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You do not HAVE to change your last name when you get married...however if you change it for SOME things you HAVE to change it for everything.

If you have a bank account in your unmarried name you may not be able to access it and you will no longer have those funds. If you don't report a name change to the Social Security commission you will not be able to collect funds based on the years you worked under a maiden name. If you don't change your name on your driver's license it can be revoked. And you will be required to take driver's education/training in order to get a license in your married name...you will also have to pay a fine and possibly serve jail time.

I have that problem myself. I did not change my name back to my maiden name when I got divorced, but then got over it and decided to use my maiden name. ALL of your papers that have to do with money (bank and payroll) must be in the name that is on your social security card and driver's licence. Everything else that I do, I do with my maiden name (leases, employment paperwork, credit cards, etc.