Do you need to change your name ?
To change your name or not, I guess that that is the question.
Back to wedding planning...
Reasons To Change Your Name
There are many traditionalists which believe that it is right for the women to change her name when she marries. Lets face it, there is possibly a number of advantages to changing your name. It would be more convenient, making life easier for you and your future family. Of course, if you think that your partners name is better than yours, it would work in your favor etc. In general it would certainly make your life easier in many different aspects.
Reasons To Resist The Change
In modern times it has become more acceptable for a woman to keep her name if she chooses. Your name is your identity, something which you associate with, and perhaps to some taking on your partners name means loosing a bit of who you are. Professionally you may have made your name, and not want to loose that, or perhaps it is as simple as the fact that you simply do not like your partners name. You wont be the first person to have this problem.
One thing that you will not be able to avoid even if you do decide to keep your name is there will always people who will refer to you as Mrs. So And So.
Just How Do You Change Your Name?
O.K. So you have decided that you are going to be changing your name, what are the next steps you need to take? There are a number of things which you will have to do so lets take a look at how you go about it.
1. Get Proof
Get a certified marriage license, and be sure it has a raised seal, this simply means it's authentic. Call the office where your license was filed to get copies if they weren't automatically sent to you.
2. Social Security
Give the the Social Security Administration a call on: 800.772.1213 - and their automated system will talk you through the name change process. There is no charge for your new card.
3. DMV?
Visit the Department of Motor Vehicles, which requires you to make a personal appearance. Take with you every form of identification you can lay your hands on, especially your certified marriage license. Oh yea, dont forget a good book. You WILL need it, because you WILL be standing in line.
4. Fill In The Forms
Once you have obtained your new social security card and driver's license in your married name, then the rest of the changes will be a piece of pie. Here are a few other people and organizations you will want to notify of the change:
• Friends and family
• Employers/payroll
• Post office
• Phone company and other utilities
• Banks and other financial institutions
• Credit card companies
• Schools and alumni associations
• Voter registration
• Passport
• Mortgages and leases
• Wills
• Insurance policies
• Magazine subscriptions
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