Congrats, You're Married!!! Now what?!! How to Change your Name, Legally in 8 Steps....

Congrats, You’re Married!!! Now what?

You Did It!!!! You tied the knot!! Your Kauai Wedding was a blast!! You’ve enjoyed your honeymoon....now what?! It’s time for the Adult Stuff! If you’re up for it, it’s time to change your last name!!!

Changing your name legally sounds really daunting, but we’re going to try and break it down for you in 8 steps! Here we goooo!!
       ⁃ Step 1 - Get certified copies of your wedding certificate from your local, marriage license office. I would recommend printing at least 5-8 certified copies, just in case. You’re going to send a few of these to (DMV, Social Secuirty, Passport, etc). I even made simple, black and white copies as well.
       ⁃ Step 2 - Visit your local Social Security Admin Office to get a new SS card - this is one of the first pieces of docs you’ll need to legally change your name.
       ⁃ Step 3 - DMV time! After you get your SS card, visit your DMV to update your driver’s license. Yes, you’ll have to take a new pic!
         ⁃ Step 4 - Now time for banking! Update your name on your bank accounts, checkbooks, credit cards, etc.
        ⁃ Step 5 - Passport - You should always have a passport! Processing takes time, so I would do this when you get back from your honeymoon, to make it easy.
        ⁃ Step 6 - Your work info also needs to be updated W-2, W-4...contact your HR rep for more info! If you own your own business, you’ll need to update those docs legally as well!
        ⁃ Step 7 - Misc Name Changes - Post Office, Costco, Membership places, Rewards Cards...
        ⁃ Step 8 - As you are filing for your name change, carry a black and white copy of your marriage license with you wherever you go, just in case someone asks to see your “married” or “maiden” name. I had to show this randomly a few times!

This is definitely “adulting” 101 info! Not as fun as planning your Wedding, but at least you can make it really official!