day, and I returned on a Wednesday. On Thursday, I took that certified marriage license copy to the SS office and made the change. They gave me a temporary slip noting the change, which I then took to the DMV office across the street.

My new SS card arrived in the mail 8 days later! My new license took about 2.5 weeks.

 

[FD21Bride]

Thanks eveyone...was just wondering how much of a hassle this would be.....

 

[monarch64]

I ordered the kit from bridekit.com or something similar a couple of years ago before I got married. It had every form I needed in it to change my SS card, license, credit cards, etc. I think the whole process only takes around 4-6 weeks (can''t remember, but it wasn''t too, too long). Anywho, the kit really helped me get organized about it and gives step-by-step instructions so you know what to do first. It was a well-spent $25 for me!

 

[FireGoddess]

I did it all myself, and the SS office is definitely the first place you''re supposed to go. With the new card in hand, you can go to DMV, and then take care of all the rest.

 

[bluesilver701]

what if someone will be traveling for their honeymoon, out of the country, a few days after their wedding? i dont know if/how/when i need to change my passport, if it will take too long, etc etc.


maybe i should just wait till we get back from the trip (about 2 weeks) to do the whole name change thing?.. but i know my lovely dear fiance wouldnt like that one very much..

though it might be easier.


ironicaly, my department at my college already has the name change info. my faculty advisor put my current last name in the computer with my ''new'' last name in parenthesis. so i guess thats kinda my first official ''changed name'' item! yay for learning a new signature...

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 4/18/2006 12:24:45 PM
Author: bluesilver701
what if someone will be traveling for their honeymoon, out of the country, a few days after their wedding? i dont know if/how/when i need to change my passport, if it will take too long, etc etc.



maybe i should just wait till we get back from the trip (about 2 weeks) to do the whole name change thing?.. but i know my lovely dear fiance wouldnt like that one very much..

though it might be easier.



ironicaly, my department at my college already has the name change info. my faculty advisor put my current last name in the computer with my ''new'' last name in parenthesis. so i guess thats kinda my first official ''changed name'' item! yay for learning a new signature...

I am waiting til after our honeymoon to change my name (since my passport is in my maiden name) so I will book my flight with my maiden name.

 

[Evie75]

http://www.weddinghowto.com/namechange.htm

Heres a good website

 

[Logan Sapphire]

Date: 4/18/2006 9:24:44 AM
Author: sosst7
I also live in VA and heard something different - DMV needs to get it together! I heard that once you go to the SS office about 48 hours later when the information is uploaded, you can just go to DMV and have your license changed because the information should already be in the system. Is this correct?

Logan Sapphire and NJC - do you guys live in Northern VA? Maybe we should have a PS get together with other ladies in the area!

Yeah, I live in Arlington. I''m up for a GTG! I don''t know if that''s because I went to a DC branch of the SSA, but you wouldn''t think that would matter.

For someone else who asked about honeymoon issues, I waited about 6 months after I was married to change my name, so I went on my honeymoon under my maiden name. I need to amend my passport, too.

 

[njc]

Everything for the honeymoon was in my maiden name.

Honestly, 8 months after the fact, im still changing my name on somethings... the big important stuff is done though.

 

[foxngiraffe]

Date: 4/18/2006 1:03:47 PM
Author: Logan Sapphire

Date: 4/18/2006 9:24:44 AM
Author: sosst7
I also live in VA and heard something different - DMV needs to get it together! I heard that once you go to the SS office about 48 hours later when the information is uploaded, you can just go to DMV and have your license changed because the information should already be in the system. Is this correct?

Logan Sapphire and NJC - do you guys live in Northern VA? Maybe we should have a PS get together with other ladies in the area!

Yeah, I live in Arlington. I''m up for a GTG! I don''t know if that''s because I went to a DC branch of the SSA, but you wouldn''t think that would matter.

For someone else who asked about honeymoon issues, I waited about 6 months after I was married to change my name, so I went on my honeymoon under my maiden name. I need to amend my passport, too.

i live in Alexandria VA now, and heard that SS is the first place to go, but pack a lunch and a dinner, In NY, where i''m used to the rules, it was different though.
I think all those agencies need to get their acts together or some conssitency or something,

 

[njc]

Yes, the Alexandria office is insane... it took me 3.5 hours

 

[Mara]

we traveled to tahiti right after getting married so i was worried about my passport (which i was getting for the first time ever right before getting married), but they said it was not a big deal because my DL would still say my maiden name too. so as long as my DL and my Passport matched, it didn't matter if i had just gotten married since it wasn't filed anywhere yet.

when we got home i had the passport updated, all they did was make a notation on the back page that says my married name and the date. so my passport still has maiden name on the front, kinda odd, but whatever.

i went to get my SS changed first, so they could give me the printout that said it was changed for DMV, then went to DMV to get it changed there. from that point i had the printout of the SS and also the new DL and i got the real things maybe 1-2 weeks later. not a big deal, but i wasn't traveling or going anywhere so it wasn't a big deal.

at that point i printed out this form i found online which was basically just a form letter you filled in your old name, new name etc and then attached a copy of the marriage license to mail or fax to any of your credit cards, or utilities, bills etc to get them to change over to your new name.

it wasn't a hassle at all, what was the biggest hassle was the 2 hours i had to wait at the SS office and then the 1 hour at the DMV! though a few of the bill/utility places STILL havent changed my name but i figure as long as they don't care and they still cash my checks then i don't care either.

