11 Dec What to Do after You Legally Change Your Name

Changing your name to match your spouse`s last name is one of the most common reasons people want to change their name. This can help some couples feel like a shared family unit and can simplify future cases that require identification, such as filing taxes together. Note that a marriage certificate is not the same as a marriage certificate. A marriage certificate shows that you have the legal right to marry. A marriage certificate serves as a registration document proving that you have completed and registered your marriage. Name changes cost a few hundred dollars and vary depending on where you sign up. While there is no law requiring a name change after marriage, the practice is still common in the United States — and not just for women. Men are increasingly adopting their wives` surnames, and in the case of same-sex marriages, some couples decide that a surname is beneficial to them, especially if they are children. Changing your name in your passport is considered a correction. If your passport was issued less than a year ago, you can have the correction corrected free of charge. However, if you`ve had your current passport for a year or more, the fee for a change and a new passport booklet is $110 (plus a quick fee if you`re in a hurry to go on your honeymoon). Note, however, that there may be certain restrictions that you can change your name, including, but not limited to, the following: To change the name on your bank account, most banks require you to visit a branch with photo ID (driver`s license or passport) and your up-to-date marriage certificate. Regardless of the reason for the child`s name change, the court usually requires that the standard that the name change is in the best interests of the child.

Be sure to ask for both a new deck of cards and new checkbooks. If you also update your address at this time, bring proof of address (such as your rental or mortgage documents). Your name appears in more places than you think, so you can start creating a table and creating a list. Most likely, you will have to fill out a large amount of paperwork that coincides with your name change. There is paperwork when you have to file with the courts, and there is paperwork to change your name on your important documents (such as passports or bank accounts). Overall, it can be a lot of work. You must attach a certified copy of your birth certificate to the petition. If your birth certificate is not available, you will need to explain why it is not available and provide another form of identification.

If you are married, the application must also be given to your spouse. There may be additional costs to deliver the petition to your spouse. If you`re thinking of keeping your maiden name as your middle name, wedding planner Sandy Malone is all for it. “My real middle name, for example, will always be Elizabeth to me,” she says. “But for legal and formal reasons, I became `Sandra Nelson Malone` when I married my husband. This has proven invaluable over the years, as I`ve discovered places where I forgot to change my name – for example, random car rental points or airline frequent flyer miles. It`s also important to reconnect with old friends through social media. In Iowa, there are procedures to legally change the name of an adult or child. The forms are available free of charge on this website. Once you have posted a notice of name change (if necessary), you may need to hold a hearing with a judge. The judge will consider your application and any objections before deciding on your application.

If the court approves the change, you should get a copy of the court order so you can start changing your name on official documents. The U.S. Department of State allows you to update the name on your passport. If you request the change less than one year after your passport is issued, you must complete Form DS-5504 and submit it along with your last U.S. passport, certified name change order, and color passport photo. There is no fee unless you opt for expedited processing. If you apply for the change more than one year after your passport is issued, you must complete Form DS-82 (if you are eligible to file by mail) or Form DS-11 (if you must apply in person) with your last U.S. passport, a certified copy of the change of name order, a color passport photo. and the renewal fee. Forms and other information can be found at your state`s passport agency.

If the order can`t be changed, or you don`t want to go through this process, you may need to request a name change, but keep in mind that many states allow you to simply reuse your previous name as long as you do it regularly. You can then request that it be changed in all your identification and personal records, but only after you have asked the court for a formal and documented change. In the context of a divorce case. If you are applying for a name change as part of an ongoing divorce, include your name change application in your application (if you are an applicant) or in your response (if you are a defendant), and the court may include the change in the final judgment. If you change your name in divorce proceedings, you can only change your name to (1) the name on your birth certificate or (2) the name you had immediately before the marriage. See Iowa Code Section 598.37. To change the name on your driver`s license or ID card, you will need to go to your state`s local Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) branch or your state`s DMV equivalent (for example, the Michigan Secretary of State`s office issues driver`s licenses).