Changing your last name after marriage

[ya falaha! 0]

I changed my last name at the Secretary of State (DMV). I used my marriage license with its English translation. The SOS wouldn't accept the translated version alone, they wanted the original also even though no one could read it (it was in Arabic).

Hi everyone, I want to change my last name when my husband arrives to the US. How does one go about changing their last name in the US if they were married in another country? Does the marriage certificate need to be translated to English?

[KaiserD 12]

I wanted to be Mrs. (new surname) in order to have the same last name as my husband, to leave behind the last name of my father (who I am not close with)

Same. It marks a convenient detachment to my past family on my father's side.

[bora bora 1]

I'm the USC - so I can only tell you that the way you change your surname in the U.S. is by going to the Social Security Office and having your SSN updated. It's also important to go to the DMV.

My employer couldn't change my last name on their records (therefore my insurance) until I showed my new SS card.

At other places I show our marriage license and tell whoever that my new last name is the same as my husband's.

[heishe 2]

My husband took my last name when we were married. I never thought I might change my name - I like my name, I identify with it, and my mother never changed her name. It wasn't important to me to have the same name as my husband, and it would have been alright to give our future children his surname. But he liked my name and was keen to take it, so he did. And it's cool.

[chri'stina 190]

Yes I did, because I wanted to. I went from one uncommon last name to an even more uncommon last name(at least in the US).

Edited July 11, 2007 by stina&suj

[peach waterfalls 0]

Thanks for the info Moody and Bora Bora. I really appreciate it.

[bora bora 1]

Thanks for the info Moody and Bora Bora. I really appreciate it.

[orimai 2]

Because assuming your husbands last name is the right thing to do, duh.

[Jenn! 918]

Because assuming your husbands last name is the right thing to do, duh.

You do realize that it's not the norm in many cultures, right?

[Gringa 0]

Well, I guess that is the right away. Also love the Idea of everyone in the house having the same last name.

[msu17 0]

Because assuming your husbands last name is the right thing to do, duh.

The right thing to do is what makes you and him happy in my book. I'm taking my SO's last name because I'm just starting out in my career so it's not like I have a name built for myself and he really wants me to take it (its very much the norm for people he knows). If he didnt care or I had a a business built on my maiden name, I wouldn't change it.

[kisschick1976 0]

Growing up I had a last name with 4 letters that was hard for some people to pronounce. It was irritating IT'S 4 DAMN LETTERS!!!!!

Got married in 2004 and took that Romanian jerk's last name. Again it was 4 letters. NOBODY CAN PRONOUNCE IT! If I get called Vikki Geico again I'm punching someone in the FACE!

So in October I'm taking Jonny's last name. It's 5 letters, but it's pronounceable! I can shed the jerk's last name and also, his last name is quite a bit more common that if someone came looking for me I could always have the argument, 'Can you prove that I am THE Victoria _____ you are looking for?'

I thought about changing my name now and changing my passport before we married and applied for my UK visa, that way I didn't have to carry 2 passports and our marriage certificate around later. He was a bit disappointed and told me he wanted to be the one to change my last name by marrying him. awwww He was also very pleased when I told him long ago that I would take his last name if we ever married. lol well I just didn't want to be Vikki Geico anymore! j/k

[Fandango 1,439]

I will change my name once we're married. For me, it's a symbolic gesture that we are one family...not this 'oh I'll hyphenate' #######. Before anyone gets upset...I'm talking FOR ME only...I hyphenated once before...I found it ridiculous...this place had me filed under my maiden initial, others with my married...some put hyphenations, others used my married as my middle...gah it was such a nightmare all the time. And the only reason why I did hyphenate was kind of like 'oh I don't want to be wholly associated with his family' lol. It was used (for me) as a barrier...and there are no barriers needed with my boo.

This time, it's different. And we want kids, so I'd like us all to have the same name.

[Twomoles 8]

I am proud of my name.

I have lived with this for all my life, why should I change?

I changed my life so much, allow me to keep my name.

And paper things are easier. My passport and all other documents from my country is on my name.

[Erica 0]

I hyphenated. It feels like I still have a part of my dad with me, combined with another great man's name: the one I married