Name Change Advice

Looking for name change advice or some tips for newlywed life? The MissNowMrs experts have created state-specific name change articles and checklists for you. We’ve chronicled our recommendations for how to travel while changing your name AND how to handle voting during the transition.

We’ve also compiled our best guidance for how to handle difficult sister in laws, holidays as newlyweds, the ever-annoying baby questions, and much more. Why? Because, while we are name change experts, we’re also newlywed wives, moms, and sisters.

We hope our name change advice articles help smooth your transition to your new name, and a whole new phase of life. Congratulations and best wishes from the entire MissNowMrs team!

Investing Wisely – A Few Tips for Newlyweds

Investing wisely – a few tips for newlyweds are necessary. So we did the research for you! Most newlyweds know that investing can be riskier than just stowing money away into a money market account or CD. As a couple, you may have very different ideas on how to invest your earnings. Instead of every man and woman for him or herself, you should talk to your partner and find out what he/she would like to do as well as inform them of your own ideas. Together, you will be able to find a comfortable investing balance.

Studies show that men are bigger risk takers than women (no surprise there, right ladies?). Some husbands may want to go all in like a poker game – “I have a good feeling about this!” Most wives, on the other hand, would rather their retirement savings stay where they are, safe and sound earning a small but steady percentage in the bank. So how do you find a balance?

By talking to one another (it’s always about clear communication!), you can figure out what your long term and short term goals are. Examine your budget and decide what sort of investment risks you are actually able to take. If money is tight, it’s best to avoid any sort of risk until things are more stable. If you have plenty to play with, you can try jumping into the pool and seeing what happens.

Overall, both of you need to agree on where you stand and how to handle your funds. Don’t just talk about what you want either – if he wants to invest a lot of money now and you keep saying, “But we don’t have the money!” it may not sink in. You should actually have the numbers in front of both of you so you can see where your money is being spent, how much is coming in, what is spent on bills, and so forth. When money is mapped out, it’s much easier to organize it and control it, rather than just talking about it arbitrarily.

You do both have the option of investing separately; he with his money and she with hers. If you decide to go this route, agree upon which funds should not be toyed with; these can include emergency funds, retirement funds, and the amount needed for basic living expenses.

Whether you invest together, separately, or not at all, you should consider coming together once a year and reevaluating your portfolios and budget. Make sure it all balances out and that the risks are worth taking.

Are you investing wisely – a few tips for newlyweds… did ours pay off? What investments (risky or not) have you and your spouse taken? Did they pay off or cause too much tension in your relationship? We’d love for you to leave us a comment!

10 Fun Things To Do This Winter As Newlyweds

Looking for things to do this winter as newlyweds? As the fun of the holidays begins to fade and winter sets in for the long haul, it’s easy to feel a little blah. Here are ten fun ideas for newlyweds to make winter more bearable and even fun!

1. Go Sledding! Dig out your sleds and snow pants and head outside! Better yet, invite a few couples to join you in your winter fun. You’ll feel 10 years old in a matter of minutes. Then try #4 on our list to warm up.

2. Check into a Bed & Breakfast this weekend. If you’re feeling a little house-bound, a quick getaway will boost your spirits and give you some quality time with your husband.

3. Go shopping! Now is the time to scoop up cashmere sweaters and other great winter duds at after Christmas sales. Ann Taylor, for example, is having a great sale.

4. Sit by the fire and sip cocoa. Indulge in the ultimate winter warm up!

5. Start a new hobby, like learning to knit. Knitty.com has great ideas for beginners.

6. Bikram Yoga (aka Hot Yoga). The opposite of the freezing cold is doing yoga poses in a hundred and five degree class. Not only will you warm up, you’ll sweat off all those Christmas cookies!

7. Plan your flowers/planters/garden. Nothing makes Spring feel closer than looking at catalogs of plants and envisioning what your porch or yard could look like. Check out White Flower Farms for ideas.

8. Ice skate. Even if you’ve never been before, ice skating is really fun and can be a great way to get some fresh air, exercise and a few laughs all at the same time. Look for a local rink to take your hubby or friends to.

9. Host a slumber party for your girlfriends. Get in some great girl time before temperatures rise and everyone suddenly has plans. Order pizza, do face masks and watch a chick flick or two!

10. Get a pedicure. Just because you’re wearing socks every day, doesn’t mean your toes have to suffer. Pick a sizzling summer shade to instantly feel warmer.

Have any suggestions of things to do this winter as newlyweds? Please leave a comment to share with us and your fellow readers!

How to Change Your Name after Marriage in Common Law Marriages

Common Law Marriage Name Change

Ready for a New Name? Order Now!

Common Law Marriage Name Change

Some of you may be asking yourself what is a common law marriage*? It’s when a couple has lived together for at least 7 years, right? Actually…no, that’s a MYTH. A common law marriage is union (between a man and a woman who have not been formally married) recognized by a state based on that particular state’s laws. Common law married name change is a name change based on a common law marriage.

After some research, I found that not all 50 of the United States recognize common law marriages. As a matter of fact not even half do! States that recognize common law marriages (in some form or another) include: Alabama, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Utah.

