Marriage is a beginning of a new chapter in your life, and with so many legal implications, it can be a struggle to make any changes in the documents. Thus, many couples have to go through many difficulties and delays to change their name post-marriage.
Changing your legal name after marriage can be a hassle. However, it is subjective to everyone whether they want to modify their name after marriage or not. Still, everyone should know the procedure so that one can easily change their name after marriage if they want to.
Moreover, laws and regulations are different in each state in the United state. Similarly, the rules are slightly different in Ohio than in the rest of the states. Thus, if you want to know How to change your name after Marriage in Ohio. This article is all you need.
For more detailed steps, keep on reading!
Ohio Name Change form
First and foremost, you need to have a name in your mind and fill out the Ohio Name Change Forms. Moreover, this whole procedure will cost you somewhere around $39 to $99. You need to fill out just a single form known as the Ohio Name Change Form.
In this, you need to fill in all your information, such as your social security number and other personal information. Thus, I recommend you fill this form out on your own and don’t trust anyone with your personal information.
After filling out this form, you just have to mail this or hand over your documents and paperwork to an officer. Then there are certain things that you’ll need to do, and we have detailed instructions below.
Apply for a Marriage License
Although applying for a marriage license is quite a simple and straightforward process. For this, Both partners need to fill out the formal paperwork with their current names. Before applying, bring your birth certificate and know the names of both parents, maiden and married. Picture identification is also necessary while applying for a marriage license.
The good news is that there is no requirement to wait between the issuance of the license and the performing of the marriage. However, keep in mind that the name you sign on the marriage certificate after walking down the aisle becomes your legal married name, not the name on the marriage license.
Make many copies of your formal marriage certificate, complete with a raised seal, as you’ll need them to prove your identity when applying to change your name post-marriage. However, applying for a marriage license will cost you around $42 and $73.
Justify the reason for your name change
Although it’s subjective to every individual if they want to change their name after marriage or not. However, It’s quite common to be addressed by your maiden name in a professional setup post-marriage.
Still, changing a name after marriage is more than just a tradition. It gives your family a single identity and also gives a name to your children. Especially in cases like a second marriage, divorced like Justine Watsonor after the death of the biological father.
Changing the name can provide an identity to the kids. Having a single identity is the key factor that unites a family after marriage.
Change your name by Contacting Social Security
Social security is your primary identity, and in order to change your name after marriage, you have to make changes in your social security by contacting Social Security Administration.
As there is no way, you can change your social security online. Thus, in order to make a change in your social security, you need to visit a local Social Security office in the state of Ohio. Here you need to show your identity proof and your marriage certificate with your new name.
Once you submit all your documents and get the approval. Keep in mind that you should choose your new social security card with a maiden name instead of a middle name. After that, Your new social security will arrive with the same social security number but will have your new name over it. The good news is that this step is absolutely free, and you don’t need to pay any fees for this.
Forms you need to change your social security
For applying for a new social security card, you will need to provide all these documents and proofs:
- Your identification proof, such as your driving license, passport, or other state ID
- A legal document with your new names, such as a court order or your marriage certificate
- Proof of your citizenship, such as a passport or your birth certificate. However, if you are not yet a citizen of the States, you need to establish your citizenship.
You should keep one thing in mind when you are going to change your social security. Always carry the original paperwork and documents with you, as Social Security Administration does not accept any photocopies. However, for more information regarding this, you can visit the official website of SSA.
Change your name on your Driving license and Passport
The next thing that I would suggest is to start the process of changing your name on your driving license and passport. However, changing the name on your Driving license is quite simple all you need to do is just carry your updated Social security card and proof of your marriage, such as your marriage certificate.
You need to provide these documents to the motor vehicle department in your state. Then after paying the fee for the changes, a new updated driving license will be issued to you. Changing the name on your driving license in Ohio can cost you $22 to $25.
However, changing the name on your passport depends on the status of your passport. Moreover, the procedure for changing the name on your passport is the same throughout the nation.
After getting your licenses updated, you can also use them as proof of identification while changing your passport.
Documents you need to change your Passport
As mentioned earlier, the procedure of changing your passport depends on the status of your passport and citizenship. However, if you want to change your name within one year of the issue date of your passport, you need the following documents:
- Fill out the form for a change of name.
- Your current passport
- A certificate with your new name, such as your marriage certificate
- Your passport-size photo.
However, if your passport is older than 15-16 years, then you can also apply for passport renewal. You need these documents to renew your passport.
- Fill out the form for a change of name.
- Your current passport
- A certificate with your new name, such as your marriage certificate or driving license.
- Your passport-size photo.
Moreover, the cost of changing your passport also depends on the status of your passport. Such as
- If you are applying for passport renewal, it’s free of cost.
- For passport correction, you need to pay $110.
- Applying for a fresh passport will also cost you $110.
Things to Keep in mind
When you are going ahead with the procedure of changing your name on your legal documents, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind. First of all, don’t forget to inform your employer or HR department about the changes in your social security.
Make sure to update your banking details as well to make sure there are no discrepancies. Moreover, if you have any retirement schemes or savings accounts, make sure to update that as well.
One more thing is that if you are traveling abroad while processing, change the name on your passport. Make sure that you carry proof of your name change, such as your marriage certificate.
There are also some exceptions when it comes to changing your name after marriage in Ohio, and here are a few examples.
Same-sex marriages
Although same-sex marriages are legal in Ohio still, the procedure of changing name post-marriage is not as simple and straightforward as the heterosexual wedding. The only additional step is after getting your marriage certificate, the court has to be petitioned by the individual requesting the name change.
Once this is issued after that, you can apply for changing another government-issued identity.
Changing the name of your kids
Due to reasons like separation or death of a parent or you want to give the name of your new partner to your kid. Whatever the reason may be. However, the procedure for changing the name of your kids is completely different.
If the child is under the age of 18 years, then the Ohio court must be petitioned. Moreover, if the biological father of the child is alive, then the petition must be signed by the father before submitting it to the Probate Court.
Furthermore, if the father of the child cannot be identified or is missing for some reason. Then you have to testify under oath to find the father. Lastly, the decision is upto the judge whether to change the name of the child or if it’s permissible or not.
The Bottom Line
I hope now you got all the answers you were looking for. This article has given you an outline of all the procedures that you need to follow. Furthermore, you can check the official website for any recent updates.
