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To change or not to change. What’s best for your family?
Name change after marriage is an important choice and couples have several options to choose from. Newly-married individuals can change their last name to a married name or stay with their maiden name.
Keeping your maiden name will allow you to retain your current driver’s license, U.S. passport, credit cards, and other documents and accounts with your legal name.
Required paperwork
Changing your last name is a process that involves filing paperwork with your marriage certificate. You can obtain a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the county clerk where you applied for your marriage license.
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You may also have to provide your birth certificate, social security card, or other identification cards based on Nevada’s laws. After submitting the completed forms and paperwork, you can obtain identification such as a new Social Security card, birth certificate, or a new passport.
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Driver’s license & other new IDs
Don’t forget these when you head to the Department of Motor Vehicles for your new driver’s license. These new IDs will allow you to update your bank accounts, voter registration, doctor’s office, investment accounts, and anything else that requires your name.
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Some organizations require you to submit paperwork to local and government agencies within a certain period of time after your marriage.
Also, it’s far more common these days to have children from a previous relationship involved when you get married, which may raise additional issues. Whatever option you choose, Barajas is here to help.
Modern name change options
Do nothing
While the figure has declined in recent years, 80% of brides change their names after marriage. That said, there is no law that says you have to change your name. If you don’t change your name, there is no action you need to take.
Standard approach
If one party decides to take their spouse’s last name to replace a maiden name or hyphenate their last name with the maiden and new name, there are requirements that may take a year or more to complete. We can help.
Brand new name
While not common, you can change your name to almost anything you want. Just know this route has a couple of exclusions and can be more challenging.
Children
Like you, your children can keep their current name, change to the new last name of your spouse or adoptive parent or change to a completely new name. Another set of rules and considerations apply.
Name change resources
The first step is to discuss the options with your soon-to-be spouse and select the right choice for your relationship. Once you know what you’d like to do with your name, it’s time to figure out what documents you need and where to file them. That’s where Barajas comes in.
Barajas is your partner in successfully navigating the requirements of any type of marriage name change.
Get professional help
Barajas offers plans that provide a professional to help you through the name change process. The average fee for name change support is $900. Our plans are lower, which includes a host of other valuable services such as the following.
Meeting with a provider professional on unlimited issues.
Forms and document review.
A professional created Will and Living Will.
Letters and calls on your behalf to resolve disputes.
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