Name Change after Marriage

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!

Morgan’s Real Name Change Story

We’re so excited to share Morgan’s real name change story! How amazing is this first look photo?! Don’t miss how being best friends resulted in a 200 person wedding in Chicago, how Morgan cried (happy tears) the first time someone called her by her married name, and her advice for fellow newlyweds!!

Matt & I met when we were 18 through a mutual friend (who ended up being our best man). We remained acquaintances through college then when we graduated we both moved back to Denver & reconnected. We were both dating other people but we instantly became best friends. I could not get enough of him & we talked every single day. After about a year of being ‘best friends’ we realized we were supposed to be together. We went 0-100 which freaked some people out, but it was the best decision either of us ever made.

We got engaged in Nov 2015 the day before Thanksgiving. Matt was in law school so we set the wedding date for July 27, 2018 in Chicago, my hometown. We both come from huge families & have a lot of friends from over the years so it was a huge wedding at the Bridgeport Art Center in downtown Chicago. We had 20 people in our bridal party, 200+ guests & it was literally the best day of my life!

I always knew I wanted to take Matt’s last name – he is the most wonderful man I’ve ever known & his family is wonderful – I couldn’t wait to be a Bennett! We discussed hyphenating my maiden name & his last name, but ultimately I was set on changing it.The first time a stranger called me “Mrs. Bennett” I literally cried. I always called myself that among our friends/family but having someone who didn’t know me (and how obsessed I was with Matt & our wedding) but hearing it so organically was just the best.
I love my maiden name and I have a very big but close knit family. Not being a Kovacs anymore felt like I was separated from them for a while, but they know I’ll always be a Kovacs at heart. And they love Matt, so me becoming a Bennett was a big deal for all of us.
I’m what the call the ULTIMATE PROCRASTINATOR! I have lists & ideas for days but what I get accomplished is a whole ‘other topic! MissNowMrs put everything together for me, shipped it to me with the labels I needed to send them to the correct offices & all I had to do was sign & put it in the mailbox. They also covered things I didn’t think of like credit cards & other typical bills that I would have had to deal with. I’m so glad I found this site.

Being married is the best! The day after our wedding, waking up with my HUSBAND (and not having to plan a wedding anymore) was the best feeling I’ve ever felt. Cherish the little things and always remind yourself why you chose to marry that person.
Welcome to the club!

Photo Credit: Leslie Van Stelten Photography

The Latest Wedding Tech Solution: The MissNowMrs Name Change App

We recently launched the MissNowMrs Name Change App with the goal of saving newlyweds a staggering 13.7 million hours this Spring. How can we do that? By allowing newlyweds to Snap… Tap… and become a Mrs. ASAP on their phones!

How the MissNowMrs App Works

Step 1: Download the MissNowMrs App

Step 2:Snap photos of your driver’s license and your spouse’s,

Step 3: Tap to select your married name choice, address, and the answers to 15 questions.

Step 4: Pay $69.95 to have all of your completed forms, pre-addressed, and posted envelopes mailed to you ASAP!

42% of wedding planning is done via smart phone/tablet. So, it made total sense to create a name change app that provided newlyweds with a convenient way to change their names on their phones! We started MissNowMrs back in 2007 to make the 13 hour name change process easier. Our online service streamlined name change into a 30 minute experience. Now our app condenses into 3-4 minutes! It’s really cool being name change pioneers.

Are you a busy newlywed who wants to change from your maiden name to your married name? MissNowMrs built the solution for you! Head over to the app store and check out the MissNowMrs Name Change App. We can’t wait to help you transition from Miss to Mrs.!

How to Change Your to Your Married Name With Global Entry in 3 Steps

Ready for a New Name? Order Now!

Global Entry has made international travel a million time easier. But, if you’re changing your name after marriage you’ll need to change your name with Global Entry when you change your name on you U.S. passport. Global Entry is managed by US Customs and Border Protection. Here’s everything you need to know about changing your Global Entry married name change, courtesy of the MissNowMrs name change experts!

Step 1: Global Entry Married Name Change Requires Changing Your Passport

The first step of a Global Entry name update is to change your passport. File the DS-11 or DS-5504 to update your U.S. passport with your married name. If you’re curious about that process, we have a step-by-step passport name change guide to help you! When you receive your new passport in the mail it’s time to move on to Step 2.

Step 2: What Documentation Is Required To Change Your Name On Global Entry

Collect all of the necessary documents needed to change your name with Global Entry. This includes your new U.S. passport in your new married name, your old U.S. passport in your maiden name (it will be mailed back to you along with your new passport,) and your certified marriage certificate.

Step 3: Confirm With The Global Entry Enrollment Center

Head to a Global Entry Enrollment Center to update your name. *An appointment isn’t necessary. But, it’s a good idea to call the center ahead of your arrival regarding your intention to change your name. Specifically ask what documents they require to update your name and passport in their system to avoid any confusion. You should be prepared to pay a $25 fee if you choose to replace your Global Entry card. Your official Global Entry card will be mailed to you in a few weeks.

When international travel is involved we always advice MissNowMrs clients to err on the side of caution. It is possible to update your Global Entry before boarding a flight. But, if you have time try to go a week prior (or more) to your flight. This allows time to handle any issues that may arise, and helps you avoid missing your intended flight. If you have more questions about name change don’t hesitate to head over to the MissNowMrs newlywed blog. Or you can read our name change + travel article in Travel & Leisure.

Ready for a New Name? Order Now!

Is updating my name on the global entry portal sufficient

No. While the portal does allow you to change your name online, the change is not approved or official until you are verified through an in person visit.

If my passport, global entry and flight show different names is that ok?

