Name Change After Marriage in New York
New York offers a number of generous name change options. It's important to note that while you can unofficially adopt a new name in this state just by using it, in the vast majority of circumstances, a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order will be required to make it official, such as in governmental, academic or professional documents. There are a number of facts you need to know before you decide to seek a change of name within the state of New York or New York City (NYC).
You may even choose to complete your name change forms using an online name change application.
First Step… Getting Your Marriage License
If you are intending to get married in the State of New York you have to apply for a marriage license in person in any of the state's city or town clerks. Remember the license application has to be signed by the applicants before a city or town clerk. You cannot send a representative to apply for the license for you (acting as a proxy) whether he/she has the power of attorney or not. Even a marriage license affidavit that has been notarized cannot substitute personal appearance of the applicants.
The issuance of a marriage license is immediate in New York, but the marriage ceremony itself might not happen within a day/24 hours after the issuance. Applicants who are 16 years old and above can have the 24 hour marriage ceremony waiting period waived by a Supreme Court justice in the County Court where any of the applicants live. If any of the applicants is less than 16 years old the Family Court judge within the county where the individual resides has to give the order. The marriage license given is usually valid for two months starting from the day it was issued.
The cost of the marriage license varies depending on where you are applying for it. Those living within the State of New York but outside the City of New York will have to part with $40. A Certificate of Marriage Registration is included in the fees. The marriage certificate will be sent automatically to the applicants by the town or city's issuing clerk in 15 or less calendar days once the officiant has completed the license and returned it to the town clerk.
For those in the City of New York, the license is issued by the City Clerk and the fees to be paid vary from time to time. Contact the office of the New York City Clerk for the requirements and current fees.
Remember, proof of identity and age has to be provided, especially for teenagers/young adults who wish to get married. Such proof includes a Census record, naturalization record, record of baptism and birth certificate. Identity documents that must be produced also include an immigration record, picture ID of employment, passport, and driver's license.
A marriage license in the state of New York is only valid within the state. If you intend to get married outside the State of New York the marriage license offered in the state cannot be filed with any New York city or town clerk.
To get copies of a marriage license that has been issued within the State of New York, except within the five New York City boroughs, the marriage record's certified copy can be obtained in the city or town clerk's office who issued the marriage license or from the Department of Health of New York. The cost is $10 per certified copy, if you obtain it from the city or town clerk who issued it. Those applying from the Department of Health in New York have to part with $30 per certified copy.
Your marriage certificate will serve as the primary document used to facilitate your name change after marriage in New York.
Marriage Name Change
In New York, you are permitted to change the surname (last name) after marriage. However, the law does not allow you to change a first name through the union of marriage. You must remember that while the surname can be changed after marriage, if you want to, it doesn't happen automatically. The law doesn't force anyone to change their name after marriage, as it's a personal, non-binding choice, nor is it a legal requirement to have a similar surname with your spouse.
New York does allow changing your middle name to your maiden name. This has been a point of confusion for several years, with some successfully completing a maiden to middle swap, while others running into a brick wall of opposition. Specifically, difficulty with changing the middle name on your NY driver's license. However, since 2014, a procedural change pushed by NY Assemblyman David Buchwald clarified rules to make certain that applicants wanting to drop their middle name by replacing it with their maiden name is allowed as part of the regular married name change process.
If you decide to change the surname, know that the change is believed to take effect right away after you have completed the marriage ceremony. The spouse willing to change their surname will simply enter it in the application form. However, the new name will have to conform to four main options for the surname. The first option is taking the surname of either the wife or husband, any previous surname of the wife or the husband, a new name combination forming a single surname, and combining the surname with the last name but separating it using a hyphen as far as every part of the surname combination is a pre-marriage last name or a previous last name of any of the couple.
Essentially, this means you will end up with a clear legal record showing you decided to change a surname via the act of marriage. The marriage certificate is a proof that your new surname is lawful. Failure to change your name through marriage certificate or doing it does not mean you cannot adopt another surname in future through usage; the state of New York allows you to adopt a new name that you want just by using it as frequently as you can without any bad intention, such as defrauding the public.
