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Last week while figuring out my options for the birth certificate fiasco of 2011, I decided to get a jump start on all things name change. My friends have been through it before and have warned me that it is a big huge giant pain in the ass. You may also want to cheat like Spiffy did and use Miss now Mrs, a fee for service website that simplifies the process—slightly. My friends also warned me that I will feel like Lisa Vanderpump at the L.A. DMV occasionally. I did a bit of research and I’m going to share the fruits of that labor. I’m no expert, so I suggest you not yell at me if we’re both stuck at the DMV because we’ve forgotten something important. MMMMkay?
These are written in the order you must complete them in. You aren’t getting a new license without an updated Social Security card, FYI.
I’m going to focus on steps 2 through 4 because the rest of them are pretty self explanatory.
In order to change your Social Security card you must either mail in the request or appear in person at the Social Security office nearest you.
You will need (original or certified documents only) your birth certificate, marriage license, passport, license, and old social security card.
Although the Mass DOT website is complete shit, I did deduce that you must obtain your new license in person. That may vary from state to state. After being on hold with the Massachusetts RMV for the better half of an hour I got through to a lovely woman who informed me that all I would need is my updated Social Security card. I’m bringing my birth certificate and marriage license too, for good measure. Anywho, they will charge me a fee for obtaining a new license, which is bull shit. I’m luckily within one year of renewing, and therefore eligible to do both at the same time and save some money. All hail getting married at 25! Woot.
Apparently, they (whoever “they” are) will be changing the guidelines for updating a passport as of March 1, 2011. I’m also up for renewal within a year on this too, so I’m hoping to save some money. You will need to get a new passport picture for the process and include two of them when sending out your application. That’s about all I’ve got for you now. Sorry loves.
Lastly, in order to change your mortgage you will need to go to Town Hall where you reside and alter the deed. I believe there is a fee. During our original closing, our lawyer had mentioned something about changing the Homestead Act. When we refinanced recently the lawyer told us we would just need to change the deed at the Town Hall. All that I’ve gathered from my dealings is that I should go to the Town Hall and toss out the blonde card for an answer. That’s just what I’ll do…
So, the long and short of it is, for good measure, request 3 certified copies of your marriage certificate. One for you, one for Social Security, and one just in case.
I have a feeling (that tonight’s gonna be a good good night) that I will be updating you with my headaches in a few months. Sound good? Sorry I’m not better at this whole organization and preparedness thing. :0) Love you!
May I send my warmest wishes of golden luck to you, my love! Took me six (count them, 1 2 3 4 5 6!!!) trips to the good ‘ole Indiana BMV before I could get my license change! Ugh, who knew they’d want to make it so hard on the newlywed folk 
Funny thing…I was just as the Mass DMV yesterday changing my name on my license. All she asked for was my current license. I had my SS card, marriage license and my birth certificate. She didn’t need any of them…lol! PLUS…she let me take as many times as I needed sign my new name. And she let me take as many new photos as I wanted but in the end we kept my old photo. I felt like I had crossed over to some other dimension…where the DMV is a pleasant and heartwarming experience! lol!
Cannot believe I have to pay $110 just to change my name of my freakin’ passport! RIP OFF!
Grrr. . . my license expires less than 2 months before my wedding!!!!
I only needed the one copy of our marriage license. I took the original with me to the banks, the Social Security office, and the DMV. But everywhere else I just faxed or e-mailed a copy of it.
There’s a sticky thread for that lists all the places you need to remember to change your name.
http://boards.weddingbee.com/board/names
@sarahd07 - I thought a name change was free for passports but you would have to pay to renew.
Ugh…I am NOT looking forward to this. Is it a possibility to wait till things expire to change them slowly? Does it all have to happen at one time? WHY is it so difficult?!?!?!?!?
Thanks for the post Ms. Zebra! Wish you all the best with this. Let us know how it goes!
@BrianneG: Nope…I went to the Dept. of State website and it says:
Change Your Name in Your U.S. Passport
Your passport was issued more than 1 year ago and Your name has been legally changed due to marriage or court order:
You have to pay an Applicable “Renewal” fees (checked the link to the fees page and it said: $110 to renew a passport book)
BUT…You don’t have to pay a fee if your passport was issues less than a year before you change your name.
Ugh! I still have not done this. Need to get on the ball… Thanks for the push. 
Ok question about passports.. do I HAVE to get a new passport? I mean I got it two years ago to go on a cruise, something I’ll never do again. I have NO plans on ever leaving the country again. If I do not get a new one, are they gonna catch me up on it? Now I wish I never would’ve gotten one in the first place!!
Actually in MA you dont need to have your new social security card in hand, the change just needs to have percolated through their system. It usually takes about 48 hours (or at least that’s what I was told). I went to the Boston SSA office on a wed morning and then to the DMV on a fri morning, they plugged in my SSN and bingo! All set, just handed over my old license. Not my favorite activity in the world but it wasn’t too painful at all!
Very helpful, especially the bit about order of operations for social security card then license!
