Legally changed my name...the procedure (long)

Thanks for such detailed info. I now know what to look forward to upon my return! thanks

Jamy I'm shocked your credit cards wouldn't let you do it over the phone. I have American Express, Chase, Bank of America and they all let me do it over the phone with no problems.

 

I don't know why but the SS office wasn't bad for me. Then again Jen (NYJen) went to the one in Jamaica, Queens and she said it was horrible. I think the suburbs are more quiet and that is why it didn't have a lot of traffic.

 

Oh yeah and going along with what Jamy said, it doesn't matter what name you have on the marriage certificate or license, you can still get a name change. However, I think I was able to get my new social security card w/o showing any other proof of identity b/c on the form it said that if you are changing it due to a marriage, you have to show a document that has both your maiden name and your new name (which my certificate had). So I guess if you do it the way I did it, it is easier but if you keep your maiden name on your license and sign the license with your maiden name when you get married, they may ask you for more stuff.

My marriage license didn't have my new name....just my maiden name. I panicked a little cause I read on the SS website that it needed to have both names. It lied cause the SS office didn't care. They just asked for my DL and sent me on my happy way.

Yeah I have since realized that they are big fat liars. LOL.

But just for clairifcation I think if your marriage certificate doesn't have your new name then you have to show some form of I.D. like a driver's license. If your marriage certificate does show your new name, then you would only have to show that.

Thanks for posting that. I didn't want to change my last name but FI wasn't havin' that. But now I know what to do. Thanks.

Great info Glenda!

Glenda you are AWESOME!!

Glenda thanks for posting this! I just wish I had this info while I was going thru all of this.

In terms of the Driver's License, you can go online & fill out the form that has to do with "name changes". I then took that form, my marriage certificate & my old drivers license & went to the DMV. I thought I just had to give them that form & that would be it. I was not prepared for them to tell me that I had to take a new picture!!!! I did that & that was it. I got my new license in the mail in like 2 weeks.

All of the other stuff was pretty easy, except for the SS card. That was by far the WORST experience. I went in Brooklyn since the SS office is right around the corner from my job. I spent 3 hours there!!!

I'm just glad its all over! Thanks again!

great info Glenda - i will be there doing that in about a month!!

Yeah Glenda!!! I'm glad nothing was too painful for you.

 

I'm going to the DMV tomorrow - wish me luck.

 

Oh, and did I ever tell you about when I went to change my name with my bank. I still bank with Bank of America (even though I'm no longer an employee.) So the first thing I did was call them and ask what was needed. They told me I could go to any branch and all I needed was my marriage certificate (MC.) I even told the woman on the phone that my MC is in Spanish, would that be a problem? She said no. Ok great! So I go to a branch in my neighborhood and ask them to make the change. They tell me I need my SS card too (which I hadn't received yet.) And I was PISSED because I SPECIFICALLY called and asked so I wouldn't waste my time. <<Ok, shake it off Jen, shake it off.>>

 

So, I wait for my SS card to come in the mail and I attempt to visit a different branch. When I get there, they tell me there is no one there to translate the MC. <<You have got to be f*cking kidding me!!>>

 

So I go to a THIRD branch and basically tell the guy, "This is my third attempt to change my name - here's how it's going to work." He was very apologetic and said he would help me. I told him I was an ex-employee and that the freaking bank has my fingerprints on file for crying out loud. He thens asks me if I have any other documents with my new name (in addition to the MC and SS card.) I was like, "Buddy, I'm going to STAB you if you don't change my name today." He changed it. Needless to say, I'm looking for a new bank.