Name Change Past 60 Days

This will depend on the state. Some will care. Others won't. I'm in NJ and changed my name without issue about 3 months after the wedding, and this was pre-COVID.

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Okay, thank you. I'm in Virginia and can't find a direct answer. Hopefully they follow NJ!

I’m not sure which state you’re in but I’m pretty sure there is no deadline of 60 days for a name cha he after marriage.

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I'm in Virginia. Thank you, I really hope so! I just had read something about needing to petition the court and I didn't know if that had to do with not changing it within 60 days.

View Quoted Comment I work for the courts and for marriage you don’t need to file a petition. (I’m in Maryland but I believe that part is just the law. I could be wrong)

I am just now changing my name after almost 2 years in California.

I’m waiting to change mine. I know someone who works for the SSA and advised not to do it now. You can do it by mail but you basically have to surrender and mail in your physical driver’s license, and they’re turn-around is questionable.

View Quoted Comment So I was looking this up today, as I am also in Virginia. If you are literally just switching your last name to your husband's name, my understanding is that you can do it Directly with the social security office as a start without any problems.


BUT If you want to do a different type of change, for example I am switching my maiden name to my middle name and his name to my last name - in Virginia you have to file with the county court before you go through the other steps. It doesn't even seem like you need a marriage certificate sent with that paperwork it just has to be notarized and costs $40 to file (in Loudoun).
Good luck! It doesn't seem like it's a very straightforward process unfortunately.

You have 2 years to change it with the social security administration, and changing your name with them would make it possible (and necessary) to change it in other places like on your bank accounts and at work. Your state (DMV/RMV) SHOULD recognize your name if the one you want to use matches the one on your social security card, especially if you show up with a marriage license, but every state is different so there's a chance they'll make you jump through some hoops. I just Googled, "name change marriage Virginia," and found this on the DMV's website:
"If you currently hold a valid Virginia driver's license or ID card, you must obtain a duplicate driver's license or ID card once your name change has been processed."
I didn't read it that closely, but it seems relatively straightforward.

https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/general/records/update_add.html#:~:text=name%20change&text=a%20completed%20%22driver's%20license%20and,evidence%20of%20a%20name%20change.