By Sierra Johnson, Paralegal, SW&L Attorneys

How To…

change your last name after marriage. For many, adopting a new surname symbolizes the union and shared identity that marriage brings, but it often comes with a mix of excitement and confusion on where to even begin updating your name.

Obtain A Certified Copy of Your Marriage Certificate

After your marriage ceremony, the wedding officiant is usually responsible for returning the marriage license to the county office where your marriage license was obtained to be processed and certified.

In North Dakota, once the certificate has been certified by the county, the couple will either receive a certified copy of their marriage certificate in the mail or you will need to return to the county office to pick it up in person. Some counties require a small fee to obtain a certified copy which varies from county to county.

In Minnesota, you can use the Minnesota Official Marriage System (MOMS) website to order a certified copy. MOMS can also provide the contact information to the county office where you applied for your marriage license to retrieve a certified copy in person or by mail. There is a fee for a certified copy which varies from county to county.

It never hurts to give the county office where your marriage license is registered a call if you have any questions about obtaining a certified copy.

It is important that each copy obtained is certified because many entities require this when attempting to change your name.

Identification Updates

Update Social Security Card

To update your name with the Social Security Administration, you will need to fill out an application for a Social Security card (Form SS-5). You can either mail the application in with the necessary documentation (i.e. a certified copy of your marriage certificate) or visit your local SSA office in person.

Update Driver’s License

You can update your driver’s license at your local Department of Transportation Driver License office. Contact your local office to inquire about the name change process. Minnesota does require that you have updated your name with the Social Security Administration prior to applying for a new license.

Financial Records

Be sure to contact each institute that oversees your financial accounts listed below to inquire about their name change process.

Bank accounts
Loans and mortgages
Credit cards
Retirement accounts
Investment accounts

Personal and Professional Records

There are a number of personal and professional records to update after a name change:

Insurance policies
Health insurance
Car insurance
Life insurance
Vehicle registrations
Passports – A good resource for obtaining information on updating your passport is travel.state.gov.
Voter registration – Some states require voter registration so it is important to check with your state or county election office.
Utilities and bills – Contact your utility companies (electric, gas, water, trash) and service providers (cable, internet, cell phone).
Employment records – Let your HR department know about your name change so they can ensure your name is updated on payroll, e-mail, and other work-related records.
Professional licenses and memberships – If you have any professional licenses or certifications (like a doctor, lawyer, cosmetologist, etc.) you will need to update your name with the issuing board or agency.
Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and any additional legal documents – You may need to update your name on important legal documents like your will, trust, power of attorney, etc. If you are in need of any assistance on updating or creating any legal documents now or in the future, please don’t hesitate to contact SW&L Attorneys at 701-297- 2890. We are always happy to help where we can.
Personal email, social media, and online accounts – This one may not be essential, but it may be important to some individuals to update their personal email(s), social media accounts, and any other personal online accounts they may have.

Conclusion

Each organization may have its own process for updating your name, so if you are ever unsure, pick up that phone and give each institute a call to inquire what they need from you to ensure a smooth name change process.

There may be an institute that is not mentioned in this article that you may need to contact. Creating a checklist of every institute you need to contact and crossing each one off as you complete your name changes may help ease the process and keep you organized.

Lastly, never forget to give yourself some grace through this process. Congratulations to all of the newlyweds and those soon-to-be!