As much as the marriage certificate allows you to legally change your name in New York, you must notify the right governmental and non-governmental agencies of the change, such as the Social Security Administration, Department of Motor Vehicles of the State, credit card companies and loyalty clubs, among others.
Divorce Name Change
After divorce, you can change your name legally if you have a certified copy of your New York divorce decree, identification such as passport or driver's license, and proof of your age such as a birth certificate. Look at the divorce decree to ascertain if there is a name change provision on it. In case there is, the document is the legal proof you need to change your surname.
Sometimes this is usually left out and you need to contact the New York court that handled the case and request an amendment be made on the final divorce document. Since not every court in the state allows amendments, the request could be denied, but you can always complete the process by filing an adult name change petition. In New York, you can ask the court to allow you to resume your previous name. In fact, the maiden name resumption request includes any kind of surname you might have been using in the past. This includes the use of a last name from a prior marriage, whether through divorce or from being widowed.
In case you have made the decision to revert to a birth name or previous name, you might want to request your attorney to ask the court to have the name change order as part of the divorce judgment. The certified copies you receive of the divorce order can then be used to change your name with the Social Security Administration, DMV, and other nongovernmental institutions. A name change order specified directly within your divorce decree prevents you from having to go through a court petitioned name change afterward.
General Adult Name Change
You can request a name change that's not related to a marriage name change or change of name through divorce. The adult name change is done by filling out a form to petition the New York State Supreme Court to effect the name change. In New York, you can only do this if you are at least 18 years of age, not incarcerated, on parole or probation and you don't need to have the change of name kept private for any reason, including safety. However, those applying for a name change due to their own safety should go through their lawyers or, in case of domestic problems, seek the help of a domestic violence counselor.
It's also important to note that only residents of New York City can request a name change in the Civil Court of New York City. Residents of the wider State of New York must use the Supreme Court within their respective counties.
Name change in New York is done through a birth certificate and a petition. Enter personal information and complete the name change petition accordingly. You need to also publish the name change in a newspaper unless the judge asks you not to due to safety reasons. After signing the petition using the legal name you're using currently, ensure it has been notarized. In case you do not have a birth certificate copy, request one if you were born within the state of New York.
Immigrants with status within the United States and living in New York can change their names in the state legally; immigrant documents can be used if the birth certificate is not available.
Take the papers to the court clerk and pay the $65 fee and receive a hearing date from the clerk. Depending on the judge hearing your case, the proceedings can be completed really fast. If you are asked to publish your name in a newspaper, the court clerk will provide a name change order copy a judge has already signed and you must publish the order within two months of the signing of the order. Provide proof of the publication within 90 days after the signing of the order.
Sometimes the name change order indicates the specific newspaper to publish the order, but in most cases you have the choice to choose the paper you want. Take the proof of publication to the court clerk, and if it's accepted, the name change process is done. Buy a number of certified copies for about $6 each, which you can always acquire additionals if you need more. The certified copy is what you use to request name change on diverse governmental bodies, such as the Social Security Administration and DMV.
Child Name Changes
In New York, a minor is a person who is 17 years of age and below. Child's name change can only be requested by an adoptive parent, biological parents, next friend or legal guardian but it's not an adoption. It's also worth noting that changing the name of a child to the domestic partner's or spouse's name can be done legally but won't make any of you the child's parents, legally. For instance, children from previous relationships whose names have been changed to the names in the current relationship doesn't make the new spouse the legal parent of the child, which is only completed through adoption.
The judge must be furnished with good reasons why the child's name needs to be changed and has to be in the minor's best interest. The facts the judge will consider include the parents motives or interests, what the minor wants, while considering the experience and age of the child, the effect of the change of name to the relationship of the child with that of either parent, the period the name has been used by the minor including any harassment, embarrassment or problems the child might have gone through from the use of the new or present name.
Note that if a biological parent is alive, including a legal guardian or adoptive parent, they must provide written permission allowing the court to continue with the process. A child who is about 14 years of age and below 18 can give name change permission to the court by signing the Minor Consent before a notary and handing the name change petition together with the Minor Consent form to the court clerk.
