Submitted by vavivel t3_z787rg in washingtondc
I got married this year and have a certified copy of my marriage certificate. My marriage certificate does NOT have my new desired name on it, the court clerk told me to put my current last name on it. So, my question is, where do I start when changing my last name? the courts or SSA? The court process seems to take months. Some people said I can go straight to SSA. I am lost, please help.
SSA is the answer. The courts only get involved if an adult is changing their name for something that isn't marriage or divorce, and that's to make sure you aren't changing it for nefarious reasons like to evade prosecution or debtors.
I started with the SSA (avoid the one in Brentwood if possible). However, they used the marriage certificate to confirm the name change--not sure how they would do that for you without having your new name on the marriage certificate. I was told to put my new last name on the marriage certificate and did so.
My advice would be to call SSA (expect long wait times) and ask if they are able change your name based on the marriage certificate--if they can, that would save you time/money. Otherwise, you may have to go to the courts.
Did this recently. Walk in to SSA with a completed social security card application (https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf). There’s space on the form to include what name you’d like as well as what was listed on your former card. Bring your marriage certificate and passport. The DC certificate that only lists your maiden name is fine as long as the name your changing to is some combination of your name and your spouse’s. Once you get the confirmation from SSA, you can go change your license at DMV. Then everything else. It was actually all easier than I expected. Good luck!
Incorrect. The marriage certificate counts as a ‘legal name change document’. No court process is necessary.
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This is wrong. Start with SSA. Your marriage license is just the proof that you meet SSA’s requirements to change your name. It doesn’t need to have your new name. When you applied for, and signed the license, you still legally held your maiden name.
Editing to add, when I got married I paid for one of those name change companies off Groupon. It’s actually very useful because they have aggregated all the forms for major companies and governments, and you select the ones you need. It then works as a template where you fill out your info once and it prints it on everything for you. And it produces a checklist for the requirements of each company or state government. Well worth the $40 I paid!
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I did this this year with a MD marriage license with no “new” name printed. I was able to have SSA issue me a new SS Card and then from there to change my drivers license and everything else.
You will need to start with Social Security. Once you have your new social card (your number will stay the same) you can get rolling on changing other documentation.
Don't forget if you are booking any flights your ticketed name MUST match the name on your ID/Passport. So on the off chance you have any flights booked with your current last name, you must either keep your old ID's - OR - go through the arduous process of getting the ticketed name changed on your airline tickets.
wow, so this really worked! I was certain before I asked for advice on here that I had to go through the court. So I applied online at SSA and today went in, with my marriage cert and my ID and after 5 min all was done! Officially changed name and card should come in the mail in a few days. Thank you ALL~
mastakebob t1_iy5842p wrote
Iirc when my wife changed her name, you start with the ssa to get a new Social Security card. Then you can start your driver's license and passport and such.
I don't think courts are involved in name changes due to marriage.