Q&A

Should I keep my last name when I get married?

Should I keep my last name when I get married?

Keep Your Last Name Remember, there’s no (current) law in the U.S. that says you must change your name. So, keep it simple, skip the mountain of paperwork, and leave your last name as is.

How to combine your last name after marriage?

What’s the process of combining last names? 1 Decide on your last name before your wedding. 2 Determine if one spouse or both are going to forward with your last name change. 3 Research your state’s marriage laws to see what types of surname changes are acceptable with a marriage certificate.

Do you need a marriage certificate to change your last name?

If your state’s marriage laws allow your desired last name, you must write your new last name on the marriage certificate. The marriage certificate serves as proof that your marriage occurred and documents what your new name will be.

Do you have to hyphenate your last name after marriage?

Each state has different laws about what is considered a marriage name change so you may need to go through a court-ordered name change to have two last names without a hyphen. Example: Sarah Smith Jones. If your spouse is male, have him take your name. Many states allow a male to change last names due to marriage.

How to add your spouse’s name on your passport?

How to Add Spouse Name in Passport 1 Procedure to Add Spouse’s Name in Passport. The process that must be followed to add your spouse’s name on the passport is similar to the process that is followed for 2 Online Form Submission. Visit the Passport Seva Online Portal. 3 e-Form Submission. 4 Documents Required. …

Where do I get a marriage license to change my name?

Get your marriage license. Before you can change your name, you’ll need the original (or certified) marriage license with the raised seal. Call the clerk’s office where your license was filed to get copies if one wasn’t automatically sent to you.

Do you have to change your last name with your spouse?

However, if you want to use a new last name that’s different from your spouse’s, you’ll need to go through an official court-ordered name change. States want to prevent individuals from changing their names to commit fraud or conceal an identity.

Each state has different laws about what is considered a marriage name change so you may need to go through a court-ordered name change to have two last names without a hyphen. Example: Sarah Smith Jones. If your spouse is male, have him take your name. Many states allow a male to change last names due to marriage.