Essentially, you need a Name Change Petition and Judicial Intervention Request filed, including a signed Change of Name Order, publication notification on an agreed or any local New York newspaper, Publication Affidavit and changing the name of the minor with such agencies as the New York DMV and Social Security Administration.
Name Change on a Birth Certificate
If you were born in any county outside New York City you need a court order to effect a name change on a birth certificate. The order should have the seal of the court and court clerk certified; a publication proof is needed. Ensure the order also has the place of birth, date of birth, and name clearly indicated.
Submit to the Bureau of Vital Records within the New York State Department of Health a completed Correction of Certificate of Birth Application and a notarized affidavit or certified copy of your current birth certificate to confirm you are at least 18 years old. Nonetheless, a court order might not be required to correct a mistake on a birth certificate.
Changing a Passport
If you want to change your name on your passport after a successful name change process, the procedure is very clear. Remember, spelling or printing errors such as place of birth, gender or incorrect name is done free if the validity of the passport is not in question. However, if you have changed your name due to marriage, adult name change or divorce you must send an application for a fresh passport. Depending on the time your current passport was provided, the cost and the process vary. For instance, if one year after the issue of the current passport is not over, processing fees won't be required.
If you're in a time crunch and in need of getting your passport updated quickly, you can requested expedited processing for an additional fee. This fee would be applied to any passport application, regardless of the age of your passport. Be aware, that if you have immediate travel plans you may want to consider the continued use of your maiden name on your passport until after you have finished your travel plans.
Social Security, DMV, IRS Name Change
Before you can change your name with the Department of Motor Vehicles in New York, you need to report the legal change of name to the Social Security Administration, since the DMV needs to verify the Social Security Number and database record name change first.
Change of name with the social security office can be done via mail or in person. Make sure you have a Social Security Card application dully completed, document certifying the name change, such as a court order, divorce decree or marriage certificate, including proof of identity through documents such as ID cards issued by the state, a United States passport or a driver's license.
U.S. citizenship proof is also required, such as a birth certificate, naturalization or citizenship certificate. It's important for all documents to be either certified copies or originals. Once the Social Security Administration records are updated, approach the New York Department of Motor Vehicles in person to change your name on your vehicle registration, ID card or driver's license and the vehicle certificate of title. These changes cannot be done via email, by phone or mail.
Name Change on Non-governmental Institutions
Once you have clearly updated all your government issued documents from state IDs, SSA, Internal Revenue Service and your Driver's License, go ahead and update information on non-governmental institutions as well, such as medical documents, banks accounts, loyalty club memberships, credit card companies and insurance, among others.
If you have moved, you'll also want to notify the USPS (United States Postal Service) of your change of address and new name. This will allow the forwarding of mail addressed to your old name to be sent to your new address. When you get mail addressed to your old name, be certain to contact those organizations and have your name record updated.
If necessary, be sure to change the name on your professional documents and diplomas. Some professions require notifying your respective New York state licensing boards to determine if a change of name requires notification and reissuance of your business documents. While some may require your professional license be updated within state record, that doesn't necessarily mean you will be required to have your diploma, license, or certificate reprinted and reissued.
You may be able to continue using your prior or maiden name in your professional life while making certain your state licensing board is made well aware of your official name change.
Remember, apart from the divorce decree, marriage certificate, or a name change court order, you might be asked to provide extra documents of identification.
Name Change Recognized Documents
While seeking a name change in New York State, there are a number of documents you should have among others. These include:
- Certified copy of marriage certificate for marriage name change.
- Certified copy of divorce decree for divorce name change.
- Court order for general adult name change.
- Proof of identification, such as a driver's license, NY state ID or passport.
- Proof of age such as an adoption decree, birth certificate or certified hospital record.
I am divorced but have not changed my last name back to my maiden last name.. Do I need to change it before getting married (to someone else)?
No, you don't have to change your name before remarrying.
