Each state has its own laws regarding changing your married name. Fortunately for Texas brides, the state recognizes a valid marriage certificate as proof of a name change. Take stock of your health insurance options. Are you better off buying your spouse`s health insurance or vice versa? Should you keep your plans separate? Find out what`s best for your health and what makes the most financial sense. Most employers set a time limit on how long you need to make a change after an “eligible event” like marriage, so have that conversation with your spouse right after you get married. And don`t forget to notify your provider if you`ve changed your name in order to get new insurance cards. Your wedding manager should send you the original two to three weeks after your wedding. Changing your name can be time-consuming, stressful and confusing. I started NewlyNamed to change that. IMPORTANT: If you are in the process of leasing or financing your vehicle, contact your lien holder and inform them of your name change. They offer you steps to update your title in your state.
If you have changed your name, your employer will need this information. Even if you don`t, you may need to update your payroll information with your human resources department – your newly combined income may take you into a new tax bracket, and if so, you may need to change your withholding tax. The IRS Source Calculator can help you determine how much you need to remember for your new filing status. You may need to choose the wedding photos you want for the prints. Meet with your photographer to choose your favorites, make changes, and choose sizes. We founded NewlyNamed to make it easier for you to change your name after marriage because we want to keep other people from feeling as frustrated as I do. If you have your new Social Security card with your name and marital status updated, it will also be much easier for you to get a new driver`s license. All you have to do is take a few identification documents like your birth certificate, marriage certificate, Social Security card, and of course, your current driver`s license to your local DMV and submit a new driver`s license. There is a 72-hour waiting period after receiving your licence, but it can be cancelled by court order.
Active military personnel are exempt from the waiting period. The license is valid for 90 days. Your driver`s license or government-issued ID will work for travel to the United States. However, if you plan to travel abroad, you will also need to update your passport. Once your certified marriage certificate is sent to you (or picked it up), you must request a name change on your Social Security card. Unfortunately, only a few issuers – like American Express – allow you to completely change your name online. Most require you to talk to someone on the phone. Changing your name in your bank account is a much easier task.
However, the procedure for the same varies from bank to bank. While some banks would simply ask you to email them a name change request with a copy of the marriage certificate and proof of identity, others may require you to go to their branch to fill out the paperwork. Getting married is one of the biggest events in everyone`s life and marks the beginning of a new chapter. However, marriage isn`t just about having a fairytale wedding and exchanging vows. There are many marriage papers that the bride and groom must pass before they can be considered a legally married couple. Note that part of this process also involves making sure your employer/payroll records have your new name so that it is accurate on your W-2 and other documents. In any case, the big day has passed, and you are finally married. Now the real fun can begin – update the documents! Be sure to complete your name change before you and your spouse file tax returns so that your legal name matches Social Security records. From Netflix and HBO to hosting your blog, we all have smaller monthly automatic payments that we can sometimes forget. Look at a few months of bank statements on all your cards and accounts, and pay attention to the regular payments you make automatically. Log in to these accounts to make the change, enter your new credit card or banking information, and update your payment information with your new name. Each state has a different app, documentation, and payment requirements, so check your state`s DMV website to see what you need to fill out and bring with you before you go.
Pro tip: To make your life easier, be sure to ask for multiple copies of your marriage certificate. You`ll need it to update almost anything, and a photocopy often isn`t enough – in some places, a certified copy is required. They`re supposed to give it back to you, but they don`t always do, which is why you should order multiple ones. (My husband and I ordered five copies and we only have one left.) Assuming you don`t pay for expedited processing, it will take six to eight weeks for your new passport to arrive after completing your application. Enter both your current legal name and the name you will change after marriage on your Texas marriage certificate application.