Question for married American women
 

When you got married what did you have to do to officially change your name? I got married over in the UK and just never officially changed my name in the States so officially I am still my maiden name there.

Now, I am getting married again next month and I would like to take the chance to fix that up so I can travel with passports and id, etc all in the same last name but just have no idea how it is done.

When I got married (years ago) you had to provide the DMV and Social Security office with a notarized copy of your married license. You also had to notify credit card providers, mortgage brokers, car loans ect. I dont remember if you had to just notify your bank or present them also with a copy to change your name on your bank account. And of course notifying your employer so your information matches come tax time.

I think that's it and I remember it being a huge pain in the ass which is why I never changed my name back when I got divorced.

Sounds like it might be worth calling the embassy about because it is hard to do all that stuff remotely.

Is better you stay with your name!

Congratulations Sarah. :) Best wishes to you and your husband.
Hope you'll have all the information you need.

I found some great advice here- you can also chat w/ other newlyweds, hope this helps you!


http://ideas.thenest.com/Home/Sites/...your-name.aspx

After getting married you take your marriage certificate & passport and go down to Grosvernor Square, and visit the Consular Affairs Dept./American Citizen Services at the US Embassy. Depending on how long your passport is valid they will either give you an application for a new passport or amend the name on the last page of the passport with a hand written reference on the main page.

US drivers licenses are State issued and have to be changed in the USA, which can be easily done at the DVM in your home state if you go back to the USA.

For all UK issued documents (like ID card, EU drivers license, etc.) you need to see the appropriate UK authorities.

May not help or apply much but one of my ex's wanted to change her name since she hated her first name and her last name was just made up during one of her deadbeat fathers numerous con's so it really belonged to nobody.

She just went to the local courthouse, filled out some paperwork and paid a fee. Then paid one other fee to have it published in some local publication i.e. newspaper under the public announcements. Then presto new first name and last name. With that a social under her new name, and so forth.

i juswt kept my maiden name. a lot less of a hassle.

Yup, figured it might be a trip to the Embassy. Ever since 911 that is a way different experience then it was prior but sometimes you just had to do it.