Hi,
After I divorced, I kept husband #1s name (because of young children) although my divorce decree stipulated I could change back to my married name. When I got remarried in NY to husband #2, I didn’t check the box to take his name and still used husband #1s name. Now that my children are older, I would like to either go back to maiden name, or take husband #2s name. How do I do either?
Hi Tracey. Since you didn't specify a new name after marriage on your marriage license application, you'll either have to petition the court or look into a remarriage marriage license.
Hello.
I got married many years ago but I did not check the box to get my husband's last name, so on my married certificate does not show my new last name.
But now I want to use his last name.
What should I do?
Can I get the remarried option and change the name? Or I need to get the court order?
Thank you.
Hi JT. Yes, you can go for the remarriage option.
Thank you.
Hi! How do I change my last name in NYC. I have a mass drivers liscense, a passport, and a NY marriage certificate.
Can I change my name at the NY DMV?
Thanks in advance for any help!
Hi CW. You can use your marriage certificate to change your name.
How does a person legally change their name through the courts in the state of NY? For instance if I want to change my last name to my boyfriends last name?
If you live in NYC, submit a name change petition with the Civil Court. Otherwise, submit a petition with the State Supreme Court.
I am getting married in NYS next month. My fiance wants to take his fathers last name and use that as our new surname. Would we be able to change both of our names on the marriage license or have to change his name leaglly then apply for our marrige license? Thank you
Hi Sam. He'd have to change his name legally beforehand.
I live in NY. Is it possible to retain my full maiden name, Lauren Elizabeth Smith, while also taking my fiancé's last name, Allen (no hyphen) and use the last names interchangeably; Smith professionally and Allen for personal life? So, a legal document would read Lauren Elizabeth Smith Allen. I'd continue to be referred to as Ms. Smith at work and Mrs. Allen by family. I'm hesitant to relinquish my middle name as it holds family history.
Hi Lauren. A legal document would have to apply your legal name: Lauren Elizabeth Allen.
I got marries in 2011 and kept my last name. Can I change it now to my husband's last name?
Hi Daritza. You can change your name to what you specified on the surname after marriage portion of the marriage license application, which would be reflected on the marriage certificate. If you didn't specify it then, you may have to petition the court.
I got married and my last name is last. Instead of it being maiden-husband name. It is husband-maiden. I want to drop my maiden and only have my husband last name. Is there a way to do so
If you've already formally changed your name, you'll have to obtain a court order to change it again.
I got married a few months ago in New York State, and on the marriage certificate I listed my new surname as my maiden name + my husband's last name, without hyphenations. I have not gone through the process of legally changing my last name because I recently decided that I want to completely drop my maiden name and only use my husband's last name. The marriage license lists me as having two last names. Do I need to get a new marriage license or will the SSA dismiss my maiden name and allow me to easily just use my husband's last name? Thank you!
Hi Lauren. It's possible, but not guaranteed. It may very well depend on the agent you deal with. It's a good idea to contact the DMV beforehand to determine if it would be accepted, then SSA.
Hi good day. My sister got married and took her husband's last name on the marriage certificate. She was divorced in a short space of time and never change any of her documents to her husband last. Seeing she's divorce She just continued to use her maiden name on everything. Would she get in trouble for doing that?
No, as that is her legal name.
Hi,
I have a middle name question. I've listed my new last name on my NYC marriage license and it states the new last name on the my certificate.
I'm looking into the forms needed to be filled out for DL, SSA etc to change my last name.
Is it possible to keep my middle name and turn my NEW MIDDLE NAME into a combination of my middle and maiden name?
FIRST … MIDDLE-MAIDEN (doesn't need a hyphen) …. MARRIED LAST NAME
Thanks!
Hi Rebecca. No, that wouldn't be valid without going to court.
Thanks !!!
Hi. Two questions. First, I got married in NJ but live in NY and want to change my name by going to NY offices rather than NJ. May I bring my NJ marriage certificate to the SSA in NY? Additionally, I've seen a lot of conflicting information on whether dropping my middle name and instead moving my old surname to be my new middle name and taking my husband's surname is straightforward (i.e. go to SSA directly) or requires a court petition. Please could you clarify? Thank you in advance!
