that is a long time to go by one name, and all of a sudden switch to another. Although a few weeks back when we got our invite to a wedding, Kyle signed my name as Elizabeth Joiner because by the time the wedding was to happen, my name would be changed.
It actually took about a week for me to just be comfortable with saying Elizabeth Joiner and easily spelling it out, it's surprising how many people ask me how it's spelled. I would have thought Joiner would have been easy to spell, but Kyle said it's because they want to know if it's Y or I.
So the steps to change my name were:
one.
get married - ha. Literally right after we got married, we went right next door and got two certified copies, the original stays in the clerk of courts. This did not need to have my new name on it, it just needed to show that I was in fact married.
two.
I had to fill out an application with the social security office. I originally went to this site: How do I change the name on a Social Security Card - but later found out, I didn't need nearly as much paperwork that was listed on the site.
I needed:
-social security card application.
-marriage certificate
-driver's license
You can't get a new driver's license until after you've filed with the social security office of your new name.
I was told expected 7-10 business days, or two weeks for it to arrive. Mine arrived in less then a week! I filed on a Thursday (end of business day) and got it on a Friday in the mail, so really only 3 business days, I'm guessing the other two were the days it took to arrive to me.
three.
Only after I received my new social security card was I able to change my name officially at work. They needed to know my new name for the W-2 I will receive for my 2014 taxes. Also, it meant that I could change my name in the system.
I had actually been going by Elizabeth Joiner since I got married just letting people know that I was formerly Elizabeth Hassig and in the process of legally changing it. At the same time, this allowed them to change my name in the address book - meaning that my name was now listed as Joiner, Elizabeth A. instead of the previous Hassig, Elizabeth A. This also allowed them to re-print my ID with my new name on it as well - new picture (from where I was massively pregnant to now married) =]
not only this, but I was allowed to request for my userid to be changed to ejoiner! So now there isn't anything in the system that has me as Elizabeth Hassig anymore.
four.
I went to the DMV (where I got what I needed to change my name) to get my new license with my brand new name on it. I went to an "express" DMV, where I sat for like an hour, glad it was express.
I needed:
-marriage certificate
-$16.00 cash
-proof of insurance (if I owned my car)
The nice thing was because I was changing my name I was also allowed to renew at the same time (within 6 months of expiring) and I only paid the $16.00 instead of the $24.50 it is to renew.
five.
I called my car insurance because now I didn't want to drive around with a different name, despite the fact that I'm sure many people would realize I was married and that Hassig was my maiden name and Joiner was my married name. I have Allstate and I didn't realize because we were now married that Kyle had to be on my insurance policy. So I changed it so we were both policy holders and it actually decreased my premium by over $200! Woo.
Now that Kyle and I were policy holders we both had to sign the paperwork.
six.
utilties, I actually did this before I changed my driver's license. All of them except Cox Cable allowed me to change on the phone. I have to go into Cox Cable to change my name.
seven.
I had to go into the bank to change my account name, checks, debit card, etc. Although there is a chase by house within walking distance so I walked down there and changed it.
I needed:
-driver's license with new name
-debit card
my mom changed our credit card since we share one and she is the primary cardholder.
eight.
changing the information on the mortgage and the house title was the most important thing to me. Yes, this was more important than my identity, because I wanted to make sure that the mortgage reflected my new name, but any and all information tied to my old name was connected with the new name. And unlike other things, this was my mortgage like my whole life. Had to make sure everything was correct on that because my mortgage is tied to everything .
nine.
passport ...I haven't decided whether or not I'm changing this only because I haven't travelled since I got it two years ago.
ten.
this was actually the first thing I did change, because it didn't require any documents, Facebook and personal email.
Lot of steps huh? If you have the money, I'd suggest trying out one of these name change kits . I seriously considered it because I'm really lazy. But I don't have the money to go spending frivolously on something like that.
And of course, after this, I had to then go through the steps of changing Sophie's name to Joiner as well. We originally filled out her paperwork with my last name for insurance purposes and never changed the paperwork to Joiner before she was born. So legally she is still a Hassig despite the fact that we never refer to her as that.