Just a couple notes:
- I was able to get my license renewed WITHOUT an updated social security card.
- I’m in NY State and had to go in person to change your name. I would call your local branch and double check. If you are not a born citizen but a naturalized citizen remember to bring your US Passport AND Naturalization Certificate. Originals ONLY.
- According to my lawyer I do not HAVE to change the name on my deed. However the name on your homeowner’s insurance must match the name on your deed.
- You can change the name on your Passport if you have gotten/renewed your passport within one year. Otherwise you have to pay -I believe $145- to renew.
- If you are a naturalized citizen you have to change the name on your Naturalization Certificate as well and I believe it’s a whopping $340 if I remember correctly!
And lastly ladies just be glad you’re not in NY State doing a Legal Name Change!
Thanks for this post and all the comments so far! I am not looking forward to all the hassle either..but appreciate the info! Esp. about MA RMV..etc.
xo
It’s so much work to change my name. I really need to get this done. Maybe next week; I may have said this for a while now.
I’ll be honest and say the awfulness was way overhyped for me.
Day 1- I went to my county records, got 2 copies of my marriage license. Went to the Social Security Office with my birth certificate, driver’s license, marriage certificate, and proof of residence (Missouri is afraid of illegal aliens so I have to tote some paper bill with me everywhere). Filled out the forms, got told to wait 10 days for it to come in the mail.
Day 9- SS card arrived! I went to get my new license at the DMV, ran over to Costco for the cheapest passport photos in town, went to the USPS with my 1) old passport 2) all forms of new ID and certificates 3) passport name change form and 4) my photos. They told me where to sign, let me know what was being mailed and said see you later.
Day 30- One month after I started the process my new passport arrived. In between this point and the old one I changed my name at the bank, at my insurance company, and with my credit card people. Most people like faxes. Make a list of all the places, find out what copies they need of what, organize it into stacks with Fax numbers and use your nearest fax machine. Repeat 7 days later when half the places pretend they never got your fax.
I would add one step: order mailing labels before your honeymoon in your new name (with your new address if applicable). It made thank you card writing so much easier and also served to notify everyone everyone of my new home. If you aren’t changing your name, new labels with both your names serve as a good reminder that you are still FirstName LastName.
ONe quick thing. You don’t actually need your old Social Security card in the Social Security office. You *do* need an acceptable form of ID, such as your license or state-issued ID or passport that has your old name on it.
Having said that, please don’t ask me what I do for a living. 
I went in person for SS and all I needed was my marriage certificate and my passport to make the change - and the application they have you fill out, of course. It was pretty fast and easy for me, I was in and out in less than 20 minutes with my new name.
At the DMV in LA you need new SS card, current driver’s license AND your marriage certificate. It doesn’t say that anywhere on the website, nor was I told that when I called and asked, but when I got there I had to turn around and go home and get the certificate. LA DMV is a nightmare, so LA ladies, have everything they could possibly ask for and be sure to make an appointment to speed things along.
I haven’t done my passport yet, but everything else, while time consuming, has been easy.
@ladyox:
I always have the worst luck with the DMV. I tried to get an appointment and checked all six offices between work and home and not a single one had an appointment for eight weeks. When my husband needed a new license, he got an appointment for the same week.
Fortunately, I was carrying absolutely everything with me everywhere I went so I had what I needed for the DMV. I got in line about 30 minutes before they opened and the whole thing only took about 45 minutes once I got inside. In and out in under two hours is good for any LA area DMV.
My worst name change problem was with Bank of America. Going in person and sitting with the representative for thirty minutes the first time apparently didn’t change my name on any of my accounts. The second time, I did almost the exact same thing but this time they asked for my signature a couple times. Maybe the first agent just didn’t know what she was doing? And the last time I just called because apparently changing my name on all my accounts hadn’t triggered them to actually send me any new debit or credit cards.
In MD, the only thing I needed to change my name on my SS card was my marriage license and current drivers license. You have to wait at least 24 hours to get your license changed over, so you can’t do those in the same day.
And yes, you do have to pay renewal rates just to change your name, even if you aren’t renewing your passport!!!! Total bs
“(that tonight’s gonna be a good good night)”…Zebra, I adore you.
Great post though, really. Sounds like a whole hell of a lotta stuff that I don’t feel like dealing with right now.
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Mrs. Zebra, Providence, RI Age and Occupation: 24 Marketing/Costume Designer Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26 Management/Firefighter Engagement Date: December 12, 2008 Wedding Date: March 2011 Venue: The Providence Biltmore About Me: I'm a small town New England girl with an affinity for procrastination, crossing the proverbial line, and putting her foot in her mouth. I'm a lover of history, all seasons, sewing and Incubus. I design costumes on the side for my old high school's theatre department, which is where I met my sexy man. Our motto for our Big Fat Lebanese/Portuguese/Irish near-300 person wedding is "the more the merrier"! We are marrying in a Catholic ceremony and are hammering out the details of our Victorian-inspired reception.
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