What you need to do
to change or keep your name after marriage.
Changing Your Name After Marriage
reprinted with permission by nolo press
I'm a woman who is planning to be married soon. Do
I have to take my husband's name?
No. When you marry, you are free to keep your own name,
take your husband's name or adopt a completely different name. Your husband can even adopt
your name, if that's what you both prefer. Give some careful thought to what name feels
best for you. You can save yourself considerable time and trouble by making sure you are
happy with your choice of name before you change any records.
Can my husband and I both change our names to a
hyphenated version of our two names or to a brand new name?
Yes. Some couples want to be known by a hyphenated
combination of their last names, and some make up new names that combine elements of each.
For example, Ellen Berman and Jack Gendler might become Ellen and Jack Berman-Gendler or,
perhaps, Ellen and Jack Bergen. You can also pick a name that's entirely different from
the names you have now, just because you like it better.
What if I do want to take my husband's name? How do
I make the change?
If you want to take your husband's name, simply start using
the name as soon as you are married. Use your new name consistently, and be sure to change
your name on all of your identification, accounts and important documents. To change some
of your identification papers--your Social Security card, for example--you'll need a
certified copy of your marriage certificate, which you should receive within a few weeks
after the marriage ceremony.
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