Hi Mina. You can change your name in NY using your NJ marriage certificate. Replacing your middle name with your maiden name should not pose a problem.
Hi. I'm in NYS, can I write my fiance's last name as my new surname on my marriage license but not change anything legally? Do I need to report it to anyone?
This sounds worse than it is but I'd like to take his name on the license to make him happy continue using my maiden name legally on everything else, credit cards, retirement accounts, etc. Is this possible?
Hi Chrissy. Everything you've proposed is possible and lawful. You don't have to report anything to anyone.
Hello, I got married in NYS 13 years ago. My marriage license indicates my husbands surname as my nee name. However, I never changed my name legally and still use my maiden name. Is this an issue. Also is there a deadline in NYS for changing your name if I chose to change it at this point?
It's a nonissue.
There's no such deadline.
Hello,
I got married in May 2017 and decided to hyphenate my last name and husbands. However, I see it can be a hassle and I wanted to know if I can drop my last name and just have his. What can I do?
Thank you,
Michelle
Hi Michelle. If your marriage certificate reflects the hyphenated name, it may or may not be honored by the DMV. The SSA and passport office shouldn't give you a problem, but you'll have to contact DMV to determine if they'll allow the first half of your surname to be dropped.
Hello Valera!
I have a question for you, which might seem redundant, but I would like to ask just for my own peace of mind. My husband and I had a NYC courthouse wedding last week (ceremony not until possibly 2019) because he is currently in the military and we needed to make things legal so that I could be entered into the system. On our license and certificate, I changed my name to his and most sites I've read say that I should immediately go ahead and report my name change etc, but I actually do not want to do that just yet since we haven't actually informed our families yet (both are somewhat traditional and well.. a sped up courthouse wedding is not their thing).
Is it necessary for me to report the name change (ie. SSA, etc) right now or could I could I wait a while to do so? Would there possibly be any complications if I don't?
You can wait until it's most convenient for you.
No.
Hello, I was married in NYS (still live in NYS) and added my husband's name to my maiden name with a space- no hyphen. I only legally changed by bank account and use my maiden name for everything else. I want to officially drop his name from the official marriage certificate. What is the procedure for changing this and legally only having my maiden name as the official record of my name?
Thank you!
That sort of amendment isn't likely to be accepted.
If you've only changed your name with your bank, then you'll only need to request your bank restore your maiden name. Everything else can be left as-is and untouched.
Ok, thank you- clarification- I don't mean dropping his name off of the certificate- I meant dropping his surname from mine- as it is now two last names and I want to go back to just my last name. Would that likely not be accepted as well?
Hi Erin. If you've only changed your name with your bank, you needn't worry about changing it anywhere else (e.g., certificate, SSA, DMV) other than your bank.
Valera,
I have similar question. – was married in NYC (still live in NYC) and added my husband's name to my maiden "Hislastname-Mylastname". Now I want to drop my last name and just keep his. I didn't change any documents yet since we got married 3 months ago. do I need to change marriage license to be able to use legally just one (my husbands) last name? or I can show the marriage license as it is (for example, at Social Security office) and tell them to use just my husbands name? Thank you
It's highly unlikely they'll entertain such a change.
Unless you get a clerk that's particularly flexible, that's unlikely to work. You're probably going to have to petition the court.
Hi,
My fiancé wants to fix the spelling of his last name (when his parents immigrated, the spelling was botched in translation) and then I want to take his surname. Do we have to go through court petition or can we just put the correct spelling of the last name on the marriage certificate?
Thanks!
Hi AC. He'd have to get it corrected by petitioning the court.
Three years ago, I mistakenly took my husband's last name (and my husband) , it is as a hyphenated on marriage certificate; I now want to drop his name (will keep him… for now…)
I have never changed any legal documents, however, some well-meaning HR employee added his name to my payroll when she found out I was married.
Q: What is the procedure for legally recovering my maiden name.
Thank you!!!
