Married Name Change Archives

Nov 01 2016

Married Name Change: Why Now Is Better Than Later

Most newlyweds wait a few months to change their names after marriage, so after the Spring/Summer wedding boom comes a flurry of name changes in the Fall. While not every woman should change her name, it is advisable for newlyweds intending to make the legal switch to Mrs. to do so as soon as they can.

Why? It’s pretty simple: the more things with your maiden name on them, the longer it will take you to change all of them to your new married name! The longer you wait to change your name, the more “stuff” you accumulate with your maiden name on it.

This “stuff” includes big things like mortgages, leases, vehicle titles, insurance policies and smaller things like airline miles and gym memberships. Outside of the entities mentioned, as the holidays approach “other stuff” lurks….stuff like holiday cards, mis-engraved gifts from family members (seriously), and company awards (I have a massive plaque showing a hyphenated last name I never took).

So, if you’re married and pondering name change, now is the time to pull the trigger. You can DIY and figure out the SS-5, IRS 8822, Passport 5504 and other government form gems using our free married name change checklist or save 13 hours of name-change form research, completion, and filing by using the MissNowMrs online name change service. We condense the 13 hour process of becoming a Mrs. into 30 minutes for $30…..which seems like a very nice pre-holiday gift for you from you!

Sep 27 2016

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!

Help Me Change My Name

Sep 13 2016

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

Jul 08 2016

Gwen Stefani Name Change

Back in 2002, newlywed Gwen Stefani change her name to Gwen Stefani Rossdale. Now that she’s single, the singer has filed to change her name back to her maiden name.
We mostly write about married name change in this blog, but divorce name change happens. MissNowMrs.com has a sister site for divorcees looking to go back to their maiden names: GetYourNameBack.com. The divorce name change process is the same as the married name change process, except you need a name-change order within your divorce decree (which is a paragraph stating you will be returning to your maiden name) instead of a marriage certificate.

An alternate way for women to change their names after divorce is if they re-marry. **It is important that they list their legal name (so not their maiden name) on the marriage certificate so it will allow them to change from their legal name to their new married name. If a divorce women writes her maiden name on a marriage certificate, most offices will not allow her to change to her married name using the married name change process. Much hoopla, red tape, and wasted time ensues.
We wish Gwen Stefani the very best, and hope that she uses MissNowMrs.com to change her name once again if she walks down the aisle with Blake Shelton!

Jun 09 2016

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!

Help Me Change My Name