After you have changed your name legally with the court, you’ll also want to contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) to request a name change form – for tax purposes (because the name you use on your tax return should match the name on your social security card).

Once you submit the name change form to the SSA, they will issue a new social security card with your correct, legal name. They will also notify the IRS for future tax filings.

If you haven’t already done so, you’ll also want to make sure that you change your name on any other legal documents, such as your bank accounts, credit card accounts, mortgage/property deed and driver’s license.

Related posts:

1. Common-Law Name Change
2. Change Your Name
3. Changing Your Name After Marriage

[Not to be confused with the method of changing your name called common-law name change, this article covers the topic of name change for couples who are considered married by common-law]

Common-law marriage (where it’s recognized) does not include a formal ceremony, so common-law spouses must look for other ways to document their marriage in order for it to be considered valid by the state. One of the easiest ways to do this is for the wife to take her husband’s last name.

While laws differ from state to state, some allow you to legally change your name simply by using that name on a day-to-day basis (called a common-law name change). However, many private and public institutions won’t recognize this type of name change since there is no official documentation of the new name. That means opening a checking account with your assumed name could be difficult – as could getting a new driver’s license under your new name.

The solution is to get a court order granting your name change to satisfy any requirements by companies insisting that you use your “legal” name. This is a relatively easy process and doesn’t require any counseling, home studies or documented proof for approval. There are even do-it-yourself forms available online, and services that will do the hard parts for you.

Court Name Change Forms & Services

We have reviewed several of the name change kits and services available online. The ones that consistently receive the best reviews from our editors and our website visitors are the ones below, from US Legal Forms.

• Do-It-Yourself Name Change Kit – $27.95 – $32.95 (buy)

This do-it-yourself name change kit simplifies the name change process by providing forms and instructions for notifying government and other agencies of your name change for Court Order Name Changes. They also contain forms for changing contracts, wills and other legal documents.The kit contains virtually everything you need to change your name:

Six Step Instruction Guide; Checklist; All forms needed to change records for Social Security, IRS, Drivers License, Vehicle Title, Voter Registration, U.S. Passport, Bank Records, Credit Cards, Medical Records, Insurance, Employment, and more.

• Professional Name Change Services – $129.00 (buy)

The professional name change service is available for those who prefer to have a professional review the name change forms on your behalf. The name change service includes all the forms from the name change kit above, plus the service helps ensure that forms are filed correctly because each form is reviewed by a US Legal representative. Each of the forms from the kit above will be checked for accuracy by specialists before paper copies are mailed out to you. If you want your name change to be handled right the first time, you will appreciate the accountability of US Legal Forms’ name change service.

Other Options

Changing your name is not a requirement, and will not void the marriage if the wife decides to keep her maiden name. Likewise, a name change alone will not formalize your marriage and couples must still meet the requirements of their State. For example, many same sex couples successfully petition the court to have their surnames (aka: last names) changed upon making a long-term commitment to one another, but this name change will not create a common law marriage because no state which allows common law marriage recognizes same sex marriage. Whether or not you change your name in a common law marriage – or in any situation – is completely up to the couple.

Related Articles:

• Changing Your Name After Marriage
• Changing Your Name After Divorce

Related posts:

1. Common-Law Name Change
2. Changing Your Name After Marriage
3. Common Law Marriage

While most women choose their husband’s name after marriage, or revert back to their maiden name after divorce, you can generally change your name to just about anything you want, within reason.

However, if you’re pursuing a complete name change as opposed to just a “married vs. maiden name” scenario, you may want to handle this issue as a separate process, as opposed to trying to address it as part of a marriage or divorce process.

Out of the Ordinary Name Choices

Most courts will scrutinize any name change request that seems overly unusual or “frivolous”. For example, you can generally not change your name to that of a famous person unless of course, you have a good and valid reason for using that name.

That said, name changes have been notably on the rise and some odd requests have been granted. A New York judge, for example, granted a parents’ petition to change their four-year old son’s name to Yo Xing Heyno Augustus Eisner Alexander Weiser Knuckles Jeremijenko-Conley.

Entertainer Dan Miller changed his name in an Ohio court to “The” Dan Miller Experience. His first name is “The” Dan (with quotation marks intact), his middle name is Miller and his last name is Experience. So, with that in mind, almost any name is doable.

When Is a Name Change Not Allowed?

