Changing My Name: How I Legally Became an Abernathy

Today I officially changed my last name to Abernathy. The process wasn't all too terrible. I didn't really know where to start, but a couple of pins on Pinterest helped me out. The one that I liked the most was from a lady in Kansas. They do things a little different here in Texas (DPS instead of DMV, anyone?), so I knew it wouldn't be the exact same. I looked at the SS website and they have a link that is just for how to change your name. It was so helpful! I found  this page about a week after the wedding. In order to change your name, you have to have a legal document (marriage license) proving that you need a name change. (I guess they got tired of people trying to come in and change their name to "Princess Banana Hammock" :D please tell me you know where that is from!)

How to Change Your Name:
1. Wait until you have your marriage license back (anywhere from a week to a month after the wedding)
2. Fill out the application for name change on the SSA website
3. Either go to your local Social Security office with a picture ID and proof of citizenship, along with your marriage license and completed application, or mail all of the above to the address listed on the website. [Here are all the specific types of documents you can bring]
4. Your new SS card will be mailed to you in about 2 weeks!

Since we didn't have our marriage license back until about 2 weeks after the wedding, I had to wait to do anything. I didn't want to mail all of my things, and I live close enough to the office to justify driving there. I waited less than an hour (not bad!) and the lady I worked with was so nice! I also decided to change my name on my drivers license while I was in the area and that was pretty easy also. They also just needed proof of my marriage in order to change my name on my license.

Now that those 2 major things are done, I can change my name on my bank account, resumes, and all my job applications. This part is probably going to be more tedious than legally changing my name. I thought about getting a new email address, but I have so many things linked to my current one. I hope that this was helpful to someone! Let me know if you have any questions.