Seven Tips for New Married Name Change

There are people who just flip their names after marriage and force everyone to adapt this new name. While your friends and family may take the bait, you cannot use the New Married Name officially until it has been legally changed. What should you know about changing names and the process to improve your experience?

1. The Certificate Will Make Your Name Change Easier

The law allows you to change to any name you wish whenever you wish. However, you must provide sufficient justification for changing the name. Marriage Name Change is one of the strongest justifications you can provide. In fact, many people are expected to change their names just because they have gotten married. This explains why some states will require you to tick on a box about name change when applying for your marriage license. With a copy of the marriage certificate, no one will ask you numerous questions.

2. You Have Three Options For Name Change

Those who wish to change their names after marriage have three main options they can pursue.

• You can choose to retain your original name. This means that you will not file a petition or be required to appear for court hearings. This allows you to preserve your identity and social history. You will also not incur the expenses of changing your name.
• You may hyphenate your name. This means that you retain your old name and also add that of your husband or spouse. This is a preferred option for many. You retain the old identity while still adapting a new one. It helps you to mark the transition without abandoning the identity that was known before marriage. You will please your spouse and also share in the identity of your children.
• Adapting a new name- this is for a couple that wishes to begin a new life that is free of both families. It means that you drop all previous names and create your own. Neither the man nor the woman will feel as though he or she is losing identity. Marriage Name Change by adapting a new name helps you to set your family on a brand new path.

Choose the option that most appeals to you. There are social and legal consequences for each decision you make.

3. A Lawyer is Not Required

The process of acquiring a New Married Name is so simplified that you do not need a lawyer. Directions are available online from the office of the county clerk. Some of the documents are also available for download. You can make the filing alone since there is nowhere that the documents should be notarized. Though you might hire a lawyer to appear on your behalf, it is not mandatory. You will be asked questions that you can answer during hearing. Since no one is contesting, a lawyer is an unnecessary baggage and expense.

4. You Have to Pay a Few Dollars

Luckily, these dollars are spread over a period of time and to different institutions. They are meant to facilitate the process. For instance, a hundred or more dollars will be charged when filing the petition. You also pay for publication of the petition and incur expenses as you travel and skip work. The cost runs into several hundreds of dollars but could be spread over several months or even a year.

5. You Can Change to Any Name, But There Are Limits

No one owns copyright to a name. This means that you can take any name you wish. However, you are limited to names that will not infuriate or insult a religious grouping, ethnic society or gender, age or any section of the society. Numerals are also not acceptable but you can use their word version. Punctuation marks are also not accepted.

6. Your Application Can Be Declined

While a marriage certificate is a strong justification for name change, the court may reject your application. If you have pending civil or criminal cases, you will be required to clear them. Upon publication, your creditors may object to the change of name. The court may also feel that you will escape marital or child support responsibilities and decline your application.

7. An Agent Will Simplify It For You

Marriage Name Change is a tedious process that will take time and resources. Other than halt all your activities pursuing a New Married Name you can assign the work to an agent. It saves you time and the hustle of moving from one office to the other while still ensuring that your desire to change is fulfilled.

Work with experts to simplify your process of name change after marriage. You will be guided on the documents and offices to visit. It takes less time and frees you to attend to other responsibilities.

A Simplified Procedure for Name Change After Divorce

When a divorce happens, most people want to sever the ties completely. You also want an identity that allows you to move on. Dropping the marriage name is one of the options. However, it is not just a matter of dropping the name from your official or unofficial references. You need to change the name officially in government records. There is a process when you want Name change After Divorce. Here are some of the leads.

Drop the Name in Social Circles

You can choose to just drop the use of the marriage name and return to the name you used before marriage. This will only be understood in social circles. Your family and friends will know that it is time to drop the name since you are no longer living together. It might lead to confusion especially among people who are not aware that you have undergone a divorce.

Was the Name Hyphenated?

There are different options when people get married to adopt new names. Some develop new names that give them totally new identities. Others will add a third name and maybe drop one of their names. It is easier when you had hyphenated your name because you will just drop it. In case you were using three names, you can continue using the two names left without causing a lot of confusion. People will still identify you using the old name.

Filing for Divorce

Judges issue orders for name change alongside the granting of a divorce. This allows you to avoid filing other papers for a name change. It is easier if you will be reverting to your old name and not necessarily picking a new name. A decree cannot be used to grant you a new name without being required to advertise the change.

There are reasons why a judge may fail to grant Name change After Divorce through the decree. Some of the reasons include

• Changing to a totally new name- the judge will only entertain a request that allows you to revert to your new name. If the request is for a new name, there is the likelihood that it will be declined.
• Contested name change- the judge will require you to go through the process of the name change is your intention is not to revert to the old one. Once you publish the name, certain entities may object. These entities could include banks, correction facilities and individuals who you owe money. If the name will cause people to confuse you for celebrities, your request may also be declined. These objections will cause the judge to grant a divorce without including the approval for a name change.

Name Change Using the Decree

Most judges entertain the request for a name change through the decree. However, you must have fulfilled all the requirements including the absence of any contention for the change. The decree will come with the instructions to revert to your old name. This gives you express permission to use the old name in your transactions. However, you still have a long way to go to complete the process. Here are the steps to follow once you get the divorce decree with the name change approval.

Obtain a new Social Security Card- present the decree or a certified copy of the decree to the SSA office. You will be required to fill a few forms indicating your intentions to revert to your old name. The office will process a new card with the old name. However, you will retain your old details. This could come with a few charges and will also cost you some money.

A new Driver’s License– visit the DMV with the old DL and new Social Security Card. Make an application for processing of a new Driver’s License. This should take several days and can only be done ones you complete name change at the Social Security Administration.

Inform financial institutions– you will need money to move around. Banks and credit card providers are likely to decline your request if there are discrepancies in names presented. Some banks will allow you to change the name by phone call or email. Others require you to appear physically in their offices or agents. Present relevant documents to speed up the process.

You need to inform all associates and persons or institutions you are in contact with about your Name change After Divorce. It helps you to avoid confusion and also ensure that you are not considered a suspect of identity theft. If the process will be hectic and time-consuming, consider the services of professional name change agents who will complete the process on your behalf.