Marriage certificate copies

[zaytoona 8]

I need to pick up a copy of my marriage certificate. I am the female USC and I changed my last name to my husband's.

Question: How many certified copies of the original marriage certificate should I obtain in order to provide full evidence of a name change? I have to notify my school, credit cards, banks, DMV, Social Security, insurance, etc. of my name change and I don't know if I need to by all of these extra certified copies of my marriage certificate each time I need to show evidence of this change.

Do I make sense?

Thanks.

Zaytoona

[MrsSkull 0]

For me personally, I requested 10 because it didn't cost any extra. I still have two copies left and I can use them if I ever need to. Some places require a certified copy but others can just have a copy of the certified copy. I say get more than you need because then you won't have to keep going back to the courthouse to get more. That's just my opinion.

[Aya820 33]

For me personally, I requested 10 because it didn't cost any extra. I still have two copies left and I can use them if I ever need to. Some places require a certified copy but others can just have a copy of the certified copy. I say get more than you need because then you won't have to keep going back to the courthouse to get more. That's just my opinion.

I agree with MrsSkull, get as many as you can (especially if it will be free). For myself, I only have the one original since I was married in Nigeria, and I made copies from that. So far everything I have changed (work, Social Security, passport, insurance, etc.) has either accepted a copy or if they required the original they returned it. But it is better to have extra originals, if you can, in case one gets lost or damaged.

[Mithra 1,185]

I've never known SSA or DMV or whatever to keep the copies. They can always make a copy of it if they need to keep one. I've never had the DMV or SSA or schools (never had to show proof other than the changed DL)keep a copy of the marriage cert and I've had to have my name changed twice.

Here's the thing, you change your DL first then take that to the SSA and change your name there then take those two things and change your name at the school or wherever else. Multiple copies of the marriage cert. are really unnecessary.

[zaytoona 8]

For me personally, I requested 10 because it didn't cost any extra. I still have two copies left and I can use them if I ever need to. Some places require a certified copy but others can just have a copy of the certified copy. I say get more than you need because then you won't have to keep going back to the courthouse to get more. That's just my opinion.

Oh neat. They are free? I saw online at my local County-Registrar that they are $14.00 a copy. So any additional copies would be free?

Oh neat. They are free? I saw online at my local County-Registrar that they are $14.00 a copy. So any additional copies would be free?

By the way, I live in Los Angeles county. Oh, and thanks to all who replied!

[MrsSkull 0]

I'm not sure what it is like in other places nor do I remember exactly what it is here. I think I hadto pay a fee, but that all copies I requested were included in that fee. But honesty I don't remember. Sorry!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I think the price varies by office. I know that additional certified copies of my marriage certificate are $15 each - none of them are free. You can make photocopies that are not certified and use those or go in person and show them the original if they require it if you are not able to get additional 'free' copies.

[K and L 27]

Here's the thing, you change your DL first then take that to the SSA and change your name there then take those two things and change your name at the school or wherever else. Multiple copies of the marriage cert. are really unnecessary.

YMMV with that. My state checks names/SSN against the SSA database (even for updates/renewals, to ensure the person is living/in status/etc), because there's a centralized system for driver's licenses. If it's not changed with the SSA, they won't change it. So I have to get the SSN name changed before I can change my name with the DOT.

However, the SSA will accept my ID documents under my maiden name, with my marriage certificate, and they will not keep a copy (according to the woman who processed L's SSN application)