How the HECK to Change Your Name After Marriage
Growing up, I had always fanaticized about my wedding day … and eventually taking the last name of my husband. Writing my new (fake) last name in swirling cursive in the 4th grade was a lovely daydream. Fast forward 20ish years and, unfortunately for my daydreaming 4th grade self, the name change process did not just happen magically when the priest announced, “I now pronounce you man and wife!”
And, man oh man, has it been anything other than a snap of the fingers. ESPECIALLY because George and I got married in the midst of all things COVID. Social security offices were closed, passport updates were only case-by-case and absolutely necessary and, generally, all humans wanted to avoid all other humans.
George and I were married on New Year’s Eve in 2020. I didn’t start really getting the ball rolling on the name change process until July 2021. IT IS OK TO WAIT! I have good friends who have waited 1-3 years prior to making a name change. The process itself appeared incredibly daunting (at least to me) and each google search told me something differently. After doing a TON of research, having a number of mental breakdowns and shedding a tear or two … I’ve decided to share my knowledge/experience with YOU!
Because, BLESS IT, your name is on everything. EVERYTHING.
The best piece of advice I had received (from an old sorority sister of mine): Take ONE thing at a time. One STEP at a time. It doesn’t have to be done at once!
Oh, what a relief. I told myself that STEP ONE was printing out the application to get my social security card changed. My STEP TWO ended up leaving it on my dresser for a month before doing anything with it.
From my research, I’ve created a list for you ladies out there who are excited to get started and would appreciate a solid checklist. I DO want to caveat … your experience might be different than mine AND required documents may change in-between the publish date of this blog post and when you start the process. This is my personal experience, and I want to help!
GET STARTED WITH THE NAME CHANGE PROCESS
Secure certified copies of your marriage certificates. I would advise purchasing three of these. You can call your courthouse and order them over the phone (it was a fairly easy process for us), but I’d suggest ordering them when you’re in the courthouse to get your license to wed (you’re already there before the wedding … might has well get it done)!
Change your social security number
YOU WILL NEED: Social security application, certified marriage certificate and a valid form of ID (this might be specific to the state of Alabama – call your local office to double check!).
All paths forward start here. And, as I mentioned above, I printed out my SSN application and waited a month to pull all of my documents together. It’s ok to take your time. ALSO. At the time I wanted to start this process, Social Security Offices weren’t taking in-person appointments for name changes. The option was to drop off your SSN application, certified marriage certificate and a valid form of ID.
FOR ME: I did NOT feel comfortable dropping my passport or driver’s license into a rando drop box. Felt v sketch to me. SO, I called my local SSN office to inquire and spoke to the nicest employee! He advised me that a certified medical document would suffice (a medical record with a doctor’s signature with a seal) as a form of ID. My doctor’s office knew exactly what to do for me, and they had the documents ready for me within an hour.
I added all of these documents to an envelope (wrote a small thank you note to whatever SS employee would be processing my app) and dropped it in the SS office drop box. There is no fee to have your SSN changed.
The social security office will mail your documents (marriage cert and ID) back! I received mine in the mail after a week. My new social security card arrived in the mail exactly 2 weeks after I dropped my information off. DONE.
Driver’s License & Registration/Car Title
YOU WILL NEED: Your NEW social security card, a driver’s license, certified marriage certificate, a form of payment (I paid in cash to avoid a credit card fee)
Thankfully, I have a DMV right next to my house, so I was able to walk in before noon and get this done with no wait time. This is a MAJOR perk of living in a smaller town. If you live in a bigger city, I would suggest looking into making an appointment.
The DMV lady printed me a paper copy of my new ID. My physical ID arrived in the mail 2-3 weeks later.
I walked right past the registration desk when headed to get my license and decided to kill two birds with one stone. I showed the clerk my new ID and social security card and she fixed me all up! I’d recommend bringing cash for this, too.
My new car title arrived in the mail 2ish weeks later.
Passport
Full disclosure, I actually haven’t done this yet. I had to fly for work in the middle of getting my new driver’s license and the plane ticket was in my maiden’s name, so I kept my passport with me as a form of ID. I didn’t want to go through the hubbub of showing an old hole punched ID to TSA. They waved me on through with my passport, but I kept paper copies of my marriage certificate, my verified marriage certificate, both my paper ID and my old ID with my maiden’s name and a printed-out article of consumer’s flying rights in my backpack. Paranoid? Yes. Did it make me feel better? Also, yes.
YOU WILL NEED: Passport application (make sure you’re filling out the correct one!), your current passport, certified marriage certificate, new passport photo, and a form of payment.
Triple check all requirements.
TSA Precheck & Global Entry
YOU WILL NEED: Complete the online application. At the end of the application, they’ll suggest a nearby TSA Precheck/Satellite Office for you to make an appointment. They’ll also give you a list of required documents. I think I brought my: certified marriage certificate, NEW driver’s license, passport (with my maiden name – totally fine) and a form of payment.
George and I traveled to Montgomery to check this off of our lists (he needed to get TSA and I needed to renew + update my TSA).
DO THIS BEFORE APPROACHING AIRLINES ABOUT CHANGING SKYMILES INFO.
Employment Records
YOU WILL NEED: To talk to your HR department (or whoever is in charge). They should be able to help connect you with your health insurance rep, as well (if you’re on your company’s life insurance). Then, IT! Having my email switched over from my maiden name to my married name was a blast.
Insurance (Health, Car, House, etc.)
Banks & Credit Cards
YOU WILL NEED: A new form of ID and your verified marriage certificate. I went into a local bank branch and was able to complete this task in less than 15 minutes. Thank goodness! They should be able to order new cards/checks/etc. for you during this conversation, as well.
The switch reflected within my banking apps as soon as the representative pressed “save” on their end!
My Amex credit card made the process super easy. All I had to do was take a picture of my new ID and upload it to the app (search “name change”). They completed my request within 24 hours and I had my new credit card within 2 weeks. This will probably vary from company to company.
Airline Reward Programs
YOU WILL NEED: Patience. Depending on the airline, you may need multiple forms of ID.
Delta: Delta has an Identity Verification Form you can fill out online. I uploaded my new ID and a photo of our marriage certification and the SkyMiles account was updated less than 24 hours later. I still had a couple of plane tickets still in my maiden name, so I called customer service to have them switched (no fees!).
American: American also has an online form, but it gave me some trouble. If the form doesn’t work for you, try chatting a customer service representative on the app! They were able to help me within 30 minutes of troubleshooting/exchanges. I found the form on their FAQ page and then logged into my account.
United: United has an online form! Easy peesy.
Southwest: Southwest also has an online form (you used to have to mail in your stuff), BUT I actually messaged them on Facebook! Uploaded a photo of my new ID + marriage certificate and the whole chatting process took about 10 minutes.
Mortgages & Loans
Investment Accounts
Deeds & Wills
Phew! Wow, it’s a process. I’m still working through changing all of my stuff over! I’m trying to take one thing at a time, and I’m happy to finally see the fruits of my labor.
ADDITIONAL HELPFUL ARTICLES:
And, if you read this whole thing and think to yourself, “HECK NO” then don’t worry! There are services out there than can help like Newly Named and Hitch Switch.
YAY! I hope this was helpful! Please let me know if you have any questions – feel free to shoot me a DM on Instagram.
