can i change my name on my marriage certificate

Do we need to update his name in our marriage certificate and also is there a possible way to change the one letter on my last name since I started using his last name after our wedding. Is it possible to change my name back to my maiden name? Hi Courtney. Snapshots in time. Is it possible to amend a court order to include her taking my new last name? Not a loophole. Hi Mar. You just need your records aligned. You've ruled out a divorce decree, which leaves a court order as the only viable name change document available. Imagine you're on your second marriage; both times, taking your spouse's surname. Wallow in self-loathing. You can go further by printing each POMS article and attaching it to your paperwork. do i go to the city hall i went to get married and ask them to revert it or its more complicated? My husbands mother made a typo on his last name spelling when she made his korean name into english for his passport. I changed my last name into a hyphenated name (my maiden and my spouses name). The first appears to be folks pursuing divorce and wanting their maiden name restored. I am married but I want to change back to the name I had prior to getting married. Since the two do not match it appears I have to file for and obtain a Court Document to legally confirm the middle name I've been using for years. my husband's last name is hyphenated (his moms last name-his dad's last name). Specifically in Minnesota, if I go back to my maiden name only because I miss my maiden name, will it be difficult to change my drivers license as well? Do I need a court order of my own to change my name to match his, or would showing his court order to the SS office be sufficient? Your original or certified name change document, such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order; One color passport photo; Fees, which are different depending on your age; Send Form DS-82 and supporting documents using USPS. You can do this. Is it possible to go back to my marriage certificate and hyphen my last name after 2 years? In an opposite-sex marriage, the woman may keep her maiden name, beginning . Hi Linda. As mentioned in the article, this isn't a well known provision. Publishing public notice of a name change may be required by your state. You're not relegated to just returning to your maiden name. Is it possible to be hyphenated with SSA, but not on the passport and driver's license? How can I get social security to change my married name back to my maiden? My divorce is going to take years sadly. Social Security card Driver's license or state ID card Tax returns U.S. passport Naturalization certificate and certificate of citizenship Veterans benefits Voter registration What document can I show in Ukraine that prove that I changed my last name? If I get marry with this license can I fixed later on or not? Your situation will likely require a court order. Conventional wisdom suggests you've got one shot at name change through marriage. Let's say your name was Ann Hall, married Ari Smith, then hyphenated to Ann Hall-Smith. Here are the first steps you must take to legally change your name after getting married: Use your new name on the marriage certificate. If it did not, inquire as to why not? The Social Security Administration ask me to first change my immigrant documents, however my country will only accept to change my name if I have a proof that I actually changed it, which would be the marriage certificate. Hi Stanley. As long as your marriage was valid by New Zealand law and could have taken place under Australian law, your marriage would be recognized in Australia. No. Does that count for first names? But it may be a problem with your driver's license. You can reorder surnames, drop the hyphen for a space, or restore your birth name. i live in Maryland and my situation is this: in 2012 i got married first time and changed my name everywhere using my marriage certificate. I got married in Michigan and signed my marriage license with my legal name at the time, not his last name. I kept my last name but changed my middle name to my husband's last name after marriage. The reality is, that you may want to change your given name for a variety of non-marriage-related reasons including, for example, the following 3 reasons: 1. Do they check that we are already married? Your marriage certificate doesn't have to show your new last name. The end of the article mentioned how this approach becomes more difficult once you've begun to update an array of ID beyond social security. For instance, only a handful of states provide the option to choose a new name after marriage. I had my name changed legally in Connecticut but was born in West Virginia. The dropped part must be a whole word. What if I'm getting divorced? Am I right that we both need to file Petitions for Name Change with the court? I get a divorce if he give it to me but I cant afford this either . At first glance, they're not what they appear. We were married August 2019, in a California Court House. Hello, my husband and I were married in DC this past January. Is there a way to keep my maiden name even though I already signed my marriage license. But we were still skeptical. Do I need a court order to do this? I was wondering what was the outcome for you at the DMV? is required and the fee is $74.00. I got married late 2022. I currently live in Oregon is there anything that I can do besides getting divorced and remarried? Marriage certificates can't be amended after the fact