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!

Name Change Service 3 Day BOGO Sale

It’s time for a BOGO sale! MissNowMrs.com is ecstatic to announce our 3 Day BOGO Sale starting today December 15, 2010 through December 18, 2010! It’s our first ever SALE coming to you in time for the Holiday Season.

You have two incredible purchase options:
Purchase our Complete Online Name Change Package for $29.95 using the promo code: MNMBOGO and receive a FREE MissNowMrs.com Gift Card for a friend. That means you will change to your new married name without the stress and hassle AND have the perfect gift for your newly engaged or newly married friend. She will LOVE you forever!
OR
Purchase one MissNowMrs Gift Card and Get one FREE! That’s right, you will have the perfect bridal shower gift for not one, but two of your friends!

This amazing offer lasts 3 Days ONLY, so make your purchase today and you will receive your FREE gift card via mail in time for the holidays.

Don’t have a friend or family member getting married soon, no worries! MissNowMrs.com gift cards are valid for 2 years after the date of purchase. Since we’ve attended 10 weddings this year, we figure we can’t be the only ones! So shop now and be pleased with your savvy self!
*There are no refunds on MissNowMrs gift card purchases.

Newlywed Name Change Worries

Being an online married name-change service we are asked questions about every aspect of a name change: from “Can I change my first name, middle name and last name?” to “How do I notify my professional licensing board of my new married name?” —and everything and anything in-between! Helping individuals navigate through the married name change process is exactly what we pride ourselves on doing each and everyday…and we love it!

Recently, we were asked, “If I change my name will I no longer receive my emails?” We want all of you to know the answer to this important question. Of course you will still receive your emails under your old email address unless you close your account. Many employers will set-up a new work email address to reflect your new married name, allowing you to set up an auto-response email to notify your contacts of your new email address (as they contact you via your old email address). You may even be able to do this with your personal email account (using a free platform such as: Yahoo, Google, Hotmail, etc.) if you’re lucky. If not, you will need to set-up a new account under your new married name. Either way, be sure to notify each of your contacts of your new email address to ensure that you don’t miss any incoming emails. If you went ahead and set-up a new account using your new married name, it is recommended that you continue to check the old account (unless it has been closed) until you are certain that ALL your contacts are using your new email address to contact you.

Obtaining a married name change can sometimes be very stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. We at MissNowMrs.com are here to help you with any questions you may have to ensure that you become a Mrs. as smoothly and easily as possible!

Do you have a name change question you would like us to address on our Newlywed Blog? Post it as a comment so we know what questions to answer for our loyal blog readers!

Pennsylvania Name Change Form Update

Heads up, there’s been a Pennsylvania name change form update! As a newlywed going through the married name change process you are trying to figure out the answers to many questions? Thing like: Who needs to be notified of my name change? What information do I need to provide them with in order to receive new documents? What forms do I need to complete?

Whether you are a customer of MissNowMrs.com or not, we want you to know that there is a new Pennsylvania Driver’s License form for name change that has been modified by the Department of Motor Vehicle Office.

The good news for those of you who ARE our customers is that all you need to do is log into your account, and re-print your PA Driver’s License form again. The new form has already been updated within our system. Hope this update helps you!

If you’re not a MissNowMrs customer, we’d love to help you save 13 hours on your name change. Purchase our name change app, or online service today.

Help Me Change My Name

The Name Equality Act: California

Have you heard about the name equality act? Name change is certainly tricky in all 50 states (with each state allocating their own laws on what constitutes a married name change versus a legal name change, etc.), you may be shocked to find out that in California couples can decide to make up a new last name to take after marriage thanks to the Name Equality Act*. While this is not a new law by any means, it’s definitely worthy of talking about!

The state of California allows one or both applicants to elect to change their middle and/or last names by which they wish to be known as after they are officially married. That means if you are planning to marry in CA and haven’t already applied for your Marriage License, this opportunity applies to you, so now you and your future spouse have a decision to make! Will you take his last name? Will he take your last name? Will the two of you have a combination of your two last names? Decisions, decisions!

What you need to know about the Name Equality Act

Only at the time of applying for your Marriage License can you elect to make these changes. Once your name is listed on your Marriage License, that is how it will later appear on your Marriage Certificate. This is the legal document used as proof of your marriage issued by your state. You cannot decide to add or amend this information after your Marriage License has been issued without having to obtain a Legal Name Change through your local superior court system. This can be costly, so it is important to put some thought into the name you will list on your Marriage License Application. After all, this is the name you will ultimately be known as in the future!

Each of you can elect to have one of the following last names:
The current last name of either spouse
The last name of either spouse given at birth
A name combining into a single last name all or a segment of the current last name or the last name of either spouse given at birth

Each of you can elect to have one of the following middle names:
The current last name of either spouse
The last name of either spouse given at birth
A hyphenated version of the current middle name and current last name of the person or spouse
A hyphenated version of the current middle name and the birth last name of the person or spouse

Confused yet?! Here’s an example:
Woman: Jane Marie Doe
Man: John Robert Smith
They can become Jane Smith Doe (and John Smith Doe), Jane Marie-Doe Smith (and John Robert-Doe Smith), Jane Marie Doesmith (and John Robert Doesmith), etc.

Do you and your spouse share a combination last name? Was your family supportive of your choice to make up a new last name? Tell us your story… We’d love to know how you worked through the process and if you used our online service or name change app!

*The name equality act currently only applies to couples marrying in California and to all California Marriage Licenses issued on or after January 1, 2009.

Help Me Change My Name

Newlywed in New York: New Requirements at the NY DMV

Newlywed in New York? There is one thing that will forever remain the same –the DMV– with its long wait times and complete chaos at the office! This 3-letter acronym is dreaded among most and is always spoken about with anything, but enthusiasm! However, one thing you can be sure to count on with your DMV, is they constantly update rules, restrictions, and forms, which can cause you more unnecessary stress and aggravation.

Since the DMV is the only office that you must visit in person when changing your name due to marriage, it is important to have all of your ducks in a row before you make the trek to the office! One trip is bad enough; let’s not have to make a second! So if you reside in New York, please read on…

Public safety and security has tightened all around us, for obvious reasons. When changing your name it is especially important for you to properly identify yourself and prove that you really are who you say you are.

Some state’s DMVs have already implemented the 6-point ID requirement system and now New York has decided to implement the same system.

New York 6-Point ID Requirements for Name Change

Before a NY state DMV will issue any photo document (learner permit, driver license, non-driver ID Card) for the first time, or if your document expired more than 2 years ago, you must show the following points of identity:
-Proof of your date of birth
-4 points of proof of name along with your Social Security Card, OR if you are ineligible for a Social Security Card, 6 points of proof of name plus a letter of ineligibility from the Social Security Administration that they (SSA) used to determine that you are ineligible. All proofs of name must show the same name.
-If you already have and can show a valid NY DMV photo document, that is all you need as 6 points of proof of name to get a new or different photo document. However, if the DMV has no record of your Social Security Number, you will have to show your Social Security Card too.

For more newlywed in New York information, please see the list of acceptable documents to show proof of identity found on the New York DMV website. For more help with your name change, check out our 20 step name change check list!