Changing name

I wouldn’t change it until after the cruise that way you don’t have to worry about the passport. I’m not sure if there’s a time limit but I’m sure you could call the social security office and ask.

Changing your last name doesn't 'have' to happen in a time frame (or happen at all). If you choose 10 years in the future to change your name, you can.

There isn’t a time frame. You can change it years after your married. But since your wedding is coming up I would wait til after. Just because you already have the wedding combing up. Keep that in focus plus then you’d have to change your name for everything. Bank accounts, passports, drivers license,credit cards etc. just to make sure there’s no issues when traveling I’d wait

Thanks y'all. That makes perfect sense. Glad to know there isn't necessarily a strict timeline

I'd just do it after the cruise if you want to. I am planning to change mine, even though I am a little older, professionally established, mulitple degrees, and a certification in my name (all the usual reasons people give to not change). It's important to me, and the paperwork may be annoying but once it's done it will be done. I'm looking forward to having the same name as him.

I'm not sure if it's the same in every state, but in NY, you put your new last name on the marriage license. I didn't change my last name, but our marriage license had slots for "old last name" and "new last name." And that begins the name change process. You can your last name later, but you'll need to get a new marriage license (at least I would have to in NY). Usually, you change your name on the marriage license and then take it or send a copy of it to the social security office, DMV to provide the reason why you need to change your name.

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Yeah I'm int he same boat. Multiple graduate degrees, licenses, and certifications professionally, all of which would need to be changed.

If I had my ideal choice, i would keep all the professional stuff in my old name, but put my new drivers licenses/household stuff in new name, as in kind of having a "stage name" and a "legal name." Unfortunately with licensure laws I don't think I can do that which is definitely an issue.

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Ugh thanks for that info. I'm getting married out of state, which probably further complicates this. I will need to look this up.

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Yeah, I don't think that would work. At least not in my state/field. You could use his name socially, and keep your name professionally and legally if you wanted to go that way. I don't think (hope!) it will be as big of a deal to change it as people make it out to be.

I have a friend who is an attorney, and even after being married (changed name) and divorced (back to maiden) she remarried and changed it again. I figured if 3 times wasn't so difficult to cause her to not do it, I could manage it!

I have a friend who didn't change hers for a year do to business stuff. I am going on work travel shortly after I get married and will require a passport so I won't be changing mine until about 3 or 4 months after.

There may be a time limit depending on where you're located. Some states require you to complete the process with SSA and the DMV within 60 or 90 days, others ask that you do it within a year, and others don't have limits at all. Your local clerk's office should be able to answer that question!

View Quoted Comment That’s terrible advice. If there’s any sort of emergency, or you’re stuck in a port because you miss the ship, you’re in a heap of trouble. It’s simply irresponsible to travel outside of the country without one.
OP, it depends on where you live. Some states don’t have a limit, others will require you to petition a judge if a certain amount of time has passed.
I’d research the laws of where you live (that’s where you’d make the change). I’d wait until after your trip, since that’s a quick turnaround time for a passport.

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Agreed. I needed a passport for the last cruise I went on. When traveling out of country you definitely want to be as prepared as possible.

Thanks! I will contact my state offices to figure this out

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I will tell you this though: Your legal name needs to match the one on your social security card. The first time I wed it was in April of the early 90's and I dragged my feet on changing that darn card. The IRS was kind enough to tell me I needed to change it within 90 days of the next new year or they would fine me. (We filed our taxes in early Feb and my SS card was still in maiden name.) Just trust me - make sure all your government issued items match. The IRS does not play.

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Yikes. Yeah the more I'm thinking this, the more I think I need to keep mine.

I'm thinking that maybe I can think about changing it when i have kids out of consistency, or I can just be referred to new name socially and never change. It's too bad this is such a thing nowadays.

Definitely don't change it until after the honeymoon. You might be ok to do everything in time, but it's definitely safer and easier to just wait.

A friend of mine got married about 6 months ago and uses her husband's last name socially, but hasn't legally changed it yet. She wants to have it done by the time they have children, but isn't really rushing before that.

View Quoted Comment I have the same issue regarding my name and my writing career. All my professional work is under my maiden name and I'm changing it after the wedding, but I'm keeping my maiden name as a second middle name. I don't want to hyphenate because personally I don't like how that looks. But my super non-trad FH suprised me by really caring about me taking his name. I thought about ditching my given middle name but my sister (again surprising me) really cares about my middle name. So I'll be Sarah Margaret (given middle name) Jarmon (maiden/second middle) Schreiner once I'm married.

I am personally changing my last name because I have always really liked the tradition. I also think it will create less conflict in the future about what our kids's last names will be etc. Lastly I literally hate my last name, no one can spell of pronounce it right and it has annoyed me all my life.