You Just Got Married...Now What?

Changing Your Last Name

You spent months planning your wedding. You are excited to start your life together. As you are establishing your family, you want to share a last name. The exercise of a woman changing her last name has lots of steps and can be time consuming.

Make a list

You have your name spread across lots of legal documents and accounts. Making a full list of everywhere that you need to change your name will help you to be thorough. This list will be quite exhaustive. You may want to keep a running list on your phone’s notepad to add to as you remember additional accounts.

Start with the legal documents

Before you can change your name on many accounts, you need an updated government ID. You’re going to need your marriage certificate for some of these updates as well as your ID with your maiden name so be sure to have these on hand. Here is a list of legal documents you’ll want to update:

• Social Security Number and Card
• State Driver’s License: fix your hair and put on a pretty top for your first picture ID as the new Mrs. If you and your husband are moving to a new state, you’ll be able to get your first ID in that state under this new name.
• Voter registration: if you move or change name, you want to make sure you are properly registered to vote and that your voter registration name matches your government issued ID.  
• Passport: a new passport can take as much as 13 weeks. You’ll want to make sure that you don’t have a trip booked out of the country while you await a new passport. You also want to make sure you are booking any plane tickets so that they match the passport in your hand. If you are taking a honeymoon outside of the country immediately after your wedding, book your ticket in your maiden name as this will match your passport.

Next update your bank accounts

Once you have a government issued photo ID, you can begin updating your name on your bank accounts.

• Start with your checking account and savings account. You’ll need to contact your financial institution and fill out some paperwork. They will ask for documentation to show your name matches so have that ready.
• Next do the same step for your credit cards. You want to make sure your credit card matches your ID so that you never have issues using it.

Update your mobile payment accounts

Mobile payment accounts like Paypal, Venmo, Zelle, etc.need to be updated to match your naming and your online banking so that your payments flow seamlessly. Many people use these accounts frequently to even daily to pay friends and family or even subcontractors doing work at your home. You want to make sure you take care of this update so that you’re able to conduct life and business transactions easily.

Don’t forget to loop in USPS

Whenever you move, you file a change of address with USPS to ensure your mail is forwarded correctly. You should also update the post office when you have a name change. This is an extra step to help ensure your mail gets delivered correctly.

Update personal accounts

This last step is the one that can take the most time as it can be what feels like a never ending list. Think about all of your rewards accounts, shopping accounts, and other places you have your name.

Frequent flyer accounts must be updated if you want to continue earning rewards for your travel. If you book a flight in your married name, you will not be able to attach your frequent flyer number if the last name doesn’t match. This is a big deal as you don’t want to forfeit the rewards you have already earned.

If you have shopping accounts with a store, you can often select to leave that in your maiden name. If you do so, be sure to remember that you have that account established so that you don’t open a second account in your new name. Many people choose to update the name to avoid the possibility of duplicate accounts.  

Time consuming exercise

Updating your name in all of these places takes hours and hours. Many people prefer to pay for a service to execute this feat. Companies like NewlyNamed will do this for you saving you the hassle. Whether you choose to do this name update exercise yourself or pay a service, find the joy in it. You are changing your name because you and your husband are a NEW FAMILY. That’s so exciting.

I love supporting couples as they start their life as a new family unit. Just as I’m so thankful that God gave me a man who is a perfect mate for me, I celebrate the same for you. If you are looking for a wedding venue for 2023 or even 2024, please reach out. I’d love to give you a tour. The Carriage House is a beautiful estate and could make your day feel extra special for both you as a couple and for your friends and family.

All my best,

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