Some states do only allow the court to restore a woman’s maiden or other former name as part of a divorce.

Also, courts will not allow you to change your name to avoid legal issues such as debt collection, criminal prosecution or tax evasion.

Related posts:

1. Common-Law Name Change
2. Can I Change My Child's Last Name After Divorce?
3. How Do I Change My Name for Tax Purposes?

[Not to be confused with Changing Your Name in a Common-Law Marriage, this article covers the idea that one could change his or her name simply by using that name regularly]

The federal courts have ruled again and again that changing your name at will or, by “common law” is every citizen’s right under the U.S. Constitution. Using this “common law rule,” you can change your name without even going to court. Technically, you only need to begin using your chosen name to assume it – and can do so legally. However, there are some benefits to having your name changed “officially” through the courts.

The first of these benefits would be the ability to change various identifying documents to match your new name. For example, the Social Security Administration is not likely to change the name on your social security card without some legal proof such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree or court-approved name change request, regardless of what the federal courts say. This makes it difficult to function in today’s information-rich society where names must match on everything from your tax return to your driver’s license and bank account checks.

Additionally, while the states don’t specifically disallow common-law name changes, many do regulate them in a way that makes them all but obsolete. Arizona, for example, requires an updated social security card in order to change your name on your driver’s license. Other states require you to register your new name as an “assumed name”. So, while you are technically free to assume almost any name you choose, if you attempt a common-law name change these days, you will face some obstacles when attempting to obtain legal identifying documents that reflect your new name.

The solution is to get a court order granting your name change to satisfy any requirements by companies insisting that you use your “legal” name. This is a relatively easy process and doesn’t require any counseling, home studies or documented proof for approval. There are, in fact kits available online which can simplify the name change process.

Name Change Kits and Services

We have reviewed many of the name change kits and services available online. The ones that consistently receive the best reviews from our editors and our website visitors are from US Legal Forms.

• Do-It-Yourself Name Change Kit – $27.95 – $32.95 (buy)

Maybe the easiest way to make sure that your name is legally changed with all the important government and private agencies, is to use a name change “kit” which provides key forms and instructions for the name change process.

Because there are several steps involved in the typical name change, and because there are a number of agencies (private, state, and federal) that can require notification, the name change kit can save you time and effort. The kit contains virtually everything you need to change your name:

Instruction Guide; Checklist; All forms needed to change records for Social Security, IRS, Drivers License, Vehicle Title, Voter Registration, U.S. Passport, Bank Records, Credit Cards, Medical Records, Insurance, Employment, etc.

• Professional Name Change Services – $129.00 (buy)

A professional name change service is also available if you wish to have a professional review the name change forms on your behalf. The name change service includes all the forms from the name change kit above, but helps ensure that forms are filed correctly because each form is reviewed by a US Legal representative. Each of the forms from the kit above will be checked for accuracy by specialists before paper copies are mailed out to you. If you want your name change to be handled right the first time, you will appreciate the accountability of US Legal Forms’ name change service.

Related posts:

1. Changing Your Name in a Common Law Marriage
2. How Do I Change My Name for Tax Purposes?
3. Change Your Name

So you want to change your name? Well you’re not alone.  The most common occasion for changing your name is after marriage (or in a common law marriage), but people do often change their names for a wide variety of other reasons, including after divorce (to revert back to maiden or another name), for heritage reasons (to take an ancestor’s name), after adoption (for the child to take the adoptive parents or family’s name), or even simply because they don’t like their birth name.

Downloadable Name Change Forms
(from US Legal Forms, starting at $27.95)

Some states and institutions find that simply using a new name consistently is acceptable, otherwise known as a common-law name change, however many other accounts and agencies will require more documentation in order to accept the name change. Because there are so many issues these days with securing one’s identity, the name on your Social Security card and other identification documents need to match. In order to change your name on your Social Security card, you have to present a court document (marriage certificate, divorce papers or Order for Name Change) that legally authorizes the change.

