How to Change Your Name After the Wedding
You just had your ceremony and are legally joined together in marriage. You have decided to take your spouse's last name, but how do you go about doing that? Who do you need to contact to let them know or is it just done automatically?
The first step takes place when you apply for your marriage license. At the very bottom of the marriage license, is an area where it states that you are changing your last name (and provides your old last name and your new last name). This is critical because after the ceremony, you will need to order certified copies of your marriage license (note: in California these are not automatically mailed to you) with this information.
With the certified copy of the marriage license in hand, here is who you might need to contact (this is all California based but food for thought for those of you in other states):
• Social Security Card: Contact your local social security office by phone (800-772-1213) or go to their website at www.ssa.gov.
• Driver's License: Contact your local DMV office. Inform them you have changed your name and you need their records to reflect that change. From experience, I know that people have had to get an actual new ID card for when they are taking a flight to ensure the name on their ticket matches their identification.
• Federal Income Taxes: Complete your tax return with your new name. Social Security should forward the information regarding your name change directly to the IRS. Confirm that the IRS has this information (note: we are not giving you tax advice but just information on who to contact).
• State Taxes: Send a letter to the Franchise Tax Board informing them that you have changed your name (and your old last name and social security number. You may be able to do this online with them as well). Their address is: Taxpayer Services, Franchise Tax Board, PO Box 942840, Sacramento, CA 94240-0000.
• Passport. Same as your drivers license -- if you attempt to travel and your ticket does not match your passport name, you could be in for a delay. San Francisco Passport Agency, 95 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105-3901 (or call 1-877-487-2778)
• Other entities to consider connecting with include: Your bank, credit cards, insurance, investments, legal documents, companies you pay bills to and any other place where your name is legally on file.
There are several "name change" services out there as well to help in these efforts. Always check first to make sure they are legitimate (check for reviews on Yelp, BBB etc..).
The first step takes place when you apply for your marriage license. At the very bottom of the marriage license, is an area where it states that you are changing your last name (and provides your old last name and your new last name). This is critical because after the ceremony, you will need to order certified copies of your marriage license (note: in California these are not automatically mailed to you) with this information.
With the certified copy of the marriage license in hand, here is who you might need to contact (this is all California based but food for thought for those of you in other states):
• Social Security Card: Contact your local social security office by phone (800-772-1213) or go to their website at www.ssa.gov.
• Driver's License: Contact your local DMV office. Inform them you have changed your name and you need their records to reflect that change. From experience, I know that people have had to get an actual new ID card for when they are taking a flight to ensure the name on their ticket matches their identification.
• Federal Income Taxes: Complete your tax return with your new name. Social Security should forward the information regarding your name change directly to the IRS. Confirm that the IRS has this information (note: we are not giving you tax advice but just information on who to contact).
• State Taxes: Send a letter to the Franchise Tax Board informing them that you have changed your name (and your old last name and social security number. You may be able to do this online with them as well). Their address is: Taxpayer Services, Franchise Tax Board, PO Box 942840, Sacramento, CA 94240-0000.
• Passport. Same as your drivers license -- if you attempt to travel and your ticket does not match your passport name, you could be in for a delay. San Francisco Passport Agency, 95 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105-3901 (or call 1-877-487-2778)
• Other entities to consider connecting with include: Your bank, credit cards, insurance, investments, legal documents, companies you pay bills to and any other place where your name is legally on file.
There are several "name change" services out there as well to help in these efforts. Always check first to make sure they are legitimate (check for reviews on Yelp, BBB etc..).