| Marriage is many things. They're fun, expensive and | | | | And while you're going through the process of |
| require a lot of planning, but a wedding is also first a | | | | changing your name, you might want to consider |
| legal matter. And as such, there are steps the couple | | | | changing your address, too. You've just got to |
| must preform so that the union is recognizable in the | | | | double-check the timing. If it dont turn out right, you can |
| eyes of the law. They'll need a wedding license, but | | | | take a change of address kit easily enough and |
| before that, the bride must make an important decision | | | | complete this when you come back from the |
| - to except her future husband's surname or continue | | | | honeymoon. It's not really necessary to begin the |
| to use her maiden name. | | | | process of changing your name until about 2 weeks |
| You'd think that a name was just a name and | | | | before your wedding, so do whatever makes most |
| changing it wouldn't be such a big deal, but it really is. | | | | sense. |
| During previous generations whether or not a woman | | | | One other aspect of the name change process that |
| changed her last name was something that wasn't | | | | requires careful timing is planning your honeymoon. You |
| given a second thought. The woman took her | | | | might be better off making your reservations using |
| husband's name and that was that. But recently, | | | | your maiden name if you won't have official |
| women have challenged this tradition. There is no law | | | | identification (or an updated passport) with your new |
| that says a woman's last name must change in | | | | name ready before you leave. You don't have to |
| marriage, so really this decision is a matter of personal | | | | experience any unnecessary delays. |
| choice. | | | | When dealing with the marriage license, be sure to |
| For those women who go a head and change their | | | | check the requirements in your state of residence |
| last names, the process to change isn't hard, but it can | | | | ahead of time. Each state will vary with some states |
| take time. Besides making the changes with the | | | | requiring one or more witnesses and others requiring |
| federal Social Security Administration, which thats | | | | blood tests and/or physical exams, and others requiring |
| where it all begins, a woman must also change the | | | | something else such as a waiting period. Regardless of |
| name on all her certificates, her credit card accounts, | | | | the state, you are going to pay for a marriage license. |
| her bank and all financial/insurance related documents, | | | | Costs will range from a low of $25 to a high of $100 |
| utilities bills, property deeds, clubs at which she is part | | | | or more. You'll both need to be present and you'll likely |
| of and at her work - not only for Human Resource | | | | need to bring a birth certificate and proper identification. |
| and erning tax purposes, but so that a new email | | | | Then breathe a sigh of relief, because you're almost |
| address and new business info can be created. | | | | there! |