“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
William Shakespeare’s epic quote from Romeo and Juliet couldn’t be any truer, but it is something to ponder upon for soon-to-be-married or newly-married couples.
In heterosexual marriages, tradition dictated a girl to take her husband’s last name immediately after their Marriage. Today, however, things have changed drastically. It is common to see a Woman retaining her maiden name after marriage, or even opting for a hyphenated combination of her maiden and married last name.
With traditions, cultures, laws, and ideas around last names evolving over a period of time, here is a quick look at some of the most common new married name scenarios after a legal marriage in the United States:
- The woman takes the husband’s last name, as per tradition
- The woman retains her maiden name (Blake Lively or Jennifer Lopez)
- The woman combines her maiden name and her husband’s last name using a hyphen
- The man takes the wife’s last name (Hello, Marco Perego Saldana!)
- The woman uses her birth name as her middle name (Jada Pinkett Smith)
- The couple mutually agrees upon an entirely new last name
- Parts of both surnames are combined to create a totally new identity
- Both spouses take a hyphenated name (Is that even possible?)
While the list of possibilities and options has become longer with time, it is not as simple and straightforward as it may seem. For example, #6 is still practically not possible in some states due to certain laws around it. While it is possible for the woman to use a hyphenated last name, which is a combination of her maiden and married last name, laws don’t permit the man to do the same.
The Journal of Family Issues reported that only 3% of men changed their names after marriage, but this trend might soon change. The primary reason for this is people’s acknowledgement that all genders are equal and it is unfair to simply “expect” a woman to assume a new name. In some cases, people voluntarily change their last names because they aren’t too happy with their birth names. The legalization of same-sex marriages, too, has had a big role to play in the evolution of name-changing trends in the United States.
While this background might have you wondering what the actual process is to register a new name, let us give you a heads up about the fact that it could become really tiring. It isn’t as simple as getting your new name registered on the marriage certificate – there are tons of other avenues that require you to update your new name. Here are a few essential ones:
- Social Security Card
- Driving License
- Car Title
- House Title
- Passport
- Bank Accounts
- Credit Cards
- PayPal Account
- Job Information
- Paychecks
- Post Office
- Business Information
- Will
- Doctor’s Office
- Department of Records or Vital Statistics
- Utilities (Phone, Internet, Television)
- Voter Registration
- Tax Information
- Public Assistance (Welfare) Office
- Insurance
- Subscriptions (Newspapers, Magazines)
- Memberships (Library, Health Club)
- Airline Loyalty Programs
The list is endless, really. And the process involves piles and piles of paperwork, scheduling visits to government offices, dealing with local authorities, and the like. Add to that the fact that different states in the United States have different laws regarding the name changing process and you have yourself an exhausting couple of months.
Would you really want to go through all that headache immediately after your special wedding day? At HitchSwitch, we make it easy for you to #ClaimYourName and get through the name changing process in a hassle-free manner. With three user-friendly packages designed to take the stress away from you, HitchSwitch offers newlyweds with the much-needed peace of mind by assisting them through the new married name assuming process.
At HitchSwitch, our unique system takes your information to autofill the forms that are required for the name changing procedure. We provide you with a detailed guideline that helps you go about the application and form submission process. Remember, we don’t ask you for any sensitive information and ensure that your personal data is always secure. With an aim to demystify the process, we guide you through every step involved – where to begin, what forms you need, how to fill out your information, when and where to submit applications, etc.
Head to our FAQs page to get answers to any other questions or doubts you might have.