unless there's a typographical error. to change my name back to my previous married name, as it is the surname of my children and grandchildren. The alternative is to reverse your reversal to match your old driver's license. Hi Carol. No, any name change on your marriage record is optional. Getting a response by email would provide you a hard copy response instead of a phone reply. My question is that, in marriage certificate my surname and wife surname is showing original ones. If you can't get your certificate changed, you can look into the remarriage marriage license option. Can i still go to the social security office and dmv to change my last name to his. But now I want to revert back to my maiden name. However, now I need some official document "proving" my name change. In fact, you can change into a name that combines a single surname, a segment or all of the pre-marriage surname or any previous surname of every spouse. We both plan to change our names to his mother's maiden name. My question is can I get my name hyphen if yes how? So according to SS i have my husbands last name, and according to DMV, passport, etc I have my maiden name. Thanks so much. I live in New York. Now What? Hello Sir/Madam, It's worth a shot to try to change your ID with your marriage certificate and your husband's death certificate. NH marriage certificate had a space where you could add what name you will go by. When I got married, I changed my name to my husbands last name. Same as an initial marital name change. I hyphenated my last name and my husband's name. See the prior hyphenated example, then swap out hyphen with space. But it may very well come down to the interpretation and leniency of the agent who handles your application. My Marriage Certificate Is Missing My Married Name. Those who work in the courthouse are not social security employees. Now you wish to just take your spouse's surname as Ryan Clark. You were able to update your ID before your social security card. (My Social Security card does include my middle name, but that seems to be of no help.). You'd use the court order to change your name everywhere at that point. I am going to SSA to change it there, and I really really hope its just as easy to change it on my license. You're not limited to a single name change retraction. You may need a court order for your driver's license. It is signed by the clerk of the circuit clerk and has a gold embossed label/sticker for my county in Maryland. I have a very similar case with Russian Embassy asking me for a Change of Name certificate from court proving that my marriage name has been changed. The SSA offers a lifetime return policy on name changes. Also, remember passports, birth certificate and social security card requires legal name change documents. There is no mention of my maiden name in any format, in any document other than here where the clerk for county clerk had signed. They will be able to derive your first name change from your spouse's surname. On the paperwork that I received she marked that I needed to restore to my former name. My drivers license and passport still have my maiden name because I dont want to take my husbands last name. The second time I went, I didn't mention divorce/separation, as they got caught up in insisting on that paperwork without reading the POMS exceptions. She isn't required to change her name to match. I received my official Marriage Cert, and updated my SS, but have not updated my drivers license or passport yet. But they might be overkill. Can I use my marriage license to revert it to my maiden name at SSA office without an issue? Thank you. What are the legal fees to get started? Yes, that will likely be an issue since you've gone all the way with your name change. My Marriage Certificate Is Missing My Married Name. the manager at the dmv said social security doesnt override dmv. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013. Hi! Please prepare the following and submit them in person at an acceptance facility: 1. Be certain of your new name choiceyou cannot change the name on your marriage license or certificate after the license is issued. Its the same day and I dont want to hyphenate my name anymore I just want to keep my maiden name. You feel sorry you changed your name. It depends. Hi Danielle. what if i wanted (i don't) to hyphen my last name & his? He wishes to revert to his birth surname, which was changed after being adopted by his stepfather. However, I haven't changed my name with SS, DMV, credit cards, etc yet. The passport office has my previous passport and driver's license, both use my married name. There's even a documented example of this "I want my maiden name back" scenario inPOMS RM 10212.160H: Ruth Gonzalez changed her last name on her SSN card to her husbands surname, Scott, when they married years ago but has never used that name. Having said all that, if you've only changed your name on your marriage certificate and no other document, then there's nothing for you to really change that would affect you in any real-world circumstance. Got my US citizenship in 2017 and took my second husbands last name through naturalization process. Maybe you'll change it again later. Are you suggesting your marriage application from eight years ago didn't provide you a spot to specify a new name? Hi Hailey. Did I go about this properly? Get Your Marriage License. How can I get social security to change my married name back to my maiden? Yes, your driver's license would list your middle name. I'm in