changing your last name to your husband’s is one of the most frustrating processes of all time. at least for those of us in minneapolis (maybe it’s easier elsewhere!)
below is a checklist with some notes i made along the way!
- marriage certificate: receive your marriage certificate! we had ours within two weeks of the wedding.
- social security card: go to the social security office. i got there around 8:45 (it opens at 9), and the line was wrapped around the building. security said the lines starts to form around 8:15! i had to wait almost two hours, so make sure you take off work if you need to. bring your marriage certificate (must be the original!), your driver’s license, and passport.
- dmv: go to the dmv to get a new driver’s license. bring your marriage certificate and your old license. while you are at it, bring your car title (if you have one), and get this changed at the same time.
- work: update your name with hr. hopefully this updates all of your information within their system (badge, email, payroll, benefits, 401k, etc.).
- bank: bring your marriage certificate and driver’s license. tony and i already had joint accounts before we got married, so they also needed him to be there and needed his driver’s license too.
- home owner’s insurance: email your insurance broker. we did not need any documentation.
- home title: i decided not to change this. our title company said it wasn’t necessary. when you do sell, bring the original marriage certificate.
- mortgage: email copies of your marriage license, driver’s license, new social security card, and new home owner’s association policy document to the bank.
- credit card: contact your credit card company, answer the security questions, and provide the new name. no documentation was needed.
- southwest (rapid rewards): email a copy of your marriage certificate and copy of your driver’s license to crrrdox@wnco.com. it took me a really long time to figure out who to contact and where to send my information. hopefully this saves someone out there a lot of time!
- voter’s registration: was able to do all of this online on their website. they emailed me a postcard with my updated name and polling location.
- passport: go to the passport office and get the correct form. fill out the form and send it in with a passport photo, your old passport, and your original marriage certificate. i was terrified sending this through the mail but it all came back safe and sound! i can’t remember what the fee was, but they didn’t charge me for a renewal (because it wasn’t expired) just an address/information change or whatever. so keep that in mind!
