Name change before wedding?

I changed my first name before I was married. It's a much bigger pain than changing it after.

You don't need to worry about this. fill out your i-9 with your maiden name, and once you change your name you just let your job know and they will change everything with you. I have worked in recruiting for years and now sell HR software . You won't be able to change your name before you are married unless you go to court to do so.

Also if you're worried about email etc, you may be able to talk to your HR dept and see if the IT team can get you set up with your new name in addition to your maiden name so everything will be ready once you do change it. Again, this is all pretty simple though.

Your wedding is soon. By the time you go through a court order name change (application, wait time, newspaper filing and ad duration, hearing scheduled, court order processed) you will be married. Not to mention you have to pay for a court order change. Just hang in there, like PP said it's not hard for HR to change everything afterward.

Thanks guys! Didn't know you have to go to court, that totally sucks. I believe having an ID and a social security card will work for the I-9 identification forms. These shouldn't take long to get, correct?

I am deciding between changing my name before or after my start date at this point.

Most states will require a court order to perform a name change (although there are exceptions). Just do the I-9 with your current legal name and notify HR when you have legally changed it and have the SS card and ID with it after the wedding. Don't make this more complicated than it needs to be. Name changes suck anyway, which is precisely why I am never changing mine again...

You're probably better off waiting. I'll be changing my name on my I-9 and everything but leaving my maiden name for email and signatures for work. Hopefully since you'll be getting married right after you start it won't be too confusing for co-workers. There's always a learning curve when people change their name.

Thank you, PPs! Have decided to hold off on name change until after my start date. Although I wish I could get it sorted out sooner, it's just not going to happen.

Hi there, according to me we should not pressurize women to change their name after marriage.

Hey, John. You're absolutely right! There are a lot of reasons I'm changing my name, but none are related to societal pressure.

@John, I completely agree. Nevertheless I find myself very excited to take FH's name! I support anyone who strays from the "traditional".

Hi Sally! Just my personal experience, but changing my name at work was incredibly easy. Changing my name everywhere else has been super difficult, but at least there are specific channels and forms to use when you are changing your name because of marriage!

In terms of "how fast" you can get your name changed, it's hard to nail down! You'll have to get your certified marriage license, which can take 1-2 weeks. Then if you go into a social security office you can get your SS updated with your new name and they will mail it to you within 14 business days (it can take the same time or longer if you mail everything in). You can't go to the DMV for a new license until you have your new SS card, but you'll leave with the temporary paper version of your new license that day.

TLDR - I'd say it would take at least 4 weeks to change a new SS card and driver's license!

https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-ideas/etiquette-advice/how-to-legally-change-your-name-after-marriage

Oops! duplicate post!

HR Manager here - just letting you know that it really is simple to change your name for work, so don't let that be the reason you do it. As others have mentioned, your ID and SS card are all that you'll need, and they should be able to help get your e-mail/business cards/etc. changed.

If you're going to be making changes with your health insurance through your employer, you may need a copy of your marriage license and keep in mind you only have 30 days after the wedding to make that change (outside of open enrollment). This can be done before you've changed your name though and then updated to reflect the new name later!