California and would like to get my maiden name back with social security. If you or your spouse want to change your surname after marriage take a certified copy of your marriage license to any organization that you need to notify, such as the ones listed below. Thanks! But the DMV may not allow it without a court order. I am not getting divorced, but I do want to switch back to my original name. To me, that seems like even if your name is now Sarah Smith-Doe with SSA, the DMV won't accept the new social and the same marriage license for a new drivers license? I got married 6 years ago and did not take my husbands last name on my marriage certificate. Remember sex offenders among others are not allowed to change any of their names. Do we need to update his name in our marriage certificate, is there a possible way to change the one letter on my last name since I started using his last name after our wedding. I was married several years ago and changed my last name to my partner's on my social security and driver's license, but my passport still has my maiden name. That's why folks are often able to execute exotic or complex name changes with the SSA only to have the DMV question or reject it. Hi, my husband and I got married and about a year afterwards he found out that his father was deceased. The Name Equality Act. I was able to obtain new SS, passports, etc on the basis of my birth certificate. Is There a Deadline for Name Change After Marriage? That's just the way the state designed it. Or has it already become official with the court order signed by the judge? Thank you! When do you anticipate your divorce will be finalized? Recently she has had some legal issues and we discovered she is now using my husband name again. I would like to change my hyphenated name ("Birthname-Spousename") back to my birthname. You need to get an order showing cause or a court's publication order setting a date in the court. You may want to review the expanded name change guide that covers a variety of credentials with their own processing times. Otherwise, you can go by it informally. Do I need a court order or can I change my name with the marriage certificate? I went to 3 attorney and non of them could give me a legal advise. Since your court-ordered name change took place after you were married, the change wouldn't extend to your spouse. I am British and the lady I married is Lithuanian we went to register our marriage in Lithuania but they will not register her as Williams which is my surname as on our marriage certificate it has not got the married name and in Lithuania they have the name before and after marriage on the marriage certificate is there any document I could get as proof that she has taken my surname. Maiden name FaTeeRay. What do i need to change is when i dont have a marriage certificate with new last name. Hi J. Hagen. How to change your name on your Marriage License If you want to change your name to a new married name after your wedding it is very simple to do so. Will I need to go to court for that? You can pursue it right after you've changed your name or years later. I imagine professional degrees will have issues because of the inconsistency. I got married in NJ over 30 years ago and took my husband's last name. It should say certificate of marriage or something similar. Where did you hyphenate? You tried to commit two name changes simultaneously using two separate name change documents: court order and marriage certificate. Take no action, and then your maiden name will remain your legal name. Legal court documents might be needed by financial agencies and the government. My husband was born in the UK, and is now a permanent legal resident of the US where we both reside. A marriage license does far more than allow you to marry. Take your medicine. You want your maiden name and identity back. If you do need a court document, you'll have to contact the circuit court. It says it is the "state of Maryland certification that a marriage license was issued to:" and lists my husband's full name and my full maiden name. If you're grappling with this dilemma, know that you're not alone. You will also be charged a $2.14 fee if you pay by credit or debit card, or a $1.25 fee if you pay by electronic check. The second document, my marriage certificate, does include my middle name, Ann. Use Your Maiden Name Even After a Name Change, many states do not even require publication. Hi, Do I need a court order for a name change I now live in CO? Does a quick fix exist? amended birth certificate. Do I actually have to change it? My marriage certificate says my maiden name when I signed it many years ago and I never revert it, but now I want to. Before you can change your name, you'll need a certified copy of your marriage license (a.k.a. My question is, if i explain its a typo can i still change is for free at social security office? You would submit your birth certificate, not your marriage certificate. The certified copy of our marriage certificate does not have her married name, only her maiden name, so it does not show anything that proves she changed her name. how, if they need my social security number to apply for a new license?? I am getting married and have to check the box if i want a name change. I read online that we can "remarry" and just file for another license and certificate. The passport can be renewed under a current name, even if it deviates from the new married name. Despite the example in the POMS directly with my exact scenario. we would have to see if the