Specializing In Memorable
Traditional & Custom Wedding Ceremonies

Well, you have made the decision to change your name--while your officiant knew to call you Mr. and Mrs. Smith at the end of the ceremony, and your family and friends know to do the same from here on out, there are some people who were not included in the wedding who also need to know of your new name. Following is a checklist to ensure that you contact all those who need to make it official:

• car registration
• Social Security office
• voter registration
• passport
• bank account signature cards
• credit cards
• frequent flier accounts
• insurance (life, health, car, etc.)
• alumna school and employer records and mailing lists
• post office (be sure to include old and new names on your new mailbox, if necessary, and submit a mail-forwarding form for your old address and name)
• pension plans, stocks and bonds
• property titles
• leases
• wills
• beneficiaries

Important information about credit

If you change your name after your marriage, it is important that you maintain some line of credit in your own name. One way to do this is to use one name in all of your financial dealings-- either your maiden name or your new married name (but not Mrs. John Smith, for example). In this instance, it may help to include your maiden name (particularly if you have chosen to use it as your middle name) so that creditors can link this to any credit line you hade before marrying (for example, car payments, student loans, etc.). Another way of maintaining some credit foundation is to maintain your own bank accounts and/or credit cards--in your own name, again either your maiden name or your new married name. (Be sure credit accounts are fully in your name, not just you as an authorized signer on your husband's account.) Lastly, you may ask that creditors maintain separate files for you and your husband, even on joint accounts.

Your Monogram

Monogramming is a nice touch for much of the silver, linens and stationery that you and your husband may use after marriage. You have several options for monograms, which may be used exclusively on all items or mixed and matched across silver, linens, stationery, and anything else you choose to personalize. One option is to simply use your initials--your first, middle and your new last names. The letters may be in order and all of the same size, or, you may choose to put your last name initial in the middle of the first and middle name initials, but in a noticeably larger size. A second option, which reflects more directly your new shared life, is to use your first name initial, your husband's first name initial, and your shared last name initial. In this instance, the monogram is more often the second choice noted above, the last name initial larger and in the middle of the initials for your two first names.

Disclaimer

While a great deal of care has been taken to provide accurate and current information, the ideas, suggestions, general principles and conclusions presented at this web site are subject to local, state and federal laws and regulations, court cases and any revisions of same. The reader is thus urged to consult legal counsel regarding any points of law--this web site should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice.