Name Change - Santa Ana,CA

I thought you had to go to the DMV first then the SS office?

Maybe Jen is right. I haven't changed my last name yet either (oops). I was told it was a long process. Call the DMV or the SS office.

two minutes and i think 10 bucks, take your marriage certificate and birth certificate and i think they need one other proof of name, down to the social sec office with a form filled out and in 2 weeks you'll have your ss card, after that, take the social security card and marriage cert along with other drivers license and fill out that form and then you can pay the 10 bucks to get a new license.....and done! J. check on the SS website for the required forms and documents

I know you're just asking how to do it, but my question is why do it? From a blog (B@#!h PhD) " It requires that you do no paperwork. It requires that you make no announcements about your new name, or that you ever have to visit the Social Security Administration related to your name. Your old friends will still be able to find you. All the work that you've already done under your name will continue to be identified with your current self. You will be, in your small way, working to change the culture of male-dominated families and male-dominated societies. Even those dreaded questions, that people will ask you, will give you an opportunity to present a different model and advance the cause of gender equality." http://bitchphd.blogspot.com/2010/05/against-name-change-...

Hi A.,

How super sweet, I love it!!

I think you just go down to the court house, same place you filed your marriage certificate and now file for a name change. Don't forget your new social security card!!

Happy anniversary!

If you search the internet, you can find the instructions probably on your state website. Here's what I am doing in Hawaii:
* Download forms and sign. Have forms notarized.
* Send X copies to Lt. Governor's office with a cashier's check
* Once receiving signed form from Lt Governor, send original to the Honolulu Star Advertiser to be published (paid by check). They sent me confirmation this occurred, plus sent confirmation to Lt Gov.
* Lt Gov to return 5 originals to me, one of which goes to the Bureau of Conveyance with another check. The rest are for my "personal use."

I started at the beginning of February, I'm on the last step now.

db

I see that you already got all the advice you need. Just wanted to say what a huge, sweet, thoughtful gift this is. Your hubby will be floored! I know, because I gave the same gift to my hubby for Valentine's Day many years ago. ;-)

Best of luck to you!

You should only need your marriage license, birth certificate and social security card, once you change your social security card you just follow suit with your drivers license and bank accounts. You shouldnt have to go to court to do it, Social Security will be your first stop I'm pretty sure.

You will need to take your marriage certificate and license to your local Social Securitty office and apply for a name change on your Social Security Card. Once you receive your new Social Security card with your new name you can then take that to the DMV and have them provide you wilth a new Drivers License that reflects your new last name. Good Luck!

I hyphenated my husband's name onto mine several years after we married.
First thing I had to do was go to the Social Security ofice with my marriage license and apply for a new Social Security card. They gave me a voucher for my new card, and said the real thing would come in the mail.
From there, I went to DMV with the voucher to get a new license, and to the bank with my new license to change my name on my accounts.
Took me about two hours, including time spent driving from one office to another.
Everything else (bills, utilities, etc), I was able to do over the phone or on the web.

IN CA you have to go to SS first. Because it has been sooo long you may have to provide a legal document with your married name. This will be very difficult becasue the first change happens at ss. The DMV will not change w/o a changed ssc. Make some phone calls to ssa and see what docs you can use to make the change. The office usually requires that name changes be completed within 2 years without other supposrting documents. otherwise you may have to go to court.

Different states may have different laws, so I would Google. In Minnesota, I needed to appear before a judge in court to change my name to my husband's, two years after our marriage. I had to fill out paperwork, bring legal documents, pay a fee, schedule a court date, and appear before the judge for maybe 10 mins.

Here's the info for CA: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp/other/namechangeadul...

Just did too after 12 years if marriage. Fill out application form from S.S. Office, u send in ur original marriage licesnce, they send it back. Then take ur new SS card to DMV with marriage license and old drivers licesne they will issue u a new one.

there are kits. for real. first step is social security office. everything seems to go off the new name associated with the ss#. then dmv. then everything else.....it takes a while and is a process but that is an awesome gift!

As far as I know your last name legally changed when you signed the marriage certificate. I think if you call the local, county, courthouse where they do the marriage licenses they can tell the actual facts that effect how changing the SS card name and DL name can take place.

I just know I showed the marriage license to the window and got my new DL then did the same at the SS office but they mailed my new card.

What a nice surprise for him! Go to the Social Security office. That is the way you can legally change it. Then once you get your new SS card, go to motor vehicle and have your drivers license changed.

Happy Anniversary!

Easy, sort of. Take your marriage license to the DMV and send it into SSA and passport. Then you have to track down every bank and credit card and change it there. But for the anniversary, getting the driver's license change woudl be the most meaningful, and take your time on the rest.

I see you already received great answers. For anyone reading this who also wanted to know the answer, but perhaps doesn't want to find and print all the forms themselves, there's a place called www.MissNowMrs.com that makes kits that you can buy that has everything you need to easily change your name. I used to be a wedding planner, and this was a gift we would often give the bride.