No. For international travel the name on your Passport must match the name on your flight ticket. Additionally, to take advantage of Global Entry your name on your Passport must match the name on your Passport.

MissNowMrs made my name change process so easy and stress-free! Their step-by-step guidance was invaluable, and I completed everything much quicker than I expected

Sarah J.

Using MissNowMrs for my name change was the best decision. It was quick, easy, and their customer service was always available to answer my questions.

Rachel T.Company Name

As someone who was overwhelmed by the thought of changing my name, MissNowMrs was a lifesaver. Their service is efficient, user-friendly, and their customer support is top-notch.

Sarah J. Company Name

Will Priyanka Chopra Change Her Name to Mrs. Jonas?

Tis the season for celebrity name change! Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas tied the knot on December first, and 9 days later Priyanka unveiled her new married name on Instagram. Based on the beautiful name card in the photo featured on her Instagram Page, Priyanka will be Mrs. Priyanka Chopra Jonas.There are several factors that affect a woman’s name change decision, and as name-change experts we thought it would be fun to break down the factors in Priyanka’s life that could influence her name change.

A huge factor in name change it the bride’s age at the time of marriage. The younger a woman is, the more likely she is to change her name in some way. The older a woman is at the time of marriage, the more likely she is to keep her maiden name in some way. Priyanka is 36, an age where a majority of women have established their careers, so it makes total sense that she didn’t elect to become Mrs. Priyanka Jonas… she kept her maiden name and added her husband’s last name.

Another name change factor is if a woman’s career involves name recognition. Doctors, lawyers, real estate agents, and of course actresses typically keep their maiden names. Priyanka joins the ranks of other celebrity women like Amal Alamuddin, Hailey Baldwin, Gwyneth Paltrow who decided name change wouldn’t affect their careers.

Level of education also factors into the married name change equation. Although Priyanka intended to study aeronautical engineering, she left college after winning the Miss World Pageant to pursue film roles that were offered to her.

A factor that cannot be measured in relation to married name change is love. Love makes us all do things that we may never have considered. Name change can be a couples’ symbol that they’re “all in” on their marriage, it may be a tradition they want to keep, or a choice they both made together. Regardless of the factors that influenced Priyanka’s name change, we wish her and Nick a lifetime of love and happiness! And, if Priyanka’s name change paperwork hasn’t been filed we’d love for her to use the MissNowMrs app to become a legal Mrs. in minutes!

New Break credit: Teen Vogue

Shaina’s Real Name Change Story

We all love a good love story, and as name-change experts we love the backstory of a good name change decision. Today’s Shaina’s real name change story has both! Read on for a story including high school sweethearts, broken bones, high heels, and a name change decision that spanned several years!

Mark and I went to the same grade school, junior high and high school. Our first date was in 2008 to his junior prom and we dated for 1.5 years after that. Mark went to college and I was still in high school, so we broke up for about 10 months. Then I went to the same college he did because I was continuing as an athlete, not just because of him. We dated off and on for most of my freshman year and then we took a long break, but we were constantly together, or texting, just like we were together. We officially got back together the second semester of my sophomore year of college, and have been going strong ever since!

I had thought about my wedding day for most of my life. I knew I wanted a late fall wedding, on a 3 day weekend and my heart was set on November. I did just that. We had our wedding and reception in the same building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds. It was a very chilly day, but when you’re so excited to marry the best person in your life, you don’t really care. Also, two weeks before our wedding day we went to a Halloween party. My foot was stepped on by someone who had had too much to drink and they lost their balance, pushing me over, while my foot was stuck under theirs breaking the top of my foot. I was in a boot for 14 weeks, but you better believe I walked down the aisle in my wedding heels, significantly worsening the break, but it was 100% worth it

We talked about name changes long before we even got engaged. At the time, I was sure that I would just take his name and that would be the end of it. However, the closer we got to getting married, the less excited I was about getting rid of my maiden name completely. I went back and forth for a year on what I wanted to do. In our state you have to get a new license at 26, so I said I would wait until then to change my name. But when the time came, I didn’t change it at 26!

I said we had to move before I would change my name, but the 2 year window of only having to provide your marriage license was quickly approaching, so I really sat down and thought about what I wanted my name to be. I wrote it out every which way, I thought about if we had children how would I want them to have their names. I even thought about how I felt growing up when my mom married my step-dad and I was the only one who didn’t have the same name in their family. Did I want to spend the rest of my life feeling like that with my husband and children? Finally I decided, I was going to have two middle names. My middle name and my maiden name. It felt like the perfect combination of keeping who I am and my grandfather’s family name, but being a part of my family that I am creating with my husband.

I had finally come to a decision, filled out my MissNowMrs paperwork, took it to the DMV and every time (three times to be exact) they went to change my name the computer system froze! I was there over an hour and didn’t get to change my name. Talk about karma lol. I am returning this coming Saturday to try again. I think I will be excited about my name change once it happens, but I have a lot of apprehension when it comes to change. I am a creature of habit, so this will be out of my comfort zone for sure. I correct people when they call me Mrs. because that’s not my name. I think I’ll have to work hard to break that habit. All I had heard was how time consuming changing your name can be, probably can add that to the list of why I put my name change off. MissNowMrs got the paperwork completed in under 20 minutes, I printed it out and took it with me to the office and boom it was done! I honestly wish I would have done it sooner.

The advice I have for newlyweds is to enjoy your time together, don’t rush into what you think the next step needs to be, just be spouses for a while. It’s really awesome! Even though we lived together for a couple years before we got married, there is still some excitement and happiness that comes with even getting to say that you are going home to your husband. I just want us to build a life as two people and enjoy every part of that.

Photo Credit: Nick Goodin Photography