NYS resident – not NYC
If you've never changed your legal documents, then you'll have to take this up with HR. They're using a name which isn't your legal name, so they'll have to update their records.
In New York State, if a woman marries a first time and takes her husbands last name, then divorces her first husband, gets married a second time and takes her new husband's name, then divorces her second husband – can she change her name back to her first husband's last name? She originally kept the first husband's last name because they had small children, but now the children are all over 20 years old. She has been divorced from the first husband for 17 years.
It can be done if the request was made to restore the first husband's name during divorce proceedings.
Hi,
I got married last year and on the marriage certificate, my wife hyphenated her last name by adding mine to the end. I didn't originally change my last name, but now I would like to. Our marriage certificate indicates the change in her name only, how would I go about changing mine?
Hi Toni. If your marriage certificate doesn't reflect a name change for you, then you're looking at having to petition the court.
Hi,
I changed my name during my marriage, however I have not notified govt agency so my passport/driver license remain in my old name, am I required to change my name on my passport/license? If I don't, and am not required to, does that mean I can also leave my professional licenses in my old name.
thank you so much!
Best,
Max
No.
Yes.
Hi Valera,
If I choose the name change on the marriage license but did not actually do the name change with Social Security office and DMV. After several years passed, I go to Social Security office and DMV to initiate the name change (with the marriage certificate which has my name changed). Will I get punished (pay a fine or something) for waiting so long (over a couple of years) to have the name change? Or the Social Security office and DMV won't let me change the name since I waited for too long? I live in NY.
Hi Hannah. You won't face any fines or problems.
I used my husband last name when married. I have been a widow for 28 years. I want to go back to my maiden name. I live in NY. How do I go about the change or is it easier to hyphen my maiden name?
Hi Janice. You'd have to petition the court for either option.
How does one do that….
Hi WandaMarie. If you're in NYC, file a name change petition in civil court. Otherwise, file in the state supreme court.
when i got married i did not annotate on the marriage application it does not states that i took his last name, but i still went ahead and changed all my documents now in my husband insurance they won't use my married name because it does not state in the marriage license that i actually took it and all my document show my married name. do i need a legal name change for this? does any body known
Hi Marlenny. Yes, you may need to obtain a court order since your new name change choice was specified on the license.
I was married 11 years ago to my husband and did not take his last name at the time,
but I would like to change my last name to his now. What do I have to do to make this happen? We live in NY state and were married in NY state as well. Thanks!
Hi Kari. Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate and change it as your normally would with the various federal and state institutions.
Thank you for helping so many people with our requests!
I understand the marriage license allows you to initiate the name change process, but is there a limit as to how long this is possible?
For example, if I were to elect my husbands surname on the license, but waited 5 years or so to begin legally filing, would this still be permissible? I currently live abroad and won't have enough time to make the legal change in the foreseeable future. That being said, the court-order process seems more difficult so I wonder if it makes sense to make the election now on the license so I can complete the process more easily later.
No, there isn't a time limit to change your name.
Yes.
Yes, it keeps your options option.
Question I just got married and my certificate came in the mail but it does not have my new surname on it , what do I need to do ? I'm taking my husbands lsst name. Help !
Hi Mrs. Reyes. If there's a spot on the certificate where you new surname should have been, contact the office that issued it for an amendment/correction.
Hello,
I am travelling to New York City from Canada to get married, I did the online application already and checked off that I want to change my name. I was doing some research and saw that when the marriage ceremony is done your name is legally changed…but would that still apply if I'm from Canada?/would I have to do anything in my country as well for a name change?
Also if my name legally does change will I have any difficulty coming back to Canada with my maiden name on my passport?
Hi Stephanie. It wouldn't automatically change. Your marriage certificate authorizes you to change your name, but you'd have to initiate the process yourself.
How do I get a certified copy of my passport so I can change my name at SS departmetn?
Hi Indira. You can obtain a certified copy of your passport record from the State Department for $50.
Hello. I live in NY and wanted to make my maiden name a second middle name and take my husbands last name. How could I do this?
