Marriage comes with the desire to take on a new identity. The name is considered one of the aspects of a person that has to change after marriage. It is therefore expected that you will legally change your name after marriage.
There are numerous options available to both partners for name change after the wedding is concluded. However, you have choices to make. The choices should be made depending on individual circumstances, preference, and convenience.
It must dawn on you that changing your name comes with consequences. You have to alter your names on all documents that bear the old name. This translates to moving from one office to the other updating your file details and obtaining new documents.
Changing your name also means that there will be a crisis of identity. People who were used to refer you by the old name will take time to adapt to the new one. You might also be referred by the new name and fail to respond because you are not yet used to it.
There are expenses involved whenever you are changing the name officially. These expenses relate to travel, statutory charges and lost income. Some offices or institutions will require your physical presence while others will do with a phone call or email.
Some agencies assist people through the process of name change. They will guide you on the papers to process when to visit particular offices and also on institutions where you do not have to visit. They ensure that your name change exercise is seamless and trouble free.
Name change agents will save you money and time, making them the preferred option. After your wedding, you wish to settle down begin building a home instead of moving around offices. The agents take up the task and allow you to enjoy your new husband or wife. It will take a shorter time to complete your identity shift because the agents are experienced and will dedicate all their time as well as resources to ensure that the process is completed.
With the above issues in mind, you have a good foundation to make a decision on whether to change your name and the approach you will give the process. There are several paths to consider depending on your preferences and circumstances. Each option carries advantages and disadvantages that you should be conscious of before commencing on the process.
1. Retain Your Original Name
This must be the easiest option of all. It means that you will not have to go through the tedious process of filing documents in offices across the country. It allows you to maintain your identity and also avoid confusing people who might not know that you are married yet want to continue referring to you by the old name.
The decision should be made by the couple because there are instances where people want to acquire a new identity after marriage. Experts providing Name Change Service After Marriage recommend this option for a certain class of people.
- A professional whose business or clients rely on your name. It helps you avoid the confusion that would arise when Dr. Joan Smart becomes Dr. Michael. You are likely to lose a lot of traction in the industry. Other than lose your professional standing, you can retain the name because your husband or wife knows that you are married anyway.
- A person with a distinct family name- there are family names that dominate industries and are considered to be social capital. Losing that identity would means that you have to do a lot of explaining and re-introduction when getting into events and office. However, the mention of a name would open room for better treatment and business. There is no point losing on social capital just to change your name.
It is also expensive and tedious to change your name. If this hustle can be avoided, the opportunity should be grabbed. It is also an opportunity to gain parity between the partners because in many cases it is the lady who is forced to change the name.
2. Pick the Name of Your Spouse
It sounds as if there is an unwritten rule that the lady has to take the name of the gentleman. However, the world has changed a lot and men are giving their wives a chance to provide the name. Whoever provides the name, you have to go through the entire process of legally changing your name.
You will require a certified copy of your marriage certificate. The certificate provides a solid ground for you to change names. You might consider taking several copies because you will need certified copies to be presented in different offices.
Present the certified copies of your marriage certificate to the Social Security office. They will update your data and issue a new SS card bearing the new name. This first step is important because all other institutions get their data from the Social Security Administration. Unless the name has been changed here, you are not going to make changes elsewhere.
3. Change The Name Legally But Maintain The Old Name At Professional Level
The change of name is symbolic because it ushers in a new phase in your life. However, the challenges of rebuilding a new name at a professional level would be enormous and also take time. It might also herald huge loses.
The shortcut is to legally change your name after marriage but maintain your professional identity. People will still refer to you by the old name at the professional level. However, you will have taken measures to change your official names. It allows you to maintain a thriving professional career and avoid identity confusion.
4. Drop the Surname and Pick Another
It is common for people to drop the surname after marriage. This means that you remain with one or two old names. This move will save you a lot of trouble at social, professional and even legal front.
A change of name means that your identity also changes. However, blending the names helps you to maintain a part of your old identity even as you build on the new one. This ranks among the best propositions for professionals who have spent time building their careers.
A look at your documents will reveal that you are still the old doctor, engineer, sportsman, and such other professions. It will, therefore, appear as if the addition of a new name is an attempt to reinforce your identity. This gives you an edge whenever a person is confused about who you are.
5. Add Without Dropping
There is no limit to the names you can have on your official documents. It is also easier to explain the fact that you added a name as opposed to picking another different one. The addition of a new will, therefore, herald excellent benefits to professionals and individuals seeking to maintain their old identity.
Most people will refer to themselves using one or two names. However, their documents have at least three or more. By adding a name, you will maintain your legal identity and give leeway to people at social and professional circles to choose the name they would wish to refer to you by. You still have to go through the entire process of legally changing your name in order to effect the additions. Experts providing Name Change Service After Marriage view this as the most open-ended option.
6. Come Up With a Totally New Name
Do you wish to create a totally new identity for yourself and your family? This is the path to follow. Identify a new name that you and your wife will be using and register it legally. The name can be from a combination of your old names or another that is chosen from other quarters.
This is an option when partners do not want to continue with the identities of either family. It provides a brand new starting point for the new family. You will have to complete an overhaul of your identity because there will be no name linking you to the old self. At social and professional circles, you will have an uphill task of convincing people about your new identity.
7. Amalgamate Your Names
This is a way of creating a new identity but it will be a blend of both personalities. It is commonly done using a hyphen. It means that you will maintain your old first name but the new surname will be a combination of the names of the two of you. People will find it easier to identify you as Dr. Michelle-Peters as opposed to Dr. Peter, for example.
The requirement to Legally change your name After marriage is to help you maintain a consistent identity. It will be difficult to convince institutions that you are the same person yet the names presented differ. Work with professional name change agents who will guide you through the processes to help save time and resources. The agents ensure that you complete identity change comprehensively and begin the new phase of your life stress-free.
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