Name change isn't specified on paperwork - HELP!

[teshamae]

Hi! I got married in Belize on May 30. Back home, I've run into a problem I wonder if anyone else has encountered. I went to my county (Isanti County, MN) registrars office to register my wedding certificate. They took a copy and charged me $40 to file it. HOWEVER, because the paperwork doesn't include a change of name line, they say I need to go through the court system and pay $250 for an official name change.

 

Has anyone else dealt with this issue? How did you fix it?

 

The ladies in the office told me this issue isn't addressed by the state of Minnesota at all, and that's why they tell people to go through the court system. Yet one brought up that when she married 30+ years ago, the MN paperwork at that time didn't include a change of name - and she still changed her name. It seems to me I can't be the first person to have this problem and not want to plunk down $250.

 

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[AmandaR]

I don't know about MN law, but you shouldn't have to pay $$$ to change your name due to marriage.

 

We were legally married in PA before our DW and our PA marriage certificate doesn't have a name change line, but I have had zero problems changing my name. My thought is that the ee's at the Registrar's office don't really know what they're talking about. I would call your local Social Security Office and find out what the rules are in your state. In PA, I just needed to show my marriage certificate sans new name line, and that was fine.

[TATrisha]

My marriage certificates didn't say a single thing about me changing my name... but the social security office and dmv changed it without question.

[ACDCDCAC]

in WA the license/certificates dont have a name change line, you sign with your current legal name, then you take your certificate to the social security office to get a new card in new name, then DMV, etc., etc, etc.

 

i would take your registered certificate to the SS office and start there.

[jajajaja]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abbie i would take your registered certificate to the SS office and start there.

Bingo. That's where I would start too. Why are you going to your county register? What do you need them to do? I guess I'm confused.

My license doesn't list a name change line- I just went to the SS office first, then the DMV. Most others I just called and they changed it over the phone- no need of name change proof. Pretty easy.

[teshamae]

Thanks so much for the info, everyone. I really appreciate it. I guess I went first to the registrar's office because I knew that they typically handled it locally. I've actually had folks (like at my bank) say they needed to see my marriage license in order to change my name. But hopefully they'll just take the social security card

[michelle08]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tlseege My marriage certificates didn't say a single thing about me changing my name... but the social security office and dmv changed it without question.

Same thing here and I was concerned prior to just going and doing it and everything turned out perfect!

Quote:

Originally Posted by teshamae Thanks so much for the info, everyone. I really appreciate it. I guess I went first to the registrar's office because I knew that they typically handled it locally. I've actually had folks (like at my bank) say they needed to see my marriage license in order to change my name. But hopefully they'll just take the social security card

Did you not get an actual marriage license from Belize? I never thought I had to register my marriag here because it's already recorded in mexico and I have my mexican marriage license and that is what I took to ss and dmv.

[1elephant]

Quote:

Originally Posted by teshamae Thanks so much for the info, everyone. I really appreciate it. I guess I went first to the registrar's office because I knew that they typically handled it locally. I've actually had folks (like at my bank) say they needed to see my marriage license in order to change my name. But hopefully they'll just take the social security card

mine doesn't have a name change line. i have been bringing my marriage license whenever i go somewhere to change my name. it has his name (my new last name) on it, so ppl can see what i'm changing my name too. even after i changed my s.s. and driver's license, i needed the marriage license for the bank.

[Cole5worm]

I am doing this process as we speak.. i went to teh SS office today adn it was easy pieasy lemon squeezy.. now i am going to try to go to the DMV after work! lets hope they don't need the marriage license translated!!