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Holly
Master February 2017

Name change/marriage license issue.

Holly, on August 19, 2016 at 2:51 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 8
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I had been back and forth on changing my name or not.

We are getting married out of state so got our marriage license this week (not sure if we'll be back up there together before the wedding, and in that county they don't expire). I didn't expect to have to make that decision right then so I kind of panicked and put my current last name as my name after marriage.

I didn't realize that your wedding license is what you need to present (with your new last name on it) if/when you change your name on other documents.

So am I for sure stuck with my current last name? Or is there a way to undo this if I end up wanting to take his?

8 Comments

Latest activity by Holly, on August 19, 2016 at 3:20 PM
  • JustPlainCat
    VIP September 2016
    JustPlainCat ·
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    I just found that in MA, if I'm understanding correctly, if you don't note the intent to change your name when you apply for your license you can still change it after the fact, but to the tune of about $200.00

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  • Erin381
    Master September 2016
    Erin381 ·
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    This is jurisdiction dependent - call the clerk

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  • AMW
    Master September 2016
    AMW ·
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    What Erin said. In Utah my friend has something like five years to decide what she wants to do without paying any more.

    In MN I had to determine my name choice for the license (did that on Monday---WOW! Felt so official lol).

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  • annakay511
    Master July 2015
    annakay511 ·
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    My maiden name is my only name on our marriage license. There were no issues with social security changing my name. Since SSA is federal, I don't think you will have an issue no matter what's on your marriage license.

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  • OG Kathryn
    Champion May 2016
    OG Kathryn ·
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    Nope I don't think so. My maiden name is on my marriage license, since at that point it was my name and a legal document. I have had no issues using it ot change my name. I think you are fine!

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  • Lauren17
    Master July 2017
    Lauren17 ·
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    My maiden name is the only name on my marriage license and i took my marriage license to social security and the DMV and have had no issues. Call your clerk but i'm pretty sure you won't have any problems... i'm in NJ

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  • Mrs.D
    Master July 2016
    Mrs.D ·
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    In my state, you have to pay court costs and spend a day in court to change it if you don't change it on the marriage license. It was several hundred dollars.

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  • Holly
    Master February 2017
    Holly ·
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    I just took a look at the license itself and it just says our names and "permitted to join these persons in matrimony" etc. So unless the application plays a role in what the certified copies look like after we file it, you guys are probably right...thanks!

    ETA I will look into state/county laws!

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