Danielle Tate

Name Change After Marriage & Voting

Newlywed and trying to figure out how name change after marriage & voting impact each other? It is very important to understand how changing your maiden name may affect your ability to vote in the presidential election. This isn’t a scary article. It’s a heads up so you can exercise your right to vote regardless of your name-change status!

Every state has different voter identification laws. But, most require photo ID in the name listed on your voter registration records. If you’ve already begun changing your name and have updated your voter registration with your new married name, you’re in the clear! You can rest assured that come Election Day you can cast your ballot and participate in electing our new president.

If you’re planning to change your name, but haven’t filed any legal paperwork for a new driver’s license or U.S. Passport in your new married name, you should consider waiting to change your name until after the election. This will ensure that your forms of ID match voter records and you will be able to vote without issue.

What if all of your identification documents have been changed to your married name, but your maiden name is still on file with the voter registration office?

Option 1: You can call the office to see if you can update your name on your registration. Depending how close you’re cutting it they should be able to assist you.

Option 2: Be prepared to sign an affidavit on the poll sheet asserting you are the same person.

Now that you know your options…take the avenue that is best for you, but please vote. Countless brave women made tremendous sacrifices to ensure you had the right, as a woman, to elect government officials. Make them proud ladies!

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Blending Last Names: The Inside Scoop on Unconventional Name Change

The concept of blending last names after marriage makes sense. You were two independent people with different lives and different names. As you marry, you begin to blend your lives, finances, goals, families, and dreams together. A blended last name is a tangible representation of your newly blendedness (yes I made that word up).

While a combined last name may seem like a great option as newlyweds, the government doesn’t agree. As a name change service, we know all about the red tape associated with legal married name change, but it isn’t common knowledge. So here’s the scoop.

California residents are the only engage people in the US that have the option to blend their last names using the married name change process. BUT both partners must write the new last name on their marriage license application. If you think of blending after your wedding… you’re out of luck. Make that one more reason to discuss name change before saying “I do.”

What if you don’t live in California and still want to blend your last names? Traditionally both partners have to petition the court system for a legal name change order. Those documents, once issued, will allow you both to go through the name-change process and change your names. It’s not fun, but it’s how it’s done.

I recently read an article about a newlywed couple in Brooklyn who combined their last names from Franklin and Reed to Franklin Reed. They petitioned the court prior to their wedding and the judge granted their request. They celebrated with the #FranklinReedNoHyphen hashtag at their wedding! This goes to prove that where there is a will, there is a way. Even in married name change!

Should you need help changing your name, the MissNowMrs App and service can save you 13 hours of hassle.

Photo credit: Rachel Kara

Will Newly Engaged Pippa Middleton Change Her Name?!

The world is abuzz with the news of Pippa’s recent engagement to James Matthews! We all know she looks lovely in white! The couple made it official on July 17th, and while most people are curious when and where the wedding will be (and if Prince George will be the ring bearer.) We’re curious will Pippa Middleton Change Her Name?

Will Pippa change her name after marriage? Let’s look at the facts. Pippa is 32 and benefits from name recognition as a socialite, author, and columnist. Those two factors would point to her keeping her name or perhaps hyphenating, which is called double-barreling in England.

Romance and tradition are two factors that cannot be plotted scientifically, so as wild cards they could change Pippa’s decision and have her carrying the new moniker of Mrs. Pippa Matthews after her wedding. We think James’ opinion on name-change will come into play as the newlyweds begin to make life choices together.

While we’ll have to wait and wonder will Pippa Middleton change her name. We wish Pippa a lifetime of love and happiness in her marriage! And, should you need to change your name. The MissNowMrs app and service can save you 13 hours of hassle.

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Why Is Married Name Change SO Hard?!

You’re newlywed, and freshly home from your honeymoon. As you unpack and begin married life, you start thinking about name change. It can’t be that hard can it?” Why is married name change SO hard? It shouldn’t be difficult, and it would be wonderful if there was a name-change fairy. You could place your marriage license under your pillow and wake up with a new driver’s license, passport, and social security card in the morning. Poof…instant Mrs!

In reality, name-change it a total time-suck, and pain in the rear. A newlywed has to make a list of places she should change her name, collect all of the appropriate forms (note there are multitudes for each office depending on your current status), complete those forms, determine the right order to file the forms, determine and collect all of the required items and fees needed to be filed with each form, and then go wait in line and physically file the forms in-person at each office.

After federal forms are filed, a newlywed needs to file state-level forms for a new driver’s license, to update her voter registration, and vehicle title/registration. When those forms are filed, it’s on to notifying all creditors that have your maiden name on file. This group includes: banks, credit cards, insurance providers, student loan providers, professional licenses, associations, gyms, magazines. The list is never ending. Have I made my point? Name change shouldn’t be hard, but it is.

The Solution to Married Name Change Hassle

Fortunately, MissNowMrs.com was created by a bride fed up with name-change redundancy and bureaucracy. The simple service condenses the tedious 13 hours associated with name change into 30 minutes for $30. Or, you can opt to purchase their premium service and all of your completed forms will be mailed to you. Along with pre-stamped, pre-addressed envelopes, and detailed instructions on where to sign and what to send where. Not quite a name-change magic wand…but pretty close!

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Married Name Change & Summer Vacation

It’s almost Memorial Day! Have you thought about married name change & summer vacation yet? In the blur of BBQs, parties, and your new life as a newlywed don’t forget about your name change. If you’re planning to change your maiden name after marriage, or have already started the process, now is the time to file all of your legal forms!

The worst thing you can do is partially change your name, or tell your spouse you changed it (but sorta haven’t). True story: I started changing my name and after three failed trips to get my new driver’s license in my new name, I had the idea for MissNowMrs. I wanted to be the first person to beta test my name-change service, so I put my personal transition to Mrs. on hold.

Everything was fine until my husband surprised me with a trip to Mexico. Which, he booked in my married name. But, my passport was in my maiden name. Cue the running around frantically calling the State Department and spending an entire day in line getting an expedited passport. I still have the worst-possible frazzled passport photo and cannot wait to file for a new passport next year.

Don’t let this happen to you! Learn from my married name change & summer vacation misadventures and change your name completely. It’s like pulling off a band aid. It’s so much more painful if you slowly drag it out. Just do it! The best news is, you can use the MissNowMrs app or easy online name change service to streamline the 13 hour process into 13 minutes and enjoy your summer travel with zero drama as a Mrs.

Help Me Change My Name