Municipality will let him drop the second part on the certificate. The amendment will become page 2 of your marriage certificate. Is a court order needed? Please help , Married in Hawaii and now live in Tennessee **. Mail that along with the SS-5 form. (Confusing bc my SS Card was never changed.) I told her no, and my spouse was OK with me keeping his last name. I did change it with SS and passport, and DL in Texas. You could face trouble with your driver's license, because you're lacking a subsequent name change event. Many times, if you are filing for amendment within 1 year of your original marriage, you will not be required to pay a fee. A certified copy of the marriage certificate may be used as a document required for application of a California Driver's License, as a result of the Name Equality Act. Her marriage document shows Ruth Gonzalez married Lou Scott. I even told the lady I wanted to change my name after we got married. If the only entity changed was the SSA, that makes things easier. Did you undergo two name changes? When you're widowed, you could use your marriage certificate to restore your maiden name. The SSA claimed since the marriage event occurred prior to the first name change event, my court order should have reflected Old first name Husband's last name > New first name Husband's last name. I never filed with Social security, DMV or other agencies. There has to be some official document "proving" name change explicitly and showing old and new name. You need it to change your surname, qualify for spousal benefits -- such as inclusion on your spouse's group health insurance or survivorship rights -- and establish that your marriage meets all legal requirements established by the state. At the SS office however, we were told we needed a court order to get a new card even though the new last name is on the marriage certificate in the new name section. Hi Yari. Passport may be possible too using form DS-11, which can be used for first-time applicants, as well as for passports that are expired, lost, damaged, or stolen. My marriage certificate states, "Bride's declared surname: Higgins". 2. Can I just use my maiden name card to renew and change my last name on my license or do I still need to go through the SS administration? We have no plans to get married. How do I change my marriage certificate to show that my legal last name is my maiden name and not my husband's last name? Do they provide these standards in writing? If yes, that's the only name change they'll accept. If the field office thinks something fishy is going on, they'll consult the regional office. Now I want to change it to my official first name. Now Im wanting to take his last name. The only document that says my married name is my marriage certificate/license. There isn't a reference to foreign marriage in the POM ID or the article. A name change that deviates from what's listed on your marriage certificate requires petitioning the court. If you're yearning for a reset, here's your chance. What if you are a tourist that decided to get married in the U.S. but now want to go back to maiden name? It's too late. However, I did change my NJ Drivers Lic. They're historical documents. I chose 2 last names with no hyphen. Please help! This won't stop you from completing your name change. The question is, how do they define "official document" and what constitutes "proof" in their eyes? Here's the affidavit to amend a California marriage record which explains the process. It seems like I don't need to do anything since I haven't changed my name legally. They may be willing to do this without additional fees. How do I change back to my maiden name while still married? Use your marriage certificate as authority to change your name. I live in WI now and am wondering if this new name change is going to invalidate my marriage certificate? The certificate cannot be amended after the fact, unless it's a typographical error. Same result. Haven't changed my SS card, license or anything. The reason is the driver's license office will perform an electronic verification against the SSA system and will detect the name mismatch. Why is it so difficult to change your married name back to your maiden name on your Social Security and license while still married? Should I do my passport second and then my license, so that I have 2 documents with my new name? It was left blank. My husband became a US citizen and added another a middle name and also removed his second last name..is out marriage still legal? So can i just change my last name to his with the marriage certificate. I do now regret the decision and would like to change to just my spouses name since we have a child and it seems like everything would just be easier if we all had the same last name. The Russian Embassy says they have no proof they can accept that my wife changed her surname to my surname and we will have to get a Change of Name Certificate from some court for them. Am I able to change my last name VAN HIGGINS with SSA office or would I need to pay for a name petition? That omission won't prevent you from changing your name. In fact, if the divorce has been finalized and with it a court order concerning change of name, that's all one has to do. I'm not aware of any such thing in California. You could also contact your state insurance commissioner for advice, assistance, or to file a complaint. Its existence is remarkable, dating back to 2011. The SSA does have a carve-out for widows, but I don't believe WA DOL does. It's also why