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Same Sex Marriage Equality in 2014 and the New Year

Looking back on 2014, there have been great strides made in same sex marriage equality. In the last month South Carolina, Wyoming, Nevada and Arizona have legally recognized same sex marriages, bringing the total number of states that recognize same sex couples’ right to marry to 35.

Same sex couples marrying in these 35 states can apply for a marriage license at their county clerk’s offices, have an officiated legal wedding ceremony and will receive a certified marriage certificate. With a certified marriage certificate, the newlywed couple can file for a name change via the married name change process. This saves them the headache of navigating the legal name change process and petitioning the U.S. court system for the right to change their last names.

A big trend in same sex name-change in 2014 was the blending of two last names into a new married last name. For example, Miss Greenland marries Miss Burnbury and they opt to become Mrs. and Mrs. Greenbury. **Please note that only California residents have the option to blend their last names using the married name change process. Regardless of sexual orientation, newlywed couples who do not live in California will need to petition the courts to blend their last names.

2015 is around the corner and has the potential to bring marriage equality and the ability to use the married name change process to same sex couples residing in the remaining 15 states. You can check the legal marriage status of any state at any time at GayWeddings.com.  Information on the marriage license application process for same sex couples can be found via MarriageLicenseNow.com.

The IRS 8822 Form: To File or Not to File

The IRS 8822 Form

Do you know about the IRS 8822 form? Newlywed and exploring the idea of name change? Now is the perfect time to make the transition to Mrs.! If you file for your Social Security card and alert the Internal Revenue Service to your new name via the IRS 8822 form prior to December 31st, you can use your new married name on your taxes. No one wants to think about mundane things like taxes in the warm glow of newlywed bliss. But, taxes and impending tax season are a reality.

It’s free to file the IRS 8822 form. So, there is no reason to skip it when you change your name! The form title may read “Change of Address”, but if you read the fine print, it also serves as a notification form for name change. Is filing the IRS 8822 required? No, but we consider it a CYA form. You answer 7 questions and mail the form in, and that will ensure that the IRS knows of your new married name prior to tax season. The alternative is to not file the form and hope the Social Security Administration alerts the IRS to your new name.

If there is any confusion about your name, your tax returns will be held until the IRS sorts out the matter (and we all know how fast government offices are). So, when in doubt, file the free form! If you have questions about how to answer some of the IRS 8822 questions, which are tricky, you can always call or email the MissNowMrs name change experts.

Did you file the IRS 8822 when you changed your name? If you didn’t, did you run into any snafus during tax season? Let us know in a comment!

How To Change Your Name Change After Playing the Married Name Game

how to change your name

Curious how to change your name? Whether you decide to use an online name change service or handle the tedious 13 hour process yourself, there are a series of steps to change your name after marriage. As with any project or challenge, understanding the process is the key to its successful completion. Use our eight steps below for the process of going from Miss to Mrs.

Step 1: Select Your Ideal Name Change Option
Whether you opt for two last names, take your maiden name as a middle name, or use your spouse’s last name, knowing all of the name change options available to you in your particular state is critical. Hopefully playing the Married Name Game helped you narrow your choices and encouraged you to talk with your spouse about the concept of changing your name and how you feel about your new name.

Step 2: Marriage License/Marriage Certificate Details
Depending on your state, the name you write on your marriage license request form can dictate the married name change options available to you. Read the name section of the application form carefully and write exactly the name asked for.

If you live in California, and wish to take your maiden name as a middle name or blend your last name with your spouse’s, you will need to write the exact married name you desire on your marriage license in order to affect either of those name change options. If you write your maiden or spouse’s last name, you will no longer be able to use the married name change process to take your maiden name as a middle name or take a blended last name.

Step 3: Federal Name Change Forms
Once you receive your certified marriage certificate, you can begin filing your federal name change forms. The Social Security Administration, IRS, State Department and United States Postal service all have name forms that must be completed and filed with specific forms of identification as well as a certified copy of your marriage certificate.