 

[monarch64]

I don''t know if this has been mentioned already, but don''t forget to have your vehicle registration changed if your car is in your name. I neglected to take care of that for some reason (I was more concerned with changing my DL and SS card). About a year after we were married I got pulled over and the cop gave me some crap about my DL name not matching my registration card--grr! I didn''t get a fine or anything, but he talked to me like I was a complete idiot.

To change your title and registration you can go to your state''s online DMV service and request the application. It''s not cheap (in Illinois anyway), I think it was $65 for a new title/registration card. Just wanted to let you know!

 

[sosst7]

Do we also have to notify the credit bureau or is it taken care of when we do the paperwork for the new SS card? I work in DC and hopefully during lunch, I can go to the SS office and get things taken care of without having to take additional time. Is there such a thing as a good time to go?

Monarch - thanks for the tip, I didn''t even think of that!

 

[monarch64]

Date: 4/19/2006 8:41:17 AM
Author: sosst7
Do we also have to notify the credit bureau or is it taken care of when we do the paperwork for the new SS card? I work in DC and hopefully during lunch, I can go to the SS office and get things taken care of without having to take additional time. Is there such a thing as a good time to go?

Monarch - thanks for the tip, I didn''t even think of that!

I believe when you change your SS card the credit bureaus are automatically notified/updated. I think there may even be some mention of that when you fill out the form for your new SS card? Hard to remember all that stuff now!

 

[Mara]

Oh the one thing that has been a pain for me is that DMV is supposed to notify voter registration about my name change, I even checked the box, but they never did!! As a result it has never been changed and I have to have my vote mailed in when I go to the voting place and show my ID and marriage certificate. Total pain...I''m sure I could get it changed if I looked into it but I''m too lazy. I was so bummed when the DMV didn''t update!

 

[FireGoddess]

The DMV is so bad for that - when I originally moved and got a new driver''s license I did the paperwork for them to auto-register me to vote....and they never did it. As a matter of fact, I had to register to vote FOUR times before it worked.

 

[glaucomflecken]

Changing my name has been the biggest pain in the butt for me, because it seemed like for every agency I changed my name at, two more popped up I had forgotten about! Make tons of copies of your marriage license, you will need it everywhere!

We moved to No. Virginia after the wedding and were not in permanent housing so I waited til we moved in our own place to start the process. The DMV said I needed to go to SS first. So I applied for my new card and I think I got the new one 2 weeks later, it wasnt that long for me at all.

I tried to change my name on my bank account and they would not until I had my new drivers license so I got that done next. (FYI NoVA girls try the DMV in Leesburg or Woodbridge, still crazy but not as bad as Alexandria!) Then I changed my credit cards, bank account and ATM, student loans, retirement accounts and whatnot.

I second a Northern VA get together! I keep missing them...

 

[FD21Bride]

OMG! You guys make this process sound like a horrible pain in the rump

Does this rank amoung the other awful things women must go through (like childbirth) beause men are wimps & complain too much? LOL

BLuesilver--Wish my college was that easy with my name change...I have to bring in official marriage certificate and everything and they won''t register my application with state boards in my married name so that is another thing on my list I have to try to work out before I can test for my RN license.....

 

[bluesilver701]

i supose thats the difference between nursing scrool and film school. here in the film program, i supose they''re just happy to find out the last name is changing... or maybe they are just happy we know how to spell the ones we already have. being in the college of art and humanities under the florida education system, not too much is expected from us. lol

i really would like to travel, after having my name changed. i think as far as the passport goes, it can be done (slightly?) ahead of time, but im wondering.. can i book the flight under my new name, before i have the driver''s liscence switched over? becuase i think we have a day or two between the weddnign and the trip, i could make the DMV trip.. and Social security.. or is that a bad idea.

 

[eks6426]

One word to those needing to change your last name on your passport. The rules have changed and now instead of doing a notation like Mara had done, they issue you a whole new passport. If you do it within one year of issuance of your current passport it''s free. You have to send new pictures and everything. Here''s the link:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/correcting/correcting_2654.html

If it has been more than one year since your passport was issued, you have to pay again.

Here''s from the FAQ

3. I previously had my passport amended with new or corrected information. Can I still do that?

No. Since September 26, 2005, Passport Services no longer amends currently valid passports. Instead, customers are issued replacement passports. Please see the PASSPORT CORRECTIONS/CHANGES CHART to determine the specific procedure to follow depending on the type of change or correction.

4. Why did the Department of State decide to stop amending existing passports?

Replacing a passport instead of amending it improved the overall security of the document. Additionally, with the upcoming Electronic Passport (EP), the printed data must match the data contained on the chip embedded in the Electronic Passport.