Name Change Options After Marriage
- Last Name Change. The American tradition of the bride taking her husband's last name after marriage is based on coverture laws, which dictated that in marriage, a woman's rights were ...
- Hyphenated Last Name. ...
- Middle Name Change. ...
- An Entirely New Last Name. ...
- Keeping Your Maiden Name. ...
Why should women change their names on getting married?
- Author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792)
- Born in London, the second of seven children
- An affair with Gilbert Imlay produced a daughter - Fanny Imlay
- Later married political writer William Godwin
- Died at the age of 38, only 10 days after giving birth to second daughter, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin (later Mary Shelley)
How do you Keep Your maiden name after marriage?
- Social Security number
- Driver's license
- Voter registration
- Insurance (home, vehicle, life)
- Passport
- TSA/Global Entry
- Banking accounts
- Credit cards
- Rent, mortgage, and utilities
- Loyalty programs
Can I keep my maiden name after marriage?
Can I keep my maiden name after marriage? Anyone is free to keep their own name, hyphenate their name with a spouse’s name, take their spouse’s name, or come up with a completely different name altogether. Legally changing your name after marriage can include any of the following: Changing your name to your spouse’s last name.
Should you change your name after marriage?
Name change after marriage is a big decision. While most women anticipate getting married someday, very few of us give much thought to the concept of name change. If you do opt to change your name (and 88.6% of you will), the change is permanent unless you divorce or petition the U.S. court system for a legal name change order, which is about as fun as it sounds.
What are my options for a legal name change after marriage?
What documents do I need to update after a name change?
How to fix name change issue?
What happens if you hyphenate your last name?
How to change a minor's name?
How much does it cost to change your name?
What to do if you end up divorced?
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Why should a woman change her last name after marriage?
The tradition of women changing their last names to match their husbands' has its origins in the property transfer that took place upon marriage, Scheuble said. Essentially, women went from being part of their parents' family to becoming their husbands' property.
What do you call a married woman who keeps her maiden name?
If you're keeping your maiden name, you have options: You can go by "Ms." or use "Mrs." as in "Mr. Wong and Mrs. Woodbury." You can also go by "Ms." if you'd prefer your title not to be associated with your marital status.
What are the benefits of changing your name after marriage?
Here are 10 pros in favor of changing your name after marriage:It's an opportunity to drop a maiden name you dislike. ... Change can be fun. ... Having one family name can band a family together. ... Sharing a last name makes monogramming is easier.More items...•
What are the pros and cons of changing your name?
The pros and cons of legally changing your namePro: You have all of the options you could ever want.Con: It's not free.Pro: You can leave behind a trendy name.Con: You have to tell everyone about the change.The legal process.
Do you automatically become a Mrs When you get married?
Introduction. Contrary to popular belief, a woman's surname does not automatically change to her husband's surname upon marriage. Neither will your marriage certificate indicate in any way what surname you will be using following your marriage.
Are you Mrs If you don't change your last name?
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, "Mrs.," the abbreviation of Missus, is a title used in the English language before a surname or full name to address or refer to a married woman. "Mrs." may also be used for someone who has been married (such as a widow).
Should your wife take your last name?
It's a pretty normal thing to consider when getting married, and most couples have some sort of discussion about what they'll do. Luckily, the woman having to change her name is no longer the norm, and for most women who change their names after marriage now (myself included), it's a choice.
Why you should keep your maiden name?
Keep your surname professionally. Pros: It won't affect your professional life, but you'll have the same last name as any children that you have with your partner. Cons: Having two names may be difficult to keep track of. Explaining this to employers, clients, and business acquaintances may become tedious.
Can I still use my maiden name after marriage?
Some people change their legal name, but continue to use their maiden name after marriage. This can be tricky when people make out checks to you, for instance, but you often just need to talk to your bank and establish that checks may be deposited in your maiden name.
What are the disadvantages of having two last names?
Cons of hyphenatingYou'll have a long name. ... Your last name may be too long. ... It'll probably confuse some people. ... It won't make your name change after marriage any easier. ... Your spouse will have a different name unless they choose to change theirs too. ... People may simply ignore one of your last names.More items...•
What are the consequences of changing your name?
You probably expect to need to update your Social Security information and your credit cards, but there are plenty of other people who need to know about your new name as well. "A name change can have an impact on your taxes. All the names on your tax return must match Social Security Administration records.
What are the drawbacks of changing your name?
There are some potential drawbacks to changing your name Otherwise, you can expect to pay a court fee, typically $275, for the legal process of changing your name. You will also need to file a petition, provide information about previous bankruptcies or criminal convictions, all of which can be quite time-consuming.
10 Pros And Cons Of Changing Your Name After Marriage
3. Having one family name can band a family together. Speaking of units, a shared last name can help create a sense of family identity, should you decide to have children.
5 Choices for Changing Your Name After Marriage | Kiplinger
Here are five paths you might consider when it comes to changing your name after marriage: 1. Keep your given name. Your easiest option is to do nothing at all.
What are the pros and cons of changing my surname after marriage?
Answer (1 of 4): As per my view there is only one pro by changing your surname after marriage. That is satisfying the ego of your husband and his family in respect of continuance of the family name. Cons are numerable.viz. Your birth certificate, educational certificates and personal documents ...
Do I Have to Change My Name After Marriage? | Lawyers.com
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How to have a family name without losing last name?
Hyphenate your names. Have the best of both worlds! Keep your own name and take your partner’s by hyphenating the two. If your partner is also willing to hyphenate his or her name, this is a good way to have a “family name” without one partner losing their last name in the process.
