Making it legal this month (plus some name change questions)

I just found out the details for what we need to do to make it legal. This is in North Carolina & varies by the state you are in, but I thought people might find it helpful to see what it takes.

 

We have to go to the "Register of Deeds" first. We need an ID, social security card & $50 in cash.

 

Then we go across the street to the judicial clerk. That is $20 & they have limit hours for a marriage. It's 11:00-11:30 & 3:00-3:30. We will also need two witnesses.

 

We'll probably head downtown some day this month around 10am to start the process. I'd also like to take some pictures on the courthouse steps. I bought a cute little white dress.

 

Afterwards we will head to eat Mexican food with our witnesses (a husband & wife we are friends with). Then it's Mike & Morgan time after that.

 

I don't want to make a big deal about the legal day, but I still want to make it special.

 

 

 

You can ignore this part. I went ahead & got a new drivers license & I'm waiting to change my name until we get back.

 

OK now my name change questions.

 

I recently lost my driver's license so I need another. I'm trying to figure out if I can just get the license with my married name since I'll be married a week or two later. I would have to change my social security card first. I should probably call the DMV & the register of deeds again tomorrow. I really want to figure this out, because I'd like to go get my new license Monday.

 

My passport will stay in my current name which is what my airline ticket is under. I will not change that until we get back from mexico.

 

Anyone have tips for the name change stuff?

I don't know about other states, but in MN at least, the SS card and DL aren't linked at all - you can change one w/o the other, and change either of them first.

same in nj...however, i personally wouldn't change anything before i went away...what if you need back up id? i guess you could take your marriage certificate with you....do you get your marriage certificate on the spot? if not, you'll have to wait to change your name on anything.

in nj you need proof of marriage to change your last name...i needed to show my cert. when i went last week.

i DO know that if you get a new passport and then get married w/in the year, you only need new pics and the new passport is free...wonder if there's something similar for licenses?

good luck! - oh yeah, and take champagne with you to the restaurant!!!!

I'll have to ask the DMV about that. I know here you have to show them the SS card to get the license. But, I'm not sure that they have to match. If not, that would make it easier for me.

I don't think my mom's SS card & license match. That's in Texas. I wish it wasn't already after hours, because I'd like to call some places.

I do have some other IDs. I have a student photo ID with my picture.

I'll check to see if there is a deal where I could get a license now with this name & then a new one in a couple months with the other. I definitly don't want any problems.

I think we'll do a margarita toast. Get in the mood for mexico

I will call the SS people, DMV & other's I'm sure. I'll post what I find out. I'm just happy to finally be getting this legal buiness together.

Morgan, I had to get my SS# done first then the DMV, the DMV wouldn't change my name until I had proof of my name change from SS.

Also I wouldn't recommend changing your name before the wedding because you will have to order a new passport.

Would I need a new passport? Does the passport have to match anything else? I thought the passport just needed to match my ticket (which it does now).

I checked for a friend going to my wedding & the license & passport do not need to match. You don't need ot take the license on the trip.

Maybe I should just get a new license. Just two trips to the DMV is not appealing.

hmm I was told that it all needed to match, personally I would not want to risk it.

http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t14497

 

I just am going by what I was told in this thread.

 

I won't be risky though. I plan on checking on everything first.

yea - as long as your passport matches what your travel is booked under, that's all that's important! i recently had to travel under a really old name (my 1st married name) because of the voucher i was using for the ticket was earned with that name. anyway, i just used my passport, which was still in that old name. you can make up any name you want to travel under, as long as you haev the id to match!