Anyone decide to change their name years after marriage?

[lo]

I kept my maiden name when I got married 7 years ago, but use a double-barrel name socially.  Anyway, pretty much no one ever remembers or writes it correctly, or just drops my name completely, and I'm tired of it.  I have a DD now who has H's last name, so it's just easier for me to change it and keep my maiden as a middle. 

ANYWAY, I brought my marriage certificate to the DMV to try and get a license in my married name, but since I checked the "not changing surname" box when we applied for our marriage certificate, it's not that easy.  I have to bring 6 points of ID with H's last name on, which I actually do have some because like I said, everyone fucks it up on a regular basis.  But totally predictably, they are being super choosy on what they'll accept.  Since I'm taking my married name as a middle name, anything with my real middle name or even the freakin initial, voids that piece of ID.  If I can't figure this out I have to get it changed by court order. 

[boiler717]

I did after about 4 years. It was just a normal name change, nothing special, though.

[Deleted]

Sept 2, 2015 11:02:59 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

When I got my last driver's license, I added a hyphen between my two last names and nobody batted an eye. Probably not the same thing though.

Can you change it with Social Security first? Would that help? I can't remember what order I was supposed to do it in.

This is what I was.going to suggest. Wpuld this make it easier? Bit what would you need to show them? Usually a marriage cert is enougb.

[cilantro]

Sept 2, 2015 12:28:51 GMT -5 @awinter said:

Sept 2, 2015 11:02:59 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

When I got my last driver's license, I added a hyphen between my two last names and nobody batted an eye. Probably not the same thing though.

Can you change it with Social Security first? Would that help? I can't remember what order I was supposed to do it in.

This is what I was.going to suggest. Wpuld this make it easier? Bit what would you need to show them? Usually a marriage cert is enougb.

This is what I did.  Five years after marriage, no issue.

[shoeless]

Agree with previous posters. I changed my name 3 years after marriage. Went to the social security office first and then the DMV. I had no issue. I also still have credit cards and accounts in my maiden name and haven't had an issue with that (the companies made the process of changing my name too complicated so it never got changed).

[motzie]

I'm pretty sure in NYS you need a court order to change your name without a recent marriage. I was going to do it when my XH was dragging out our divorce and taunting me with it. A lawyer friend said I would have to take an ad out in the local paper to announce my intention to change my name, and also file paperwork with the courts, for a few hundred dollars.

[Deleted]

Sept 2, 2015 11:05:45 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

I've thought about doing this as a "gift" to DH, but I don't think I love him enough to deal with the paperwork. Which would be exacerbated by the fact that our marriage certificate is in Italian. Plus, I like my name.

#nothelpful

lol
This is disturbingly true

[gerberdaisy]

This sounds awful! Do utility bills or credit cards count? They often let you change your name without any paperwork. If not, I'd do what pp's said, try the social security office first. Go in person, first thing in the morning and hopefulyl they can help you.

Good luck!

[barefootcontessa]

yikes. I did about two or three years after we were married and had no hassle. GL.

[VillainV]

I did it about 3 years after we got married. I didn't have to check any box on the marriage license indicating my intention to change my name. Social Security had no problems doing my name change, and getting my Military ID changed was also easy. Once I had those done it was a PITA, of course, but no more so than if I'd changed my name right away.

[nabum]

I changed my name when I was pregnant with DS and had been married 4 years. It was NBD.

[foodiemom]

Sept 2, 2015 10:58:44 GMT -5 h said:

I waited three years into to change my name on any paperwork, and it was still no big deal. I just needed my marriage certificate and ID. But I didn't have the option of checking a "not changing my name" box when I got married.

This, exactly.