How To Change Your Name After Marriage Massachusetts?

Massachusetts law allows individuals to change their name legally as an adult, including through a court name change proceeding. Names can also be changed as part of an adoption, divorce, or parentage judgment. To change your name after marriage, you must go through the process of marriage as required by the state law. You must be 18 years old, minimum, to show marriage intentions. To change your surname, sign your name as “FirstName NewLastName (OldLastName)” for at least six months after marriage.

To change your name after marriage, you must apply for a marriage license and obtain a certified copy of your marriage certificate. The process can vary between states, but most institutions require proof of your name change, such as a marriage license.

To change your name on your license, make an appointment online, fill out the SS-5 form, and head to your local RMV Service Center. Massachusetts law allows you to adopt any surname (last name) when getting married. To file for a legal name change, go to the office of the Register of Probate in the Probate and Family Court in the county where you reside.

How long does a name change take in Massachusetts?

How long will the name change take? Name changes can take from a day to six months. The time it takes for a name change to be ordered varies from county to county and sometimes from courthouse to courthouse. If time is important to you, contact the courthouse where you plan to file your legal action. Can I do this online or do I need to go to court? File your documents in person at your local courthouse. This is the fastest, easiest way to file. Besides filing your documents/forms, name change actions often require other appearances in court. If you have questions about court appearances for a name change, contact your local court clerk.

Do I need to do anything to change my name after marriage?

How to change your name. If you keep your surname, you don’t need to do anything after marriage. If you take your partner’s name, you don’t need to change your name by deed poll. Just tell the relevant authorities with your marriage certificate. Here are the places you need to contact to let them know of the change. Many of these places have online details about how to change a name. It is worth exploring the online options first.

Passport office; DVLA (driving license, vehicle registration); HM Revenue and Customs; Child Benefit; Local Authority (Council tax and electoral register); Land Registry; Student Loans; Employer; Bank or building society; Mortgage provider; Pension providers; Credit card companies; Phone and broadband provider; Doctor; Dentist. Your vet; gym; motoring organizations (breakdown cover); utility companies (gas, water, electricity providers); insurance company (motor, home, travel, pet); loans companies; magazine subscriptions; store cards & online accounts; clubs or societies you are a member of. Change your passport to your new name before your honeymoon. You can apply for a new passport up to three months before your wedding and have it dated to the wedding date. Some countries don’t accept post-dated passports for visa applications. If you need a visa for your honeymoon, check this.

Can I take my husband’s first name?

Many people believe that in a marriage, one spouse must change their last name to match the other spouse’s. That’s not the case today. You can keep your name, hyphenate it with your spouse’s, take your spouse’s name, or come up with a new name. As long as the name change is not done illegally, any of these options would be legal.

Changing your name after marriage can include any of the following:

Change your name to your spouse’s last name; change your name to something else; tell people your new name.

How do I change my name after marriage in Massachusetts?

Your name changes to the one on your certificate after your wedding. After you get your marriage certificate, you can apply for ID with your new name. This includes a Social Security card, Massachusetts driver’s license, and U.S. passport.

This page: Getting Married in Massachusetts: After the wedding, you can get a guide to getting married in Massachusetts from the Massachusetts Digital Service. Before the wedding, you learned what to do to make it official. Now, read about what you need to do in your first year of marriage, including getting proof of your marriage, new identification, and filing taxes. Orders are usually filled within 2-3 weeks.

How to eFile name change in Massachusetts?

How do I file my change of name forms online? Go to eFileMA and click Get Started! You need to create an account and add a card. If you don’t have a card, use your bank info.

This page is about eFiling with Probate and Family Court. Change of Name is offered by Probate and Family Court.

Gather and fill out all name change forms. See the Change of Name for Adults checklist here: Change of Name Checklist for Adults.

How to legally change your name as an adult; Change of Name Checklist for Adults; Name Change forms.

Can you legally change your name in the US?

Court order. To change your name, you must file a petition with your local court. You may need to file paperwork and appear before a judge to change your name. Find your local government website and contact your circuit court to learn how to legally change your name. Notify government agencies when you change your name. Show these federal and state agencies that you changed your name by providing certified copies of your marriage and divorce certificates or name change orders.

Have a question? Ask a real person any government question for free. They’ll help you find the answer.

Where do I file for name change in Massachusetts?

How to file: In person: File at your local Probate and Family Court. By mail: Submit the required forms to the Probate and Family Court in your county. Online: File a Change of Name online at eFileMA.

If you don’t need to file a name change in court. You don’t have to file in court or pay a fee to change your name in three situations: When you get married. For more information, see Getting Married in Massachusetts. If you want to resume a name you’ve had before, you can ask in your divorce papers. You can’t change a child’s name through a divorce. When you become a naturalized citizen. If you’re becoming a U.S. citizen, you can ask the government to change your name. If you are over 18, you must file a case to change your name in the Probate and Family Court in the county where you live. You must file the following:

Do you have to change your name on your passport when you get married in the UK?

You can get a new passport before or after the ceremony. Your passport must match your travel booking. Get a new passport after the ceremony. Send your marriage or civil partnership certificate when you apply for a passport in your new name. Get a new passport before the ceremony. You can apply for a passport in your new name up to three months before your wedding.

How long does it take to legally change your name in the US?

In most states, you will have to attend a court hearing where the judge may ask why you are changing your name. The process takes a few weeks to a few months, depending on the courts’ workload. You can’t change your name to impersonate someone, hide your identity, escape prosecution, or defraud anyone. You can’t change your name to something obscene or offensive. Your name must have letters, not numbers. Your new name must be legal. Steps for changing your name legally. Once you’ve done the court process and had your court appearance, there are still more steps to take to make sure your new name is in use.

How do you legally change your name after marriage USA?

Court order. To change your name, you must file a petition with your local court. You may need to file paperwork and appear before a judge to change your name. Find your local government website and contact your circuit court to learn how to legally change your name. Notify government agencies when you change your name. Show these federal and state agencies that you changed your name by providing certified copies of your marriage and divorce certificates or name change orders.

Have a question? Ask a real person any government question for free. They’ll help you find the answer.

Do I need to register my marriage in the US if I get married abroad?

The U.S. doesn’t have a national marriage registry. U.S. states recognize marriages from other states and countries. If you got married legally in the country or state where you did, your marriage is recognized in the United States. The only exception is for naturalization. Learn more about marriage for immigration here. If you are getting married abroad, the U.S. State Department website has helpful information.

Does it cost money to change your name in Massachusetts?

A CARI and CJP 34 form. Changing your name costs between $150 and $280, depending on your circumstances and jurisdiction. You can ask for help with these fees.