Bride Name Change Guide

You probably do not need to purchase a bride's name change guide online. I see these advertised for around twenty-five dollars and if you like something all laid out and organized for you so that you don't miss anything, then you might want to purchase one.

These seem to be made for each particular state since the laws can differ from state to state.

But you can do this on your own. My first suggestion is that you simply ask the county clerk's office where you get your marriage license how you go about changing you name. I suspect it is not the first time they have been asked the question and they will be able to give you some guidance.

In my home state here are the basic rules as they stand now. This may give you some idea of what to ask about where you live.

First, the couple needs a certified copy of their marriage license. Even this differs some in the seventy some odd counties in my state. So again, I tell couples to ask the clerk's office when they get their marriage license, how do we get the certified copy. In the county I live in now, once the wedding officiate has returned the license, the clerk records the marriage and automatically mails the couple a certified copy (recorded and stamped with seal). In other counties, it is not automatically mailed but the couple must call or return to the clerk's office in person to request their certified copy.

Second, in my state, the bride if she is changing her name unfortunately must go in person to the Department of Motor Vehicles to get a new driver's license. She must take the certified copy of her marriage license with her to do this. Then she also changes her name on her Social Security card and can do this by mail or by visiting any local Social Security office.

Once those two ID's are change, typically anything else can changed by using them to identify yourself. So if you changing your name on your health insurance, bank account, and other similar things, you can usually use your new driver's license and Social Security card to identify yourself.

On another note, couples sometimes ask about when they should do the name change. First, you wait until after the wedding! And then, if you are planning a honeymoon out of the country, you want to wait until you get back before changing anything. With tighter security these days, if would not be good if one identification had one name on it and another identification had a different name. They might not allow you on the plane!

Different countries and resorts may have different rules too for identification, so you might want to check on those at least weeks before you wedding. And I've heard of some resort giving special perks to the newly married, so be sure to carry some proof your marriage with you just in case.