If you have recently been married and changed your name, or changed your legal name for other reasons, you will have to make name changes on your financial accounts, Social Security Cards and various other documents. It can be overwhelming, but just take it one step at a time and you’ll find it’s not as difficult as you may have thought! Here are tips for changing your name on your accounts and credit cards after marriage:
Bring Your Marriage Certificate to the Social Security Administration Office
The first thing you’ll want to do after you are married is bring your marriage certificate to the Social Security Administration office to show your new name. An SSA agent will approve your documentation and mail you a new Social Security card showing your new name associated with your Social Security number. Your new card may take as much as four weeks to arrive.
Update Your Utility Bills and Phone Bill
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Some of the easier accounts to change include your home utility bills and phone bills. Most of the time, these companies will allow you to change the name on the account simply by calling them and letting them know your name has changed. If they need proof, send or fax a copy of your marriage certificate showing your new name.
Once you have a few bills coming in your new last name, you can use this as further proof for your new name if needed.
Visit Your Bank
At this stage in the name change process, you can visit your local bank branch with a marriage certificate and one or more of your utility bills. If you’ve received your new Social Security card, bring that with you. Have your bank accounts updated to your new name, order new checks with your correct name, as well as any bank debit cards. If you have any direct deposits, make sure to contact the depositors and inform them of the new name as it may need to match in order for direct deposits to go through.
Go Online or Visit the Department of Motor Vehicles
Once you have your new Social Security card, use it to get your driver’s license changed with the DMV. Some states allow a name change on your license from a marriage certificate alone, others require both the certificate and the Social Security Card. Order a new license with your new last name.
Contact Credit Card Accounts
Once you have completed the above steps, you can call or mail a request for a name change on each of your credit card accounts. Some companies will change your name by phone, but most require proof in order to eliminate the potential for a name change request resulting in identity fraud.