What does it mean to change your name?
Changing your name may give you warm feelings of being on a “team” with your significant other, but it also means lots of paperwork. (Pro tip: Try HitchSwitch, a service that legit takes care of all name change paperwork for you.)
Should I change my last name after getting married?
Should I Change My Name After Getting Married? Aside from actually getting married, changing your last name is one of the only wedding-related decisions you’ll make that will affect you for the rest of your life. Aside from actually getting married, changing your last name (or not) is one of the only wedding-related decisions you’ll make ...
Why do brides take their spouse's last name?
Many brides are ready to axe their maiden names completely and take their spouse’s last name. Reasons range from having unpronounceable maiden names to wanting their future children to have a last name towards the front of the alphabet.
Which states recognize the right to change a man's name?
Certain states — California, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Lousiana, Massachusetts, New York, and North Dakota — recognize a man's right to change his name on the basis of marriage. Still unsure of the best name change option for you?
What to do if your profession is closely tied to your name?
Option 1: Keep your maiden name. If your profession is closely tied to your name or if you are the last member of your family to carry your name, keeping your maiden name is a logical choice. It’s also the choice that results in zero paperwork!
Can you change your name if you divorce?
If you do opt to change your name ( and 88.6% of you will), the change is permanent unless you divorce or petition the U.S. court system for a legal name change order, which is about as fun as it sounds. It is wise to fully understand your feelings on name change, as well as your options before making the switch to Mrs.
Can you have both surnames?
This name change option allows you to have both surnames but use them interchangeably. You will need to sign all legal documents with both names, but you can introduce yourself with one last name, thus forgoing the mouthful that hyphenated last names can create.
1. Making the decision not to change your name is the hard part
"I spent a surprising amount of time weighing this decision, and it turns out it pretty much hasn’t affected my life," said Robin Kawakami, TODAY senior editor.
2. Your in-laws care less than you think
"I had worried that as (relatively) newly assimilated immigrants, they [my in-laws] would begrudge me keeping a link to my personal identity," recalled Leigh Ann Tomooka, an elementary school teacher in Los Angeles. "As it turns out, they don't care."
3. Other people may actually care more than your husband
In my case, it seems to be my girlfriends' husbands who are taking the news as a personal insult. When one asked me why I wasn't changing my name, I mentioned an easier explanation than I gave my husband: I'm a writer and I didn't want to change my byline. His retort? "Oh, because you're such a prolific writer?" Ouch!
4. People may assume that your brother is your husband
"Everyone assumes that my brother is my husband, and that my sister-in-law and I are his sister wives, because we all share the same last name," said Tomooka.
6. People will call you by your husband's last name after you have kids
"I noticed more people began ignoring my given, and by then, chosen, last name after I had kids," said Eun Kim, TODAY contributing writer. "No matter who I identified as their mother on medical forms, the staff at their pediatrician’s office always referred to me as 'Mrs.
8. Your feelings about your last name might change over time
"My husband and I have always been a team," noted Laura T. Coffey, TODAY Parenting Team editor, who didn’t change her name when she first got married. “But when our team gained a third member, my son, I suddenly felt like I wasn’t quite displaying the team spirit with gusto.
How to change your name after marriage?
For all major credit cards, the best place to start your name change after marriage is by calling the number on the back of the card. Every card issuer is different, so don’t expect the same process for each card.
How long does it take to change your name on your taxes?
The SSA will notify the IRS of your name change, but it may take up to two weeks. 3. Get a new driver’s license or state ID card.
How to change your name on your bank account?
To change the name on your bank account, most banks require you to visit a branch office with an updated photo ID (driver’s license or passport) and your marriage certificate. While you’re there, ask for new debit/credit cards and blank checks.
How long does it take to get a new title?
We recommend visiting your state’s DMV website and researching the steps to update your car’s title and registration. A new title typically takes a few weeks to arrive in the mail, but you should get your new registration right away.
What is a certified copy of a marriage certificate?
A certified copy of your marriage certificate is an official duplicate of the original certificate issued directly from the county or courthouse where you received your marriage license.
What is a marriage certificate?
A marriage certificate is a legal document that verifies your marriage occurred at a specific date and location. You’ll need to use it many times during your name change.
Why did we start newlynamed?
We started NewlyNamed to make your name change after marriage easy because we want to prevent other people from feeling frustrated like I was.
What are my options for a legal name change after marriage?
Keep your surname. This option continues to grow in popularity. It’s also the least complicated choice. If you’re both keeping your last names, there’s no need to stress about updating personal, legal, and financial documents.
What documents do I need to update after a name change?
You should update all official documents and accounts after a legal name change, including your:
How to fix name change issue?
Hyphenate both names. This is a common solution to the name change issue. Either one partner or both hyphenates their last name with their partner’s.
What happens if you hyphenate your last name?
If you keep your last name, whose name will you give to your children? If you hyphenate, they may not keep it that way when they decide to get married or have children. The same goes for any other creations or combinations of surnames you take.
How to change a minor's name?
Changing a minor child’s name typically requires the consent of both parents. In many states, you’ll have to file a petition in court, attend a hearing, and provide a valid reason for the change. If your spouse objects to the change, you may both need to testify before a judge makes a decision.
How much does it cost to change your name?
A legal name change can cost hundreds of dollars, but the price varies depending on where you live and the type of name change. In the United States, expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $400. For example, typical fees for a less traditional name change include: Filing a petition in court.
What to do if you end up divorced?
If you end up getting a divorce or separation, think about if you would keep the name that you chose when you got married. Remember that even though you may no longer want to keep it, any children that you have might.
