Name change
after marriage

Our kit provides all the necessary paperwork with easy instructions to save you hours changing your name.

How to change names after marriage

Congratulations! You’re married and have decided to take your spouse’s surname! The not-so-great news… it can take weeks to get all your accounts and records changed over to your new name yourself.

Our service saves the hassle of contacting each company to verify their process. No need to spend hours writing letters or completing forms!

Even better – you only need your marriage certificate to get started! Simply attach to our personalized notifications and send!

Tricky questions? Check our marriage name change center below!

The easy way: Use our name change notification kit to get personalized and ready to send name change notifications for your companies. In most cases you can attach your marriage certificate and send! There’s also going to be places where you need to log in to your account, visit a branch or call. Our company checklist explains each company’s process so you don’t waste time researching. 

Start here

The hard way: Yep. More lists. Start by doing an audit of all the places you may need to notify. This could be anywhere from 8 to over 50. Contact each one or research online to get their name change procedure.

Note all the requirements in your checklist – post and email addresses, proof documents, links to forms, important URLs, office opening hours and the steps.

Next, get busy writing letters and emails, completing forms and hammering the photocopier. Allow 20 minutes per company. If you have 25 companies then that’s 8 hours you could have saved with an Easy Name Change kit.

No matter which way you go, most banks and all state DMV’s need you to visit in person. Most people choose to also attend the SSA in person to save mailing original identification documents.

The good news is that there’s no separate filing! Your marriage certificate lets you take your spouse’s surname. Each state DMV has strict identification policies, so if you were married in a religious ceremony you may need to show the official marriage certificate from your county clerk. Some companies also need updated state or federal photo ID.
All name changes need to start with the SSA. Allow 2 working days for changes to be visible to other agencies, then visit your state DMV. They only allow a name that is an exact match with the SSA, so be sure you choose a name compliant with your state DMV before making any changes. Once you receive photo ID in your new name you can go onto change names with banks and credit unions. Then there’s all the remaining companies, which can be anywhere from 3 to over 40 extra places!

While each state is a little different, the majority of newlyweds can take any of these names by simply showing their marriage certificate:

  • You can drop your surname and take your spouse’s
  • You can add your spouse’s surname to your own. Names can appear in either order and can be separated by either a space or hyphen.
  • You can move your birth surname to become a middle surname. Read more

A legal name change is needed if you:

  • Want to change any part of your given name/s (other than moving your maiden name to become your middle name)
  • Want a surname other that yours or your spouse’s
  • Want to blend a part of each surname together to make a new name (except residents married in California)
Most companies won’t write back to confirm your name was changed. Check that your new name appears when you next log into your account or receive correspondence. Most companies update your name within a few days of receiving your request, but some can take weeks (passport) or months (replacement green card )

SAVE 8 HOURS

Order Your Kit

Our kit suits all name change reasons!
Save 8 hours with our ready to send forms

PRINTED & POSTED KIT

$ 79
  • Ready to send forms & letters
  • Ready to forward emails
  • Personalized checklist & guide
  • Instant Download
  • Money back guarantee
  • Priority printed and posted to your door
  • Handy folder & all envelopes
  • 3 stamped envelopes

PRINT AT HOME KIT

$ 39
  • Ready to send forms & letters
  • Ready to forward emails
  • Personalized checklist & guide
  • Instant download
  • Money back guarantee
  • Priority printed and posted to your door
  • Handy folder & all envelopes
  • 3 stamped envelopes
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INFORMATION HUB

Marriage Name Change

All you need is your marriage certificate. Some places must be updated in person, some need you to send a request in writing. We explain what to send where.

How to change names after marriage

If you have the legal right to permanently reside in the USA you can change names here too. There’s no special ‘registration’ of your new name, just start using it! Use our ready to send notifications to update your records.

Name Change for non-citizens

You can take your spouse’s surname even if you were married overseas. Apply for your official foreign marriage certificate, then attach to our notifications and send.

Changing names if you were married overseas

There are different forms to use depending on when your passport was issued. Follow the links to download the form you need.

Updating your passport after marriage

Make the SSA your first priority! Download and file the SSA name change form as part of any kit. Once your name change is confirmed send off all other notifications.

Updating the SSA after marriage

It’s not always as black and white as your surname or your spouse’s surname. You have a few more options. The same name change options are available to either spouse.

What are your married name options?

Even if you’re planning to change names, we recommend using your existing name and signature. While you can use your new name immediately, it’s best to keep your name and signature consistent with the wedding license application.

What name should I sign on my wedding day?

Religious vs government marriage certificate? You may need to order your official certificate from the county clerk as not all organizations accept a religious certificate.

How can I order my marriage certificate?

It is possible to keep your maiden name as a middle name but you should first be aware of your state’s law. You may need to state your preferred name when filing for your wedding license.

Can I move my maiden name to become a middle name?

Follow our three married name change tips for the fastest and smoothest name change possible! We provide the low down on checklists, proof documents and planning.

3 married name change tips

Want to do your own name change research and paperwork? Create your beautiful & personalized checklist with all the companies you may need to notify from our extensive database!

Create your FREE custom name change checklist!