reversals become difficult once you venture outside the SSA universe. Now I need to back in Ukraine and make new passport. Hi Melissa. I wasn't told that I had to put on my certificate the new name after marriage. Hi Marijo. Do I need a court order or can I change my name with the marriage certificate? However, now I need some official document "proving" my name change. Hi Kathleen. Nonetheless, it's just a process, whether the court is involved or not, like any other with an outcome. The last two questions are ambiguous. Remember, you have the right to adopt and use any kind of name you would like just by using the chosen name consistently, but devoid of the intent to cheat someone. My confusion is if I am her spouse, she should be able to take my new last name. 1. BTW, the RMV will perform a name lookup against the SSA database and will see your middle name there. I knew as soon as I agreed to take his name it would be a regret of mine but I didnt think that it would be that big of a deal to change it back even if we did stay happily married. You can if you update your documents. If you've already changed your name on your social security record, you'll want to change it back there before handing your driver's license. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I got married 6 years ago and changed my last name to my husband's. You will need a court order to pursue a change to your first name. Name reversions for marriage resemble regular name changes and follow the same procedures. Also, if you sign the marriage certificate in your new name (which is legally binding), but haven't changed your official documents yet, do (can) you start to assume your new name immediately (e.g. I dont know where to start since the marriage certificate has my maiden name on it. I regretfully changed my passport to have my married name. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. When I requested my license the lady that was helping of refused to hyphen my new surname instead she told me I had 2 options: take both of my fiancs last name or combine mine and his witch I hate. Thank you for your help! Are you looking to change your name on USCIS-issued documents? Click below to get started. Your passport isn't changing, so nothing to do there. Having your old social security card with your prior name wouldn't help. Online queries (ignoring the nuances) will often yield two common solutions: Get divorced. In all cases this should be your current legal name. Or do I have to change the name back to my maiden name again and have exactly the same card but with the new date? If your proof of identity document doesn't reflect your current full legal name, you must present documentation of any name change (s). Fill out the Application for a Social Security Card (Form SS-5) (PDF) and bring it to a local office along with unexpired identification and proof of name change, such as a marriage or divorce document, adoption decree, amended or corrected birth certificate, court order with the name change, or tribal document. What if you were married twice? Everything on the Marriage certificate is perfect, but I want to drop part of my very very long hyphenated first name (ie instead of sherry-Lynn Grace change to Sherry). Hi, I got married 15 years ago & I took my husbands last name. We live in TN now and I want to change my last name to his. Use Your Maiden Name Even After a Name Change, certified copies of a marriage certificate, not required to change your name after divorce, affidavit to amend a California marriage record. I was married in 2019 and updated my name by dropping my existing middle name and replacing with my maiden name and took my husbands last name. I got married and let's say my original name is Jackie May Johnson and got married changed to Jackie May Washington. You can change the name on your green card using a certified copy of your marriage certificate and USCIS Form I-90. It's unlikely it would be denied, as it would be unrelated to the first denial. Presenting a printout of example H on POMS shows this precise use case. Hello, I haven't changed my married name to my maiden for years. How long will the process take? Following divorce, you can revert back to your maiden or previous name. Would you clarify what name you're trying to change to? Yes, with social security. The cert giveth and taketh away. Is that correct or wife newa surname will have to come there. Example: Is it possible to get a revised birth certificate? The city hall clerk told me this way I could go by either last name, and I think I misunderstood this to mean that I can legally change the name to just my husband's. For whoever is asking you for this, will they accept two documents: one that show your old name and another showing your new name? Even though they'll query the SSA database for a name match, they don't follow the same name reversal rules as the SSA. Also will the passport office give the same push back? I married my husband 3 years ago and kept my last name on the marriage certificate. These states require a court petition to have the name changed and the process can be quite stressful or trouble-free. Yes, but you would have to petition the court for a name change. Hi Marijo. That choice is then explicitly reflected on the marriage certificate. At first we didn't divorce because it was costly and we had one minor child still at home. Changing it with the SSA again would require a court order. I hadn't heard of this before. 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