Overview:

1. How to Change Your Name
2. Name Change Forms and Services
3. More about Changing Your Name

1.  How to Change Your Name:

• Initiate your name change with the Court. File a Petition and Order for Name Change with the Court and purchase a couple certified copies of the Order signed by the Judge.
• Get a new Social Security Card. Bring current identification and a certified copy of your Name Change Order to the Social Security office (locations) to make the request. There is no fee associated with changing your name with Social Security.
• Get a new drivers license or ID card from the department of motor vehicles (DMV) (locations).  Bring your new Social Security card, current identification, and a copy of your Court Order.
• Tell your employerabout your name change so they can modify your email address, any internal and external company documents, correct future paychecks, and/or business cards accordingly.
• Contact other institutions and organizations with which you have accounts and memberships. Once you have your new Social Security card and drivers license/ID (some institutions may also ask to see your Court Order), you will be able to change your name with other organizations (banks, credit cards, passport, insurance providers, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), voter registration, utility providers, post office, stocks/bonds/mutual funds, retirement plans, legal documents, etc. ). You will need to contact each institution individually, so be prepared for this process to take some time.
• Inform old friends and family members of the change.  It may take some getting used to, and you may have to remind them time and again, but be patient and over time they will adopt the change.
• Start using your new name. Once you have received your new identification bearing your new name, consistently use the name as your own. Once you are regularly and comfortably using your new name, others will follow.

2.  Name Change Forms and Services:

Since it is a very time consuming process to change your name will all your institutions, there are companies that offer “name change kits” that help to make the process easier and more organized, while also significantly shortening the amount of time to get everything updated. We have reviewed some of the more popular name change kits and services available online and below are the ones that consistently receive the best reviews from our editors and website visitors:

• Downloadable Name Change Forms – from $27.95

This extensive, easy to use, name change kit includes everything you need to effect a legal name change in your state.

It contains forms and instructions for notifying government agencies and others, and it also contains forms for changing contracts, wills, and other legal documents.

• Professional Name Change Services – $129.00

You can ensure an expedient name change process by having the professionals at US Legal Forms review your name change forms for you. They review all the forms for accuracy and mail you copies upon completion. This package covers the same aspects of changing your name as the kit above, but if you need your name to change to be handled right the first time, you may want the accountability and experience that US Legal Forms offer with their name change service.

3. More About Changing Your Name:

The most common scenario for a name change, by far, is when a wife chooses to take her husband’s last name (aka: surname) after marriage, but the reality is that you don’t actually need a reason to change your name. And the requirements to effect a change of name are quite similar for most name change scenarios – for adults as well as for minors.

There are some restrictions you need to consider when choosing your new name, such as wanting a name because of fraudulent or misleading intent (e.g. “Barack Obama”), choosing a racial slur, trying to be purposefully confusing (“?” or “2”), and more. As long as your desired name falls within the restrictions, you should be able to change your name with little resistance from the Court.

Related Topics:

• Changing Your Name After Marriage
• Changing Your Name After Divorce

Related posts:

1. Common-Law Name Change
2. How Do I Change My Name for Tax Purposes?
3. Changing Your Name in a Common Law Marriage

If you’ve just married, or are getting married soon, you’re probably starting to address the question of whether to change your last name. It’s important to know that your name won’t just change automatically – you actually have to initiate the change yourself, with multiple different organizations (like the Socail Security Office, DMV, IRS, banks, your employer, etc.).

Once the name change process is complete, you will get a new Social Security Card with your new name. That makes the name change official, but there’s more to it. Here we have outlined all the steps you need to take, and all the organizations you need to contact, to complete a full legal name change after you’re married.

Bride Name Change Downloadable Forms
(from US Legal Forms, starting at $27.95)

Overview:

1. New Bride Step-by-Step Name Change Process
2. Name Change Forms and Services
3. Name Change Options and Tradition

1. New Bride Step-by-Step Name Change Process:

Before the Ceremony:
(only if you’re really thinking ahead)

• Be 100% sure of the new name you’ll be using, because you will need to put it on your marriage license
• Tell your job your new name and ask them to begin the process of changing things like your email address and business cards if necessary
• Since the name on any travel documents need to match the name on your identification, use your maiden name when making travel arrangements within the first couple months from your wedding date (i.e. honeymoon)
• Check the name change policies with your bank, department of motor vehicles (DMV), and other service providers to see if they will need certified copies of your marriage certificate – these can take approximately 2 weeks to be mailed so be prepared in order to avoid delays

After the Ceremony:

