Wedding Advice - Name Change Guidelines
Tips For Changing Your Last Name After You're Married
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini
Advice Seeker: Dear April Masini,
I just got married and am so happy to be Mrs. Carleton. The only problem is, I won't officially be Mrs. Carleton until I legally change my name--it sounds like such a complicated process. Do you have any tips or advice I should follow when going through the name-changing process? Who should I notify?
Sincerely,
No Longer a Miss
April Masini's advice:
Dear No Longer a Miss,
The wedding was a hit. The honeymoon was blissful. The ring on your finger looks divine. You're married and in the relationship of your dreams. Now it's time to get down to business: Change your name.
Here are some guidelines for changing your name:
*Change your name AFTER you are married. No one will change it before you are legally married.
*Xerox a copy of your wedding certificate. Make about 25 copies and keep them in a drawer. Many institutions require a copy of this. Be prepared to send them out with your name change request.
*The first place to change your name is your social security number. The second place is your driver's license.
A short list of those to notify for your name change include:
1. Health insurance. (If your health insurance company contracts out to prescription and mental health benefit subcontractors, make sure they each receive your new information.)
2. Banks.
3. Mortgages and rental agreements.
4. Car insurance companies. Some states will not allow you to keep two different car insurance policies with two different companies if you are married.
5. Auto Club.
6. Health Clubs and other clubs.
7. Credit cards.
8. Driver's license and car registration.
9. Your employer's human resource or personnel office.
10. Credit card companies.
11. Passport.
You may also be interested in:
Dating Advice for Women, Dating Tips for Guys, Ideas for a Fun Date, Romantic Date Ideas, Better Sex, Kissing Tips
April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.
Dating Books
