If you traditionally want to take your husband’s last name after the wedding, then all you need to do is provide a certified copy of your wedding certificate.
Every person who thinks about changing his name has his own reasons. However, in fact, anyone can legally change the name for any reason, except for such moments as fraud, evasion of the law, and other violations. However, a person who wants to change his name will have a rather laborious process. In order for a name to become official, a court order is required, in which your name will be legally changed. Of course, the process for obtaining a new name will depend on the state of your residence. Often the cost ranges from $ 150 to $ 436. What will you have to pay for?
What are the State Charges to change your name?
Of course, depending on the state of residence, you will have to pay a certain amount of charges in order to change the name. Below you can explore the main ones:
- Court filing fees
- Fees to an attorney preparing name change paperwork for you.
- Fees for a name change on the birth certificate
- Fees for certified copies. This often costs around $ 20.
Changing your name with the Federal Government
The main documents that you will need to change are your passport and Social Security Card. Also, you must alert the IRS. Let’s dwell on each point in more detail:
- Passport
If you have held your passport for over a year, the current fee for a new one will be $ 110. Moreover, if you also need a passport card, then you will also have to pay an additional $ 30. If your passport was issued less than 1 year ago, then you will not have to pay for a change.
- Social Security Card
You will also be glad to know that no fee is required for this service. You can apply for a new Social Security Card either in person at your local social security office or by mail.
- Alert the IRS
Another important point to keep in mind is the IRS notification even if you don’t plan to file taxes jointly. Thus, by informing the IRS that you now have a different last name, you will reduce the risk of errors. It’s also free.
Changing your name with the State Government
Here you should also pay attention to 2 documents, these are Photo ID (or driver’s license) and Voter registration:
- Photo ID. Please note that you can only start the process of obtaining a new photo ID or driver’s license after you have received your new Social Security card. The cost of this service will depend on the state where you live, but often ranges from $ 25 to $ 50 dollars. But you must remember that fees for vehicle registration and title will be charged separately.
- Voter Registration. Here the situation also depends on the state of residence, but in many of them, it is allowed to renew your voter registration at the same time when you apply for a new driver’s license. It’s free, so you don’t have to face the costs associated with voter registration.
Changing your name after Marriage
Many women continue to follow the traditional path and take their husband’s surname after marriage. So they want to know “how to change name after marriage?” If you want to change your surname after the wedding, you have the right to do so if you provide a certified copy of your marriage certificate.
However, pay attention to one more point. If you and your spouse decide to create a new surname or husband wants to take wife’s surname, then you have to petition a court for a name change. Thus, pay attention to the details of the name change in your state.
Changing your name after divorce
If you changed your name when you got married, but now want to return to your old one, then you have the right to ask for a name change as part of the final divorce decision. A certified copy of the divorce is enough to change your name on all official documents. However, if you want to change the last name of the children after the divorce, you will also have to file a petition for a name change in court.
