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Ricotta1
Devoted May 2017

Name Change & Moving Out of State

Ricotta1, on June 18, 2017 at 3:12 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 2 9

Question for you all: So DH & I got married last month in California & we'll be moving to North Carolina next week. I want to change my last name but haven't started the process yet. I do have certified copies of our marriage certificate though. My question is, do I need to get this taken care of while we're still in CA, or can I wait & do this when we get to NC?

9 Comments

Latest activity by annakay511, on June 18, 2017 at 9:21 PM
  • FinallyMrsJennings
    Devoted April 2017
    FinallyMrsJennings ·
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    Name changes don't happen instantly. I would wait until you have moved. I moved recently too after getting married in April and waited until we got settled. I didn't want to risk my new social security card getting delivered to the wrong address or something. Also, you're going to need a new license anyway so might as well wait.

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  • MrsB
    VIP June 2017
    MrsB ·
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    You can do it when you move. I moved from Georgia to Florida a month before we got married, but I waited until after we did to update everything. "Do it all at once" was my motto (and I didn't want to get a new driver's license and then get another one 2 weeks later!)

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  • Teri
    VIP May 2017
    Teri ·
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    You can wait until you move.

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  • kahlcara
    Master August 2013
    kahlcara ·
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    I changed mine a year later for this reason and it was fine.

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  • Jaylynn
    Super November 2017
    Jaylynn ·
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    I am in the same boat. I will be doing the name change after I move. NC DOT requires your SS card or proof of social security for first time license so you don't want to risk things getting sent to the wrong address or trying to time your move around response from SS on your name change. https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/driver/license/

    That said, state requirements are to change to NC DL within 60 days.

    https://www.dmv.org/nc-north-carolina/new-to-north-carolina.php

    So you will likely need to get a Drivers License and register your car in your maiden name and then get your license updated with your married name later. You have another 60 days from the time you get the change approved by SS to update the NCDMV:

    https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/driver/renewal/

    So:

    1. Move

    2. Apply for name change

    3. Get NC DL and Registration in maiden name

    4. Get name change approval

    5. Update NC DMV with proof of new name

    Hope that helps!

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  • Ricotta1
    Devoted May 2017
    Ricotta1 ·
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    Thanks so much for the responses! This is a huge relief, knowing that I can just concentrate on packing & not dealing with the SSA & DMV right away Smiley smile

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  • Hahnsolo
    Super March 2018
    Hahnsolo ·
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    Welcome to good ol NC .... be prepared for the bipolar weather Smiley smile haha.

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  • Dena
    Master April 2017
    Dena ·
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    I'm in the same boat. I'm definitely waiting the 3 weeks until we move to deal with the SS office!

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  • annakay511
    Master July 2015
    annakay511 ·
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    Your first step is the Social Security Administration. That's federal, so you can do it anywhere. The next step is the drivers license - you have to wait at least 48 hours from SSA to change your license. You'll need a new one when you move anyway, so it will definitely be easier to just do it after you move. You can't change anything else (bank accounts, etc.) until you've been to the SSA and you have a new license. However, make sure you have multiple copies of your CERTIFIED marriage license -- you may be able to order them online, but if not you can pick them up at the courthouse where you got married. You need at least 2. May want to do that before you move!

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