• Start the name change process at the social security office (locations), and bring the completed SS-5 form, a certified copy of your marriage certificate, and identification.
• The DMV is the next place to visit (locations) so you can get a new license or ID card. In some states, only a copy of the marriage certificate is required, but other states want to see the new name on a Social Security card before they issue license with the new name.
• Once you have your new Social Security card and ID, and along with a copy of your marriage certificate if needed, you will have enough documentation to change the name on all your other accounts and legal documents (ie: your passport, bank account, mortgage and leases, voter registration, credit cards, utility bills, the IRS, the post office, stocks/bonds/mutual funds, retirement plans, etc.). And yes, you will need to contact each of the organizations you deal with one by one. This is probably the most time consuming part of the name change process.
• Check with your employer’s human resources (HR) department to ensure that they are using the correct name and that your company changes your tax deductions and withholdings to reflect the fact that you’re married.
• Contact other institutions and organizations with which you have accounts and memberships. Once you have your new Social Security card and drivers licence or ID (and more copies of your divorce order) you will be able to restore your former name with other organizations (banks, credit cards, Internal Revenue Service (IRS),
• Start using your new name. Once you’ve obtained new identification bearing your new name you should begin to consistently use that name as your own. And that’s the final step.

Can you make the process a little simpler?

It sounds like a lot, doesn’t it? While each individual step in the name change process is fairly painless, the collective effort can be quite a bit of work. “Name change form kits” and “name change services” that help simplify the process are available for purchase online, and they can help cut out a lot of the research and work for you (see next section).

2. Using Name Change Form Kits or Services:

We have reviewed several of the name change form kits and services available online. The ones that consistently receive the best reviews from our editors and our website visitors are from US Legal Forms.

• New Bride Name Change Form Kit – from $27.95

For new brides who want to simplify the process of changing their last name, the do-it-yourself name change kit offers state specific instructions and forms. The “New Bride Name Change Kit” includes everything you need to effect a legal name change in your state. It is a consolidated, easy to use, name change kit for the new bride.

The kit contains all required government forms, every personal record change form, an instruction guide and checklist to help the you change from your maiden to your new married name. Inside you’ll also find:

Six Step Instruction Guide; Checklist; All forms needed to change records for Social Security, IRS, Drivers License, Vehicle Title, Voter Registration, U.S. Passport, Bank Records, Credit Cards, Medical Records, Insurance, Employment, and more.

• Professional Name Change Services – $129.00

Offered as a time saver for the busy newlywed, US Legal Forms’ professional name change service includes all the forms from the do-it-yourself kit above, but offers the additional peace of mind of having professionals review your forms for you, which helps ensure that filings are all handled correctly. Each of the forms from the kit above will be checked for accuracy by specialists before paper copies are mailed out to you. If you need your name change to be handled quickly and accurately, you will appreciate the accountability of the name change service.

3. Name Change Options After Marriage

Background on the Name Change Tradition

Although it’s not legally required in the United States, many women still choose to take their husband’s name after marriage. This is partly because of cultural and religious traditions that have been passed down through generations, and partly because families are typically identified by their surname (aka: last name). This tradition remains the most common reasons for a name change request – and it’s relatively easy to do.

Contrary to popular belief, however, a woman is not required to take her husband’s name after marriage. Each spouse is actually free to keep his or her own name, take the spouse’s name (yes, men can take their wife’s name) or even use a different name altogether. Some couples want to be known by a hyphenated combination of their last names, and there are some who even make up new names that combine elements of each. You can also pick a name that’s entirely different from the names you have now, just because you like it better.

For some couples, such as those who marry later in life, after-marriage name changes are still prevalent, but have declined in recent years. In these situations some women opt to keep their maiden name or adopt a hyphenated version of married and maiden names as a compromise. Despite these new trends, changing your name after marriage continues to be an overwhelmingly common practice.

If you do choose to change your last name to something other than your spouse’s, give careful thought to the name you choose. You will save yourself considerable time and trouble by making sure you are happy with your choice of name before you change any records.

No matter which option you choose, if you make the decision to change your name, there are steps that need to be taken in order to do so legally. In the past, it was relatively easy to change your name simply by consistently using the new name (this is called common law name change). Today it is not quite that easy. If you choose to use a name other than yours or your spouse’s, a court petition is required (which you can obtain through the steps above).

Related Topics:

• Changing Your Name after Divorce

Related posts:

1. Changing Your Name in a Common Law Marriage
2. How Do I Change My Name for Tax Purposes?
3. Changing Your Name After Divorce