I have not yet changed my name legally.
I know, I know. It’s been eight months. This is becoming a problem because I’ve changed my name personally and professionally, just not legally. Let me start by saying this is not 100% my fault.
Everyone who has changed their name knows that the first step is changing it at Social Security. I dragged my feet on that until December 2008, and finally made the journey to the Long Beach Social Security office. Waited about an hour, saw some of the most bat-crap-crazy people I’ve ever seen in my life, and finally presented my information to the worker for the name change. Mission accomplished! Or so I thought…
January I get my new Social Security card and my name is spelled wrong. Back to square one. More feet dragging.
I finally found time to take off work and go the Social Security last week. Sat with the loonies again for an hour, talked to a nice worker who did the name change for me, was outta there!
Guess what came in the mail today? My new Social Security card! Correct spelling! First Name, Maiden Name, New Last Name!
Next stop? The DMV.
I’ve heard HORROR stories about the DMV named change. I want my legal name to be First Name, Maiden Name, New Last Name (dropping my middle name). But for some reason the DMV sometime doesn’t like that. Any advice for a smooth name change process at the DMV?
For nostalgia’s sake, here is a picture of us on the first step of this journey last summer, getting our marriage license in Compton!
30 comments:
I dragged my feet too, just changed mine legally a week ago.
Oh honey, my only advice is "Good Luck"! It took me about 7 months to change my name, because we got married out of the United States...which makes EVERYTHING else much more difficult (where paperwork is involved, at least :) I still haven't activated my debit card with my new name on it yet either... oops!
I didn't change my name :)
Good luck at the DMV!
Changing my name was pain. There are a couple of places where I still have not made the switch. But I got the SS and DMV out of the way.
Good luck! Mine went pretty smoothly, but my town is much smaller than yours and I think that makes things easier. They aren't as busy and the lines are smaller.
cute picture!
Don't feel bad! It took me three months, and it took us six months to combine our bank accounts! The paperwork is a nightmare, isn't it?
Oh it took me a whole summer to get my name changed after we got married, and that was with me really trying! I went to SS, but then we also had to buy a new car because mine died the week of our wedding and we were moving to a new state. It was a mess because you couldn't get a new DL without your car being registered in the state. However, we bought the car in KS before coming back to TX after the wedding so we had to get the title and all shipped to us before we could have the car registered so that I could get my new DL. It was a pain! Than when we tried to sell that car last summer, we couldn't find who had the title. Every state did it differently so it was a mess! Good luck :)
what a process...It has taken me 7 months to change my name - and I am still not done! Talk about dragging your feet :)
When I went in to have the title of my car changed to my new name I was told that it was pretty normal for it to take a year to get everything done.
Luckily I had no trouble at the DMV but I'm sure each is different. Once I have the big two other things were a bit easier, though I still have no idea why our bank required a photocopy of just the marriage license. Apparently showing your new driver's license isn't good enough.
These are the things I dread when I get married! I hate having to deal with all this legal stuff after the fun is already done! Haha
Good luck at the DMV
There are so many things to do STILL after you get married haha. You would think they would just let you fill out one form! Good luck with everything!
I had no problem at the DMV using first, maiden, and last name. Especially because it was on my social security card!
The name change was soo hard! They make you go through so many steps! And, I really hated having to mail out my wedding license.
I actually had no problem at the DMV until the idiot that took my pic broke the machine and didn't tell anyone. So another guy and I who had their licenses stuck in the machine were waiting FOREVER to get them out! That was the only annoying part. Good luck!
Why do all of the most incompetent people happen to work in local government offices?
I had the same problem at the TX DMV! They would not let me substitute my maiden name for my middle name without my birth certificate, even though I had legally changed it with the social security office. That was just too much hassle for me so I left my middle name, and now that's the only place it shows up.
ohh the dmv!!=) we dread going because most of the time it takes forever=)! but i don't think changing it should be too bad, i can't remember!! good luck!
Good luck at the DMV. I didn't have many problems there other than the long wait. It was the SS Office where I had all my problems. But then again, who really enjoys the DMV?
On a similar note, I've been living in Louisiana for almost 3 years now, and still haven't changed my registration. I'm dreading going to the DMV to do it.
I dragged my feet too....
for 10 years...and still dragging. :)
this is hilarious because we just had our 1 year anniversary and i still haven't changed it at social security. they let me change it at the DMV and at the bank without changing social security first. maybe when i have the baby i'll change it...
Changing your name is a pain in the butt!! I still haven't changes some credit cards that I don't use very often...
hey friend.... mine went pretty smoothly as well... but i live in a smaller town and soo it was easy as pie:)
Super cute pic of you two!
Ugh what a hassle, I did the same and didn't change mine legally for a long time.
I waited over a year and did the same thing - first name, maiden name then his name. I didn't have any probs at the DMV. But I did have to repeat it OVER AND OVER. It will help that you already have it correct on your SS card.
Maybe Texas is easy, I got mine done in a week! I took a few days off and went to SSA first, then DMV, then the banks. I know it's overwhelming, but grab a great book and hang in there!
It took me one day to change it at the SS office. A long wait, but pretty painless. It took me weeks and weeks at the DMV. Especially since my license was for GA and I was trying to get a SC one. Apparently, that's a huge transition... Good luck hon. Prepare for the worst, that way if it's not bad, you're pleasantly surprised!!
Yeah I still haven't done this! Oops...
I am glad to know I am not the only one yet to legally change my name. It messed us up to because we moved from Arkansas to Cali. a week after we got married!
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