Name Change After Marriage for Newlyweds

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!

Feb 19 2020

Sheryl Sandberg’s Name Change

After reading about her engagement to Tom Bernthal, our first thought was the potential of Sheryl Sandberg’s name change. Will she be the first high profile name change of 2020? Our name change experts break down the potential below!

Sheryl Sandberg’s Name Change History

Sheryl Sandberg did not choose to change her name after her marriage to Josh Goldberg. She also didn’t change her name after her first marriage to Brian Kraff. So, based on those we’re starting to believe Sheryl might not change her name

Sheryl’s Age and Education

Sheryl Sandberg is currently 50 years old. Studies have shown that the older a woman is at the time of her marriage, the less likely she is to change her name. As far as education goes, Sheryl graduation from Harvard business school. This is another tick in the not changing her name box. Sociologists agree that the more advanced education a woman has, the more likely she is to hang onto her maiden name.

Sheryl’s Career

The more a woman’s name is tied to her career, the less likely she is to change her name. Sheryl is a world-famous technology executive at Facebook. She’s also best-selling author and billionaire. So, when you weigh those life factors her name change seems highly unlikely.

The Love Factor

There’s a factor that no researcher can accurately measure: love. Many celebrity newlyweds do opt to change their names after marriage. Women like Heidi Klum, Amal Clooney, Hailey Beiber, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas have changed their names against all odds. Some cite feeling “all in”on their marriage. While others feel like name change is a romantic tradition they wanted to continue. Sheryl could surprise the world and opt to hyphenate her last name!

In our expert opinion, Sheryl Sandberg is highly unlikely to change her name after marriage. But, if she does, we’d love for her to use our name change app or online service!

Help Me Change My Name

Jan 23 2020

Married Name Change in 2020

Whether you needed to regroup after the wedding, made a New Year’s resolution, or are anticipating filing taxes jointly as a married couple; 2020 kicks off a flurry of newlyweds taking on married name change. If you’re part of that population don’t worry! The MissNowMrs experts are here to help guide you through the process.

Choose the Right Married Name For You

It’s 2020, and the good news is that there are many married name change options available to you. You have the option to keep your maiden name, hyphenate your last name with your spouse’s, take two last names without a hyphen, take your maiden name as your middle name, add your maiden name as a second middle name, or simply swap your maiden name for your spouse’s last name. So, simply pick the married name that’s best for you and your situation.

*Heads up! Not all states allow all variations of married name change, so please check your state laws.

Maiden to middle name change and taking two last names (sans hyphen) are the two most popular married name change options as we head into 2020.
Danielle Tate, MissNowMrs founder
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Get Your Ducks (aka Documents) in a Row

The best way to simplify your name change process is to get organized BEFORE you begin. Call or stop by the county clerk’s office that issued your marriage license and request 2-3 certified marriage certificates. You will need these certificates to file for your new name at numerous federal, state, and local government offices.

Research the married name change filing order in your state of residence. Many states require you to change your name with Social Security and either wait 24 hours, or wait to bring your new Social Security card showing your married name, before updating your driver’s license. Still other state offices require you to file for your name change with a Social Security card in your maiden name.

Prior planning will save you a ton of stress as you move through your name change process. You should also learn the processing times for the offices in your state and government. Why does this matter? It has to do with travel. If you change your name on your driver’s license and/or passport, but have flights booked in your maiden name you will most likely have to re-purchase new tickets (if any are available.)

Change Your Name the Easy Way

Feeling stressed about figuring out the requirements and timelines related to changing your name after marriage? Technology to the rescue! Newlyweds in 2020 don’t have to waste countless hours bogged down with their name changes. The MissNowMrs App or online name change service allow you to transition to your new name in minutes!

Oct 23 2019

The 6 Steps of North Carolina Name Change

Thinking about changing your name in North Carolina? Every state has different married name change laws and filing orders, but don’t stress! The MissNowMrs name change experts have broken the process into 6 steps to smooth your transition to your new married name.

Step 1: Change Your Name with Social Security

North Carolina requires newlyweds to file the SS-5 form with Social Security as the first step of their married name change process. So, simply complete the form and file by mail (you will need to send your driver’s license or U.S. passport) or in-person. In approximately 2 weeks, your new social security card with your new married name will be issued and mailed to you.

Step 2: Change Your Name with the IRS

The next step in the North Carolina name change process is filing the IRS 8822 form with the IRS. The good news is it’s a one page form that is free to file. Not every opts to complete the IRS 8822. But, we encourage our clients to file it to make sure the office knows their new name and maiden name when tax season arrives!

Step 3: Change Your Name with the DMV

To update your North Carolina driver’s license with your married name, you will need to first file your SS-5 form and wait at to receive your updated Social Security Card. Then, bring it, along with your completed DMV form, certified marriage certificate, car insurance card, and $10.00 in cash to the DMV. The office will issue your new driver’s license the same day!
If you are applying for a Real ID, you will also need to bring a certified copy of your birth certificate or your unexpired U.S. passport (it can still be in your maiden name.) *Heads up! There may be an additional fee for your Real ID.

We highly encourage you to complete the section of the North Carolina driver’s license form where you can elect to update your name on your voter registration. This will enable you to vote locally and nationally with your new married name.