Each state has its own requirements to meet for a union to be defined as common law marriage; which is precisely why it is important to take a look at your state’s laws to see if you are indeed in a valid common law marriage according to the state in which you reside.

The next order of business is your name change. Unfortunately, since there is no formal ceremony for common law marriages (and no Marriage Certificate) it is not the same process as changing your name after marriage and requires you to complete an additional step in order to legally change your name.

Federal courts rule that a name change at will or by “common law” is perfectly legal under the U.S. Constitution—meaning you can call yourself Rainbow Bright if you want to! However, in order to make the name change “official” you will need to take it one step further than just assuming your new name. Which means a legal name change through your local county court system. Please contact that office directly for further information on obtaining a legal name change.

Once you have a name change order (legal permission to officially change your name) you will notify each agency of your name change by submitting the proper paperwork. Each agency will process your name change requests and issue new state and government documents (i.e. Social Security card, Driver’s License, Passport, etc.) in that new name.

Sounds like going from Miss to Mrs.is a hassle, doesn’t it? This is where theMissNowMrs.com married name change service can help you! While we can’t obtain a name change order for you, once you have it you are able to use our service to help complete your paperwork and provide you with the step-by-step filing instructions to notify each agency of your new name. We promise to make it as painless and stress-free as possible!

Have you changed your name at will or by “common law?” Did you have trouble obtaining new state and government documents without a name change order? Help us and our readers further understand the process by leaving a comment below.

Ready for a New Name? Order Now!

Changing your name after common law marriage

Newlywed New Year’s Resolutions: Do or Don’t?

Are you making newlywed New Year’s resolutions? Many newlyweds start thinking about their New Year’s Resolution in days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. People come up with all kinds of things (i.e. to lose weight, quit smoking, organize their lives, take a dance lesson, earn a degree, etc.). These are all really good things to do to help become a healthier, happier you; so why do many of the people who pledge to do them fail?

Richard Wiseman, a psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire, led a study to figure out just that. He and his team asked 700 people about their strategies for achieving New Year resolutions. Their goals ranged from losing weight or giving up smoking to gaining a qualification or starting a better relationship. Of the 78% who failed, many had focused on the downside of not achieving the goals; they had suppressed their cravings, fantasized about being successful, and adopted a role model or relied on willpower alone (Source: guardian.co.uk).

Apparently, these tactics simply don’t work. So, what should you do if you really want to pick a goal and stick to it?

Break Your Ultimate Goal Up Into Smaller Steps: For example, if you plan to quit smoking; don’t do it cold-turkey. Try limiting the number of cigarettes you smoke in a day and take one away as you feel comfortable. You are more likely to stick with it, if you move at your own realistic pace.

Tell a Friend about Your Goal: Sharing your goals with friends or family will help you stay motivated to reach them (i.e. joining a gym with someone else and meeting to workout together will keep you on track).

Focus on Benefits of Success: Spend your time and energy focusing on the benefits of what your hard work will do for you rather than the fact that you might fail. Staying positive is motivating, not to mention a healthier way to live your life.

Keep a Journal: Write down your plan in a notebook or diary and keep track of what you do each day. This is a visual reminder of where you started and how far you have come since you decided to change your life.

Don’t get caught up into thinking that if you don’t start on January 1^st that you have to wait a whole year to start. When you are ambitious and ready to make a change in you life, do it! Forgive yourself for setbacks and get right back on track. You’ll look back when you reach your goal and realize you can do anything you put your mind to. Best of luck and Happy New Year!

What’s your New Year’s Resolution this year? Do you have a plan to help you reach your goal? Let us know if you used any of these tips and how they helped you stay motivated to reach your ultimate goal.

Brighten Up In the New Year With Our January Giveaway!

Listen up ladies! You’re only 8 weeks away from a brighter you. Envy Medical has teamed up with MissNowMrs.com to offer one of our lucky newlywed blog readers the chance to score a Lumixyl Topical Brightening system kit (valued at over $650)! Whether you’re trying to maintain your newlywed glow, or you’re planning to walk down the aisle, who wouldn’t want to kick off 2011 with a more fabulous face?!

This skin care kit uses a revolutionary peptide technology developed by researchers at Stanford University to even your skin tone by eliminating age spots, sun spots and any photo damage that you may have. Lumixyl Brightening Crème also has the benefits of several moisturizing ingredients. In fact, study participants reported visible improvements in overall facial aesthetics in addition to a 50% improvement in the appearance of their hyperpigmentation after 16 weeks! Worried the brightening kit might not work for you? Great news, Lumixyl is not only non toxic, it is safe for all skin types and won’t increase your sensitivity to the sun.

Ready to get your glow on with our January giveaway? Leave a comment on this, or any of our Newlywed Bed Posts on Mondays this month and you’ll be automatically entered to win. Tell us all about why you should win this prize and what trouble spots it would help you eliminate. The randomly selected contest winner will be announced on Janaury 31st!! If we don’t hear back from the winner within 2 weeks, we will randomly select a new winner to make sure someone ends up with this great goodie!

**If you tweet this giveaway by clicking the green retweet button below, you’ll receive an additional contest entry!**