Hi Jessica. I believe you'll have to petition the court to append another name to your existing name.
Hello.
My marriage certificate does not have my new surname. At the time, I didn't want to do it right then and there. I was a bit confused in the process as well Now I would like to. My marriage certificate just says my name married my husband (his name) on so and so etc… Would it be a problem if I go to th social security office with it.
Hi Anna. Yes, it might be a problem as the original application provides a spot for a new surname. Even if the SSA were to accept it, you'd likely face greater friction with the DMV.
I have been married for a couple years and while I changed my surname to hyphenate my husband's last name to my maiden name on my NYS marriage license, I did not proceed to change my name with the SSA and DMV. Is it considered that my name has been legally changed through marriage or does the marriage license just make it legitimate to file the name change without a court order or petition with the SSA and DMV? I'm confused as to whether changing my last name with the SSA and DMV are required after the change on the marriage license.
A certified copy of your marriage record is what authorizes the name change to take place. If you don't go forth and change your name with those institutions, then your name hasn't legally changed.
HI Valera,
I am getting married and want to drop my first name (i have a first name and a middle name). I have always gone by my middle name and just initialed my first. I'd like to make my second name my First name, move my maiden last name as my second name and take his last name. Can i do that?
It would be First name=my second name, middle name = maiden last name and last name=his last name.
Can i do this? I'm from NY.
No, you cannot do this through a marriage-based name change. You'll have to get a court order instead.
When my husband and I got married last year, I did not take his name. Now, I'd like to have my maiden name become my middle name and take his surname as mine. Is it easier to just get re-married in the state of NY to do this (I know that they do re-marriages at city hall here) or do I need to go through the formal non-marital name change process?
Hi Lauren. Remarriage would be easier.
Hi Valera,
I am in the exact same situation as Lauren (got married last year and didn't take my husband's name… now I want to make my maiden my middle name and take his last name). I was confused at the time and thought that I could easily change it later, but is this not the case? Will the SSA and the DMV not accept my marriage license as proof since I didn't take his name at the time?
Hi Brianne. That isn't likely to be sufficient.
I am getting married in August and want to change my last name. However, we are going out of the country in November and it is required that my passport be at least 6 months old before traveling. Can I change my name on my marriage certificate but leave my passport until after we travel in November?
Yes, you can wait to change your name on your passport. You can read more about the rationale in the maiden name on passport article.
I got married September 2016 on the license where it says new surname, I wrote my husband's last name. I haven't taken any action since then. I have now decided that I want to have two last names my maiden name plus his last name with no hyphen. Since we live in NYC I believe my only option is to have a hyphenated last name. Can I do an adult name change in NYC to get a double barrel last name with no hyphen.
Yes, you can, if you opt for a court petitioned name change.
Thank you what is the first step to do that?
Hi AKAnole. Review the "general adult name change" section on this page. Also take a look at the court petition name change page which goes into greater detail.
I got married and now, because of checking the box on the marriage certificate, my legal last name is now my husband's last name However, I want to change my middle name to my maiden name – how do I go about doing so?
Thanks,
Anna
Hi Anna. If your NY marriage application had a spot for you to specify a new middle name, but you didn't specify it, you may be looking at having to petition the court.
Anna, Valera is mistaken because there is no place on a NY Marriage License application for a change of a middle name. Under the Domestic Relations Law of New York, the marriage license cannot change a first or middle name. Valera is also mistaken about the possible need for a court order. Anna, bring your New York marriage certificate to your local DMV office and they will give you the appropriate form to change your middle name to your maiden name. Although it may not be required, I recommend you bring additional documentation in case it is requested, to avoid having to return home for any necessary documents. Such documents I would bring include: W2 form issued by your employer, recent bank statement showing home address, your passport, and your birth certificate, if you have any/all of those.
Thanks for chiming in HM. I did stipulate "if" her "marriage application had a spot for [her] to specify a new middle name" as some states do and some do not. For some it is binding, and others not. It also wasn't clear if her marriage license was issued in NYC or in another part of NY state, which does vary.