Step 4: Change Your Name with the State Department

Changing your name with the State Department, involves filling in the DS-11 passport form or the DS-5504 passport form. You can then file it with your current passport (or passport card,) your certified marriage certificate, two passport photos, and the listed processing fee. Word to the wise: U.S passports take approximately 5-6 weeks to be issued. So, it’s smart to give yourself 2 months to file before any international travel.

Step 5: Change Your Name with Your Creditors

After you’ve filed you name change forms with the state and federal offices, it is time to notify all of your creditors of your new name. The normal list of creditors includes your banks, credit cards, insurances, mortgage providers, student loan companies, medical providers, utilities, memberships, and magazines. Many of these companies can be contacted by phone, but some (especially banks) require you to come into a local office with your certified marriage certificate to change the name on your account.

Step 6: Simplify You Name Change with MissNowMrs

Name change typically takes 13 hours. That’s 13 hours of your newlywed life spent searching for forms, reading fine print, manually completing forms, and then figuring out what order to file them in (which is state-specific.) You will also need to research which offices you need to file each form at. It’s a super unfun process.

Fortunately, the MissNowMrs App and online name change service can streamline your name change. We automate all the tedious repetitive parts of the name change process saving our clients over 13 hours of stress.
So, if you’re thinking about changing your name after marriage in North Carolina, the MissNowMrs app, service, and name change experts are at your service!

Aug 22 2019

How To Change Your Name In Georgia

If you’re thinking about name change after marriage in Georgia… don’t stress! The MissNowMrs name change experts have compiled a list of 5 Steps to make your name change in the Peach State a breeze.

Georgia Name Change Step 1: Social Security
To change your name with Social Security, complete the SS-5 form and file it with the Social Security Administration. This can be done in-person or by mail (if you feel comfortable mailing your passport in.) Your new Social Security card will come in the mail approximately 2 weeks after the office receives it. *Please note that your Social Security Number does not change.

Georgia Name Change Step 2: DMV
To change your name on your driver’s license you will need to complete the Georgia driver’s license form and bring your current Georgia driver’s license (or out-of-state license if converting.)Your certified marriage certificate and proof of residence (ex: utility bill or bank statement) if your address has changed.
The fee for updating your married name on your license is $0.00 during your renewal period or $20 if your license is within 150 days of expiring. If you are applying for a Real ID, also bring a certified copy of your U.S. state or territory birth certificate OR your unexpired U.S. Passport (which can be in your maiden name) *There may be additional fee may be required for a Real ID.

Georgia Name Change Step 3: U.S. Passport
To change your name on your U.S. Passport you will need to complete the appropriate passport form based on your current passport status. You will need to submit your current passport with your filing, so don’t file right before any international trips. The State Department is taking approximately 5 weeks to issue new passports. If you need your new passport in your new married name issued faster than 5 weeks, you can pay an additional fee to have your passport processing expedited.

Georgia Name Change Step 4: IRS
Step 4 involves notifying the IRS of your new married name. Complete the IRS 8822 form and mail it to the appropriate IRS office address listed on the second page of the form (which is based on your state of residence.) There is no fee to file the IRS 8822 form, and it ensures that when tax season arrives the IRS knows who you are, what your new married name is, and where to send your tax returns.

Georgia Name Change Step 5: Creditors
After you have filed all of the federal and state-level name change forms, you will need to notify all of your banks, credit cards, insurances, medical providers, employers, insurance providers, mortgage providers, membership companies, student loan holders, magazines, gym memberships, etc. of your new married name. The notifications can be done by phone, mail, or fax depending on the company you are contacting.

The Easy Name Change Solution:
If the 5 steps of the married name change process in Georgia seem formidable, don’t worry. The MissNowMrs easy online name change service was created to streamline the tedious 13 hour process into 30 minutes! Sign up, answer a few questions, and all of your name change forms will be auto-completed for you. .. OR use the MissNowMrs Name Change App. It’s like pressing the easy button for married name change!

Aug 15 2019

Niki Minaj’s Married Name Change

Niki Minaj’s married name change is causing all sorts of celebrity buzz! Rumor has it that the rapper, singer, song writer is planning to hyphenate her maiden name with Kenneth Petty’s. That would make her Mrs. Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty.

Name change after marriage is a very personal decision. But, there are a few key life factors that tend to influence a woman’s choice. In Nicki’s case, her age and fame are factors that would pull heavily towards her keeping her maiden name. Studies show that the older a woman is at the time of marriage, the more likely she is to keep her name. Also, the more a woman’s career is tied to name recognition, again, the more likely she is to hold onto her maiden name after marriage.

Name change research and studies can never capture the “love” factor that plays into decision making. But love is definitely part of the equation. As name change experts, we hear the reasons for newlywed name changes all day! Many couples feel that name change shows that they’re “all in” or it ties them together in a very noticeable way. It would be so fun to interview Nicki Minaj about her name change choice and the factors that helped her reach the decision to hyphenate. Every newlywed is different… so the story is always fascinating!

If you’re considering changing your name, but aren’t sure what name combination is legal in your state, play the Married Name Game. This cute quiz has a patent-pending algorithm that matches you with your best married name change option or option(s.)

When and if you’re ready to do something along the lines of Niki Minaj’s married name change, we have the solution. The MissNowMrs App condenses the tedious 13 hour process into 3 minutes! Simply snap photos of the bar codes on your license and your spouses. Next, tap the answers to a few questions. Finally, we will send you all of the necessary name change forms completed with your information along with pre-addressed and pre-posted envelopes and instructions on exactly how to file.

Photo Credit: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images