This is kind of wedding related – I finally bit the bullet, made a decision, and changed my last name from our wedding. Yeah, I hadn’t actually done that yet. It only took like 9 months… oops.
Reasons for the delay (besides the fact that I’m an indecisive procrastinator):
1. Marriage License Application
In Wisconsin, you don’t put your new name on your application for marriage, so it’s not on your marriage license or certificate like in Minnesota. I didn’t know this prior to applying, so we walked into City Hall to apply thinking we knew what name I was going to use. But then I didn’t have to put it down, which gave me more time to mull it over.
2. Marriage Certificate
For some reason, I just thought they mailed the certificate to you after your wedding. So after waiting a few months for it to arrive, I googled it, and found out you have to send in an application/request for it with money to the state registrar. Then you have to wait for it to be mailed to you. OHHHH. It’s not like I’ve done this before. It would have been helpful if this had been explained to us when we applied for the license.
3. DMV
This actually relates back to Reason #1. Since my new name wasn’t on the marriage certificate, when I went to the DMV in December to change my name on my driver’s license, I couldn’t because there was no proof of my name change. I presented my marriage license, but apparently that wasn’t enough.
Skip ahead almost 5 months to May…
4. Social Security Card
Time was running out for me to update my passport and get it back in time for our trip, so I needed to get my name changed. I looked up info online, and found that since I live in the Twin Cities where there is a Social Security Card Office, I needed to go there in person for my name change. The office doesn’t open until 9 am and closes at 3:30, so I needed to find a day I could go into work late. I settled on a Friday, got there at 8:45, stood in line, and then read the sign on the door that said SS card changes are at a separate entrance in the back of the building. Ugh. I rushed to the back of the building to get in line. The doors opened at 9, and I was given a slip of paper with #12 on it. Luckily they had lots of windows open (like 14?), so I was able to get in right away. This made me glad that I had found the form online and filled it out already. It went really quickly and I was out of there by 9:15. It was awesome. I’ve heard that there’s usually a long line and it can take over an hour to get in.
My card came in the mail about a week later. Last weekend I had the worst ever photo taken at Walgreens to send in with my passport name change/renewal. I also changed my name on my driver’s license at the DMV. Even though it’s considered a “duplicate” license, you still need to have your eyes checked and a new photo taken (which turned out WAY better than my passport photo I must add).
Now all I have left to do is actually mail in my passport stuff and call all my credit cards because of course you can’t do it online. That would be too easy. I’m not a phone person so I’m not too thrilled about this. I’m sure I’ll still be finding places I need to change my name 6 months from now.
Oh yeah, my big name decision –
Stefany, 2 middle names (birth middle name and maiden name), husband’s last name
It was a really hard decision that I went back and forth on constantly. Adam said I could do whatever I wanted, so while supportive, he was no help. Even standing in line at the SS Office I still wasn’t sure what I’d choose. I had to quick fill it in when I sat down at my counter. I ended up making my maiden name as a second middle name instead of having 2 last names (which I strongly considered). I chose this because I don’t like hyphens, and even though it wouldn’t have been hyphenated, most people would have stuck one in it. Plus, I would always legally have to sign both last names which would have been a pain. I just think it would have been too confusing for others. I still second guess my decision sometimes. It’s not that I don’t like my new name, I just really really liked my maiden name. It was pretty awesome. I guess it will just take some getting use to. It is exciting to have the same last name as Adam now though!
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