Step 4: State Name Change Forms
After filing federal name change forms for a new social security card, U.S. passport and to update your name with the IRS and USPS, it is time to change your name at the state level. You will need to file a form at your motor vehicle administration for a new driver’s license in your married name, and a new photo will be taken (hooray). Next in the filing process are vehicle title and registration forms as well as a voter registration form to update your maiden name in your home state.

Step 5: Notifying Creditors
Following federal and state level name change forms comes the rather daunting task of updating your name with your banks, credit cards, insurance providers, utility providers, health care offices, investments, 401ks, professional licenses, magazines and gym memberships, to name a few. Many companies require written notice and proof of your marriage, while others will change your name over the phone.

Step 6: Update Your Virtual Existence
As you wait for your name change forms to be processed and your new forms of identifications to be issued, it is time to update your moniker across your social media platforms and email addresses. Everything from twitter to instagram to facebook and tumbler should be transitioned to match your new married name. Regardless of the option you choose, consider keeping your maiden name and adding your spouse’s name on your accounts so that friends and colleagues can search for and find you.

Step 7: Save Time & Stress
Feeling overwhelmed by the process? There’s a simple solution that condenses the 13 hour process into 30 minutes. Use the MissNowMrs app or easy online service to auto-complete all of the necessary government name change forms and letters and then follow their simple instructions on how to file by mail and skip endless office lines! Their API allows you to send notification letters to over 6 million creditors and ensure that you won’t forget any step along the way. With over 500,000 customers they are truly the one stop shop for transitioning to Mrs.!

Help Me Change My Name

Step 8: Celebrate Your New Name
You’ve filed all your forms, submitted all of the appropriate supporting documents and now have a new Social Security card, driver’s license and passport showing your new married name. Now what? It’s time to celebrate your new status as a Mrs! Indulge in monogrammed jewelry, stationary or soap. Print new business cards and begin signing and saying your new name. You are officially a Mrs.

Married Name Change & Voting | What You Need to Know

Married Name Change & Voting

Today’s the day for midterm election voting and women all over the United States are lining up to cast their votes.  If you’re newlywed and in the process of changing your name, this may affect your voter experience.  Where you are in the process and which forms you filed when will determine which name you can vote under. We’ve got the scoop on married name change & voting.

If you’ve filed a voter registration form to update your name, you should be able to vote under your new married name.  That is as long as you filed that form two or more weeks ago. The voter registration office needs time to process your request and amend their digital records.  If you haven’t filed a voter registration form, but did update your name on your state driver’s license check the form you completed.  Many states have a section on their driver’s license forms that allow you to update your voter information along with your license/ID.

If you have yet to file any of your name change forms, you should vote under your maiden name. Or vote with the name currently listed on your voter registration card. Confused?  A quick call to your state voter registration office can clarify which name you’re voting under.  

Now that you know the ins and outs of Married Name Change & Voting. Whatever your political party and name change status, go rock the vote ladies. It’s a right that our predecessors fought for!

Will Amal Alamuddin Change to George Clooney’s Last Name?

Will Amal Alamuddin Change to George Clooney's Last Name?

Will Amal Alamuddin change to George Clooney’s last name? George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin tied the knot a few days ago and now the entire world is wondering what’s next for the newlyweds. Will Amal change to her married last name? Will they start a family? Where will the live? While it’s none of our business, it’s fun to speculate!

Clooney’s bride is 36, which will affect her name change decision. Statistically, the older the bride is at the time of marriage the more likely she is to keep her maiden name in some way. Perhaps she will hyphenate Alamuddin-Clooney or take her maiden name as a middle name.

We think Amal should play the MarriedNameGame to see what her ideal name change option is based on 8 key name change factors in her life. Whatever name change option she chooses (or doesn’t), we wish both George and Amal a marriage filled with love and happiness that lasts a lifetime.

What do you think? Will Amal Alamuddin change to George Clooney’s last name? We’d love to hear your thoughts and predictions in a comment!