Legal Documents to Change Your Name After Your Wedding

When you get married, the legal paperwork doesn’t stop. In fact, there’s, even more, to do in the days and weeks after your wedding.

Pre-wedding tasks include

Marriage License

Before your wedding, you will need to go to your local courthouse and apply for a marriage license. This is done BEFORE your wedding, not after. On the day of your wedding, whoever officiates your wedding, along with two witnesses will sign your marriage license.

A Pre-Nuptial Agreement

(PNA) is an agreement between a husband and wife that spells out each person’s rights and responsibilities in the event of a divorce. This agreement can be made at any time but is most commonly done before the wedding.

Legal Papers After Your Wedding

The week following your wedding, you’ll need to update your Social Security record, driver’s license, passport, and voter registration. You’ll also want to change your name on bank accounts, credit cards, and insurance policies. Be sure to notify your employer of your name change, as well as any other organizations you belong to.

It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it to have a legally married spouse by your side. Make sure to start with the pre-wedding tasks, and then tackle the post-wedding tasks as soon as possible. With a little bit of planning, everything will go smoothly.

For more information, contact an attorney who specializes in family law. Law firms such as a Minnesota Family Attorney can guide you through the process and help you get everything taken care of correctly. Having a legal professional on your side will make the process much easier to navigate.

Here’s a summary of some of the most common post-wedding tasks (the first three need to be done in exact order):

Get a copy of your marriage license.

Your marriage license is an important document, and you’ll want to make sure you have a copy. Make sure to keep it in a safe place, along with any other important papers related to your wedding.

If you’re changing your name, you’ll need to notify the Social Security Administration. You can do this online or by filling out a form and mailing it in. Present the certified copy of your marriage license along with other required documentation to the Social Security Administration. Before going to the Department of Motor Vehicles to update your driver’s license after receiving a new Social Security card, wait at least 24 hours.

Change your name on your driver’s license and passport.

If you’re changing your name via deed poll after getting married, you’ll need to update your driver’s license and passport. You can usually do this by visiting your local Department of Motor Vehicles or passport office.

Change your name on your bank accounts, credit cards, and insurance policies.

You’ll also want to change your name on bank accounts, credit cards, and insurance policies, consult with contract law lawyers when making these changes. Be sure to notify your employer of your name change, as well as any other organizations you belong to. This can usually be done by contacting the appropriate company or visiting their website.

Update your address with the post office.

If you’ve moved since your wedding, make sure to update your address with the post office. You can do this online or by visiting your local post office.

Give notice to your employer.

If you’ve changed your name, you’ll need to notify your employer. You can usually do this by filling out a form and submitting it to your HR department.

Notify any other organizations you’re affiliated with.

If you’ve changed your name, you’ll need to notify any other organizations you’re affiliated with, such as your alumni association or professional organization. You can usually do this by filling out a form and submitting it to the appropriate organization.

Conclusion

The post-wedding to-do list can seem daunting, but with a little bit of preparation, you’ll be able to take care of everything in no time. By tackling one task at a time, you’ll be able to smoothly transition into your new life as a married couple.