Today's brides--and in some cases, grooms--face some important choices when it comes to the name they will use after they get married. Although there is no requirement for a woman to take her husband's last name, that is the choice of the majority of married couples. Other couples choose alternatives, such as hyphenated or newly created names. Whichever decision you make, it is important to update legal documents and Social Security Administration information. Paperwork filed under the correct name helps you avoid any problems later in life.
Traditional Name Change
In traditional practice, upon marriage a woman drops the use of her own last name, or maiden name, and takes her husband's. There are a few options for women who choose to follow tradition but want to retain their own name somehow. A woman can choose to take her husband's name, but use her maiden name as a middle name. She can also take her husband's surname and keep her own by simply adding the new name to her own first, middle and last names.
Non-Traditional Name Change
Some brides take their husband's name, but hyphenate it with their own; for example when Mary Smith marries Tom Wilson she goes by the name Mary Smith-Wilson. Some husbands choose to assume the hyphenated name themselves, and the couple's children might also carry the hyphenated name. Some couples opt for a creative solution by turning their two last names into a combination name--so that Jane Wilson and John Almer might both begin using the surname Wilmer after they marry. A couple can also arbitrarily assume a completely different last name of their own choosing. A final non-traditional name change occurs when a bride not only keeps her surname, but her husband also adopts her name upon their marriage.
Name Change Methods
If a woman wishes to adopt her husband's name following their marriage, all that is required is that she begin consistently using it, a practice known as common usage. To legally change your name is some other way, you will most likely need to go to court for an official order, according to the website FindLaw.
Notifications
If you plan to change your name after your marriage ceremony, you will want to be sure to notify your employer as well as submit a copy of your marriage license to the Social Security Administration. Your Social Security number will remain the same, but you will be issued a new card with your new name. Contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles to get a new driver's license reflecting your name change. You will need to contact numerous other organizations with name change information, including your bank, school, insurance company, mortgage company or landlord, utilities, credit card companies, voter registration and public library.
Considerations
The website NameToChange.com recommends that any bride who plans to change her name make honeymoon reservations in her maiden name because she will not yet have her new name on her driver's license or passport.
