January 2010 Weddings
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For people who changed their names already
Do I need my social security card? I can I change my name through the social security website or do I have to go the office?
When all was said and done, how many certified copies of your marriage certificate did you need?
I'm trying to figure this all out so I can get it done ASAP when I get into the US.


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Re: For people who changed their names already
I've now changed my name with the SSA, the DMV, one employer, and one bank. I had to do all of these in person. They all needed to look at my marriage certificate but none of them kept it, so I have only used one copy so far. I haven't needed my old social security card for anything (including the SSA), and I haven't received my new one yet.
On a slightly related note... The guy at the DMV today told me there is a new law in Illinois that says in order to change your name you need to show proof that you have known your husband for at least five years. When I said I had already changed it with the SSA he said I would need to change it back. I'm a very gullible person and I've already had quite a hassle trying to figure out how to change my name, so I kinda freaked out. He was just joking, but then proceeded to tell me that he doesn't believe in marriage and I shouldn't change my name because the divorce rate is so high. Gee, thanks!
BFP on Jan. 18; EDD Oct. 1
Raeyn! I would have fallen for it too. How do you prove you've known someone for five years though? And that's just ridiculous, a lot of people get married without knowing each other five years. What jerk for telling you about the divorce rate though, yikes!
Good thing about the SS card, I lost mine years ago. Thankfully no identity theft because of it.
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This. The SSA and the DMV just mailed me my new ones. Easy process
BFP 02/2010 m/c 03/17/2010 dx PCOS 04/2010
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I have only known my H for 3 years, and if I truly wasn't allowed to change my name it would screw up my conditional residency paperwork (which I've already filed under my married name) and I'd lose my work authorization! The DMV guy was trying to be funny, but he kept asking, "Are you SURE you want to change it?" and saying that it's unrealistic for someone to be with only one person for their whole life.
BFP on Jan. 18; EDD Oct. 1
I only have one copy of my marriage certif. I had to show the SS office {in person} my old name {SS card} and the marriage certif. They looked at it and gave it back to me. My new card arrived in the mail.
For DMV I had to show my current license and marriage certif... same deal, they looked and gave it back and my new one arrived via mail.
For my checking accounts I had to go to the bank in person and show them the certif.
For credit cards I did it all over the phone... I just said I changed my name... they didn't ask to see ANYTHING and just mailed me a new card... kinda scary if you think about it.
Oddly though, my hotel reward point card through Marriott asked to see a copy of the marriage certif... for hotel points!!! LOL So odd!
Now I'm going to do my passport tomorrow so we can go on our cruise next month!!!
Miss Mrs.
OK, I found the SSA form online and it doesn't say I need the card. Just driver's license or passport. Sweeeeet. They're probably not open on Saturdays though so I think I have to put off the name change until August at the earliest, or worst case October. Then I'll have to pay for the passport name change because it will be over a year since I got it!
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As a now military spouse this whole process was pretty easy for me.
I presented my marriage cert, driver's license and birth cert to the SSA (I also didn't have my SS card, and they wanted to see the birth cert, though no one else I've talked to needed to show it).
Then hubby took me on base to get a mil ID in my new name. From their on out, b/c I had a govt issued ID in my new name, most places only required that and a marriage cert. Most of them made photocopies of those two and were content. I think once you can get your ID, it will all go much easier for you.
First I did my SSC, which I had to show marriage license and driver's license. I had to turn in my old SSC and they mailed me my new one within a week.
At the DMV I just showed them my marriage license and old license, they changed my license and registration right there, had to surrender my old license.
My employer needed to see the SSC and marriage license.
Doing my passport this week, my new picture looks TERRIBLE. Ugh.
So overall, I've done everything with 1 marriage certificate. Haven't changed any bank accounts or CCs yet. Need to get on that.
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When I called the DMV and the SSA they both told me that I needed to show proof of the marriage via a certified copy of our marriage license. I got that at the Hall of Records for like $17. Once I had that in my hand I went to the SSA and changed my name. For the DMV however, I needed to have our marriage license and my new SS card to get my name changed.
I haven't done my passport yet, but we aren't planning on traveling out of the country for at least a year, but I need to do that.
For the bank all I had to have to change my name on my accounts was my SSC and my new drivers license. For my CCs I just called the company and faxed them our marriage license and they sent me a new card with my new last name on it.
1 marriage license = everything done.