Name Change Before Move/honeymoon

The name you put on your marriage license doesn’t automatically take effect upon marriage— you still have to go through the name change process before anything is official. But you don’t need to do it immediately. You can wait and start the process after your move (even having put the new ‘name after marriage’ on your marriage license), but this will mean that you’ll be signing a lease for a new apartment in your old name. You aren’t technically your new name yet, until you have filled the government paper work (social security, license). (As a specific example, we opened a joint bank account POST marriage but pre- my changing documents, and without the social security card or license, I had to put my maiden name on the account)

I changed my name. Filled the marriage license out as such. But I had a trip a couple months later booked in my maiden name, so I just held off on the whole process until after the trip. It didn’t cause any problems.

Regarding the name version, that depends on your state. In NY they seem to have specific guildines as to how you can change your name upon marriage—you could create a hybrid last name, but you can’t choose a random new one (if I’m recallig correctly). In MA , where we were married, we were told we could change it to whatever we wanted. THIS question is one best asked to your specific town/city clerk where you will be applying for your marriage license — only they will have the information specific for your area (it may be right on their website).

Book your honeymoon in your maiden name. We left for our international honeymoon the next days. Air tickets, hotel etc all were in my maiden name which matched my passport.

In NC you don't get the marriage license right away. it takes a few days to be processed. For example the county I pick mine up in typically takes 5 days but my officiant mentioned some counties can take 10 days.

Most likely the apartment complex is going to require you to sign the lease in your legal name (maiden) rather than your future name. The lease of our apartment is still in my maiden name even though we got married over a year ago. Our complex didn't have a problem with that. After I changed my name I asked if I needed to update. They didn't require us to re-sign the lease.

The NC the name change process is fairly simple. A few days after the wedding get a certified copy of your marriage license. Take that to the social security office. Then you have to wait at least 24 hours and you can update your driver's license at the DMV. The SS card and DL will arrive by mail several days later (possibly up to 10 days later). After you have your new ID you can update your bank, employer etc.

Just an FYI - in NC the marriage license doesn't have your new name. Not everyone changes their name. It just list name prior to getting married.

1. You put it on your license, but to legally change your name is a lengthy process. The marriage license or certificate is NOT you actually changing your name yet. I wouldn’t change it until after your travel & home plans etc. Changing your name takes several months.

2. I got married in May but haven’t done it yet because we had multiple International travel a few months apart. So I knew it wouldn’t be enough time. I need to start the process soon and finish it before I go international again in May. It varies per state, but first stop is going to your local Social Security office with the necessary docs. Takes a few weeks to get this. Then you do your license, passport, credit cards, etc. It’s a specific order, so look up what’s needed for the state you’re going to live in.

3. No, personally I think Deschamps is way more beautiful than Field. But it’s your choice, I’m not sure if that’s allowed. Changing your name as an individual is a diff process than changing your name after you get married.

As the other posters stated, your marriage license doesn’t change your name at all. You have to go to the social security office to legally change it and then hit the dmv for a new license. Then you can change it with your bank and everything else. Since you’re completely changing your name you’ll probably have to do it like a non-marriage name change which where I live costs a couple hundred bucks and involves some extra steps and a court date. But where you live could be different. As for your passport with your maiden name, you can keep using it until it expires, you just book plane tickets in your maiden name. I looked into it as I just renewed my passport recently and really don’t want to pay the money to get yet another one, so that info comes straight from the passport office.

I would definitely look up some of these things in NC and the new state you will be living in. Here’s what I found in my experience in my home state of NY:

1. My marriage certificate was signed at the wedding and had to be sent in to become a license. I needed to pre-purchase several copies of the marriage license (I suggest doing this).

2. Most states will not accept your marriage license as your official name change, that has to come from Social Security. However, if you already have a driving license in the state in which you are living and need to change your name, you may be able to do without going to SS first.

3. If you are signing a lease, you can probably sign in your new name, as it doesn’t take much to change your name at banks and what not. I was able to do mine with a temporary license and bring your marriage license with you!! It may be different when applying for a mortgage, but the leasing company should be okay with this.

4. For the first few months, ALWAYS carry a copy of your license once you get it.

5. The whole name change process took me a day to do. Started with an appt at SS office, then DMV, straight to my bank, called my cc companies while waiting/driving, had my employment change insurance, email, etc, went to the post office to do my passport, and of course there will be things that you miss, so have your marriage license with you in order to make last minute changes and need proof.

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Thank you so much for your insight! I really appreciate it!!

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BohoRN2017, thank you so much for this insight about NC's process (I didn't know the NC marriage license doesn't have a spot to put your new name if you want one) and your advice on how to go about signing an apartment lease! Signing in my maiden name and then updating if needed sounds like the way to go.

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Thank you so much, Lisa! I really appreciate all of this detail and advice. I will look into the NC process and see if it differs. It helps to know how other people have handled the name change. Thanks again!

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Thanks for this insight, Sunshine! You may be right about needing a court date to change it completely. I will have to look into this in NC and in the state we're moving. Thank you!!

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Thanks, dancingwiththekumars! I appreciate the insight!!

I got married September 29 with a name change to match my husbands. Because we were going on a cruise a week or so afterwards for our honeymoon I wanted to change my name on my documents and all that.

I didn't change my last name with SS office until late October? And then didn't get my license changed until mid December because I need specific documents for the new real id that took some time to find.

For easy remembering if I were to ever need to sign something I would sign it with the last name that is on your drivers license or other photo id. If someone were to need to check your id if you signed something to verify it's you it'd just be easier to match the same names/signature. After I changed my name with SS office I was able to use that and my marriage license to change my name with things like work, bank, insurance, etc.

Generally where I am at when I need to change my name they just ask the reason and then to see/make a copy of the marriage license.