Tips For Changing Your Name in Chicago
Posted on October 22, 2008 by Her and tagged marriage
Changing your name due to marriage is tedious, but you can limit your frustration by doing things in the correct order and bringing the proper documentation with you. Here are some things I have learned from the process this fall.
Start at the City Clerk. You'll need multiple official copies of your marriage certificate. You'll also want to make photocopies of the marriage certificate, since you'll be sending copies to lots of institutions.
Next stop, Social Security office. You'll need your official marriage certificate and social security card, plus identification. You'll have to wait about two weeks to receive your new social security card in the mail.
While you're waiting for your social security card, change your name on credit cards, magazine subscriptions, professional organizations, etc. These places usually only need a copy of your marriage certificate.
Once you get your new social security card, head to the DMV. Bring your marriage license, driver's license, state ID, car title, and registration. They'll issue you a new registration and license on the spot, but you'll have to wait for your car title to come in the mail.
You'll also want to take your new social security card to your Human Resources department, where they will change your name on your paycheck and tax forms. They will also notify any employee benefits providers such as insurers or banks.
Once you have your new driver's license or state ID, head to your primary bank where you have your checking account. They'll issue you new checks, debit cards, etc. It may take a few weeks to receive your new documents int he mail.
Once your name has been changed at your primary bank, change your name at any additional bank accounts that are linked to your primary account (such as retirement accounts, online banks, etc.). You may need to mail them a voided check bearing your new name.
After you or your employer has notified your insurance provider and you have received your new insurance card, call your health care providers and change your name in their records. That will prevent the insurer from rejecting future claims due to your name not matching.
Do you have any tips for breezing through a name change?
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Don't forget to change your name on the passsport. I think most states give you a year to do it for free!
djc | Oct 22, 2008
Yes - do what I did when I recently remarried and keep your existing name. You can always informally sign letters as Mrs Yourname Hisname if needed for clarity. If you do want to change your name, don't forget life or other insurance policies, titles to real property, annuities, a green card if you have one and savings bonds if you have any.
jen | Oct 22, 2008
I agree with eden...I would suggest not doing it. It is the 21st century and with women in higher education and professional careers, it makes things too complicated. I guess I am a strong feminist, but changing names was associated with marriage because the woman became the property of the man. Not the case anymore, at least I hope. :)
Agree with eden and jen. I don't plan to change my name, because I know I'm the one who is doing all the work, and I just don't see it being necessary.
All that paperwork aside - as one of a small family of all daughters, I would not change my name after marriage. Especially since as eden and djc point out above, you can use "hisname" whenever you like informally, or as an "also known as" name.
I also did not change my name, but I occasionally use Ms. Mylastname Hislastname when needed. I didn't change it because 1.) I didn't want to 2.) I didn't see why I had to and 3.) my sister and I are the last of our family name.
Surprisingly, no one has ever asked for a copy of our marriage license. Not insurance, not financial institutions, not the state (we live in Indiana, but were married in Nevada).
Whoa, why all the hate for name changing? Her did this because she wanted to, not because I made her do it, or because she had to.
Her has already done it and wants to be helpful to those who also want to do it. Comments to the contrary do not help those who may be looking for a little guidance.
Shocking, that someone may choose to do something different than you.
Gigi | Oct 23, 2008
I took about 6 months to change everything. I still get some mail under the old name, and some store cards too. I just kind of use both. It's also a useful tool for detecting spam mail.
I chose my battles on what to change by how much of a hassle and money was involved. Like my car title. I didn't feel like paying $xx just for a new stupid piece of paper. When I sell it, I'll do it under my maiden name. I'll always have two names, so what's it matter if an assest is under another name. Also, my cell phone bill. They put up a lot of stink about paperwork, so I postponed it and changed it next time I called (They did it over the phone.)
cevec | Oct 23, 2008
I don't think anyone here has left a hateful message except one of the co-authors of this blog:
"Shocking, that someone may choose to do something different than you."
I think that was rude and unnecessary. There are really no tips for "breezing through a name change", because it's a difficult process, especially for professionals. Your readers were simply expressing their POVs, which you asked for. It is a valid option, when faced with that decision, to not make the change at all.
I'm disappointed in your attitude; I always thought this was a lighthearted blog. You've just lost a reader.
Serendipitous8 | Oct 23, 2008
I HAPPILY changed my name when I got married in Feb. and I am still in the process of changing it. Today I am sending letters to the utilites companies with a copy of marriage certificate. After that I think I am done :)
I was very happy to change my name to my husband, we are very old fashion and I love that about him. Don't worry about it him :)
astral_monkey | Oct 23, 2008
I disagree with cevec, good on you Him for your message (and how was it hateful?)!
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I have always wanted to keep my name, I'm very proud of it, but after becoming engaged I had to think about how my fiance felt as well. So I asked him, and his initial reaction was that he did want me to take his name.
I knew he would support me no matter what my decision was, and I have thought long and hard about what that decision is and what I want for myself and for us as a family.
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Just wanted to say thank you to Him & Her for their blog. I'm not American so a lot of the specifics don't really apply but the basics of how to deal with finances in a relationship/marriage are universal.
Cheers guys, you keep writing I'll keep reading.
My wife kept her maiden name, and it has caused us next to no trouble... well, other than some people jumping to the conclusion that we are shacking up. It's nice to have some insurance that she could keep her family name (for professional reasons) and it hasn't caused us a lot of difficulties. However, I think if we moved to the U.S. South or Midwest it could get a little stickier. Right now we live in Europe and it's no big deal.
Jerry
Sarah | Oct 24, 2008
I changed my name, hyphenated my middle name to be my middlename-maiden name. Confuses the heck out of people when they see my driver's license, but it's good for people to have a challenge.
I realized how many different accounts I have! Bills, frequent flyer programs, library card, etc. etc. etc. I created a spreadsheet that kept track of what I had to change, when I submitted the change, and when it was finalized. That helped a lot, some places just took a phone call, some I had to sign over my (future) first born child in the process.
congrats on the wedding!
bobbi | Oct 24, 2008
I am one of the ones that appreciates the help! I want to take my soon-to-be husband's name, and it's not because I'm old-fashioned or because he's making me. I just want to. We're getting married next month and know the whole name change thing is a long process - so I for one appreciated the list! Thank you...
zhang | Oct 25, 2008
You may also want to remember to check your voting registration and ensure that if your id says your married name, your voting registration is in that name. All politics aside, you don't want to be disenfranchised just because of a name change.
Ariella | Oct 26, 2008
Suggestions? Sure. Don't change it. It's an outdated tradition steeped in male dominance and control, and it has no place in twenty first century life.
Liz | Oct 27, 2008
You don't need to wait for your new social security card to go to the DMV. You can just take the receipt that the social security office gives you plus your marriage license to the DMV, and they'll change it with no problem. I did mine the same day.
Also, changing your name is a personal decision. I changed my name but made my maiden name into my middle name (dropping my original middle name which I never cared for). It bothers me to see women judge other women about their decisions. Keep it, change it, whatever. Let's support each other.
Parveen | Nov 4, 2008
Hello everyone. This is going to seem like an odd question but is there any way to change a person's social security number? I'd like to have mine changed for personal reasons. Have you ever heard of anyone doing that?
eden | Oct 22, 2008
Don't change it?
I didn't. It makes things at work so much easier - you'll definately upset your career by having two names.
Also, most people don't realize but you can have however many names you want - it's perfectly legal to go by your married name in your social life, and keep your maiden name for work - and either can be your 'offical name'. You'll just have to fill out the 'also known as' boxes - which you'll have to do anyway if you change your name.
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