If you want to change your last name, you obviously are asking yourself how to change last name? What is the procedure to follow? Who do I meet up with? How much do I need to pay? I have come to your rescue with the answers to these questions. When it comes to changing last name, there are procedures to follow and forms to fill. Let me guide you through the process of how to change last name.
Change of Last Name
Let us begin with how to change your last name. In usual circumstances, last names are changed after getting married or after a divorce. If you want to go ahead and change your last name because you don't like it, then the procedure depends on the jurisdiction of the place where you live. You will have to go to the court for changing your last name legally; meaning you will need the approval from the court in order to change your last name. You will need to provide valid reasons for your desire to change last name; you should not have any illegal reasons for changing your last name. While some courts may ask you to pay a certain fee, there may be others who allow a change in name to be done for free. Continue reading for the change last name procedures on other important documents.
Changing Last Name on Social Security Card
After you have gone through the change of last name procedure, the first thing you do is to update your new name on your social security card. This is important whether you change last name after getting married or whether you changed it because you wanted to. This is the first step to be taken after you get your marriage license or your court order, as per your case. The steps for the same are mentioned below.
* The first step is to obtain your marriage certificate or your court order. Make a few copies for your reference.
* Go to the local social security office and ask them for the SS-5 form.
* You have the option of downloading this form from the internet too.
* Arm yourself with your marriage certificate/court order and the proof that you are a citizen of the United States.
* Complete the SS-5 form and along with the above mentioned certificates, take them to the social security office.
* You have the option of mailing the entire set of certificates along with the completed form to the nearest social security office.
* Do not forget, you need to submit your original marriage certificate and not a duplicate. Once the work is done, the office will send you back your original to you.
* Your new card will not take any time. The number on the card will remain the same; only your name changes.
The procedure for changing last name after marriage is not a difficult one; you will need to specify the same in your marriage certificate. However, this change will happen only after you get married and not before your wedding.
Changing Last Name on Passport
Now that you know how to change last name legally, let us look into the procedure to change your last name on your passport.
* In order to be able to change your last name on your passport, you will need to keep the court order, verifying your new name, or your marriage certificate, proof of your marriage, as per your case, ready.
* If you got your passport issued less than one year prior to your name change, then you will need to download and complete form number DS-5504.
* This form needs to be sent to the US Passport Agency along with 2 of your recent passport photographs. These photographs need to be clicked from a professional passport photographer, else the procedure can be delayed.
* Along with the form and your photographs, you will also need to send a certified copy of the court order or the marriage certificate.
* Also, send your old passport along with all these documents.
* If your passport was issued to you for more than one year, then you will need to fill up the DS-82 numbered form. Send all the above mentioned documents along with the completed form.
* The US Passport agency will charge you a fee in both the cases. The fee is different in both the cases. Hence, it is better to check with the agency.
Once you have changed your last name on your social security card and on your passport, you will also need to change the name on your license, in banks, on mortgages, voter registration as well as in your office. Your tax documents should also reflect your changed last name. You might also want to know about how to change child's last name. I hope this article has been helpful to you in your quest of how to change last name. As you can see from the above, changing last name is not difficult at all. If you have any confusion in any process, you could always seek legal advice from a lawyer. However, you will need to ensure that all the people and agencies you transact with, know the name change.
Change of Last Name
Let us begin with how to change your last name. In usual circumstances, last names are changed after getting married or after a divorce. If you want to go ahead and change your last name because you don't like it, then the procedure depends on the jurisdiction of the place where you live. You will have to go to the court for changing your last name legally; meaning you will need the approval from the court in order to change your last name. You will need to provide valid reasons for your desire to change last name; you should not have any illegal reasons for changing your last name. While some courts may ask you to pay a certain fee, there may be others who allow a change in name to be done for free. Continue reading for the change last name procedures on other important documents.
Changing Last Name on Social Security Card
After you have gone through the change of last name procedure, the first thing you do is to update your new name on your social security card. This is important whether you change last name after getting married or whether you changed it because you wanted to. This is the first step to be taken after you get your marriage license or your court order, as per your case. The steps for the same are mentioned below.
* The first step is to obtain your marriage certificate or your court order. Make a few copies for your reference.
* Go to the local social security office and ask them for the SS-5 form.
* You have the option of downloading this form from the internet too.
* Arm yourself with your marriage certificate/court order and the proof that you are a citizen of the United States.
* Complete the SS-5 form and along with the above mentioned certificates, take them to the social security office.
* You have the option of mailing the entire set of certificates along with the completed form to the nearest social security office.
* Do not forget, you need to submit your original marriage certificate and not a duplicate. Once the work is done, the office will send you back your original to you.
* Your new card will not take any time. The number on the card will remain the same; only your name changes.
The procedure for changing last name after marriage is not a difficult one; you will need to specify the same in your marriage certificate. However, this change will happen only after you get married and not before your wedding.
Changing Last Name on Passport
Now that you know how to change last name legally, let us look into the procedure to change your last name on your passport.
* In order to be able to change your last name on your passport, you will need to keep the court order, verifying your new name, or your marriage certificate, proof of your marriage, as per your case, ready.
* If you got your passport issued less than one year prior to your name change, then you will need to download and complete form number DS-5504.
* This form needs to be sent to the US Passport Agency along with 2 of your recent passport photographs. These photographs need to be clicked from a professional passport photographer, else the procedure can be delayed.
* Along with the form and your photographs, you will also need to send a certified copy of the court order or the marriage certificate.
* Also, send your old passport along with all these documents.
* If your passport was issued to you for more than one year, then you will need to fill up the DS-82 numbered form. Send all the above mentioned documents along with the completed form.
* The US Passport agency will charge you a fee in both the cases. The fee is different in both the cases. Hence, it is better to check with the agency.
Once you have changed your last name on your social security card and on your passport, you will also need to change the name on your license, in banks, on mortgages, voter registration as well as in your office. Your tax documents should also reflect your changed last name. You might also want to know about how to change child's last name. I hope this article has been helpful to you in your quest of how to change last name. As you can see from the above, changing last name is not difficult at all. If you have any confusion in any process, you could always seek legal advice from a lawyer. However, you will need to ensure that all the people and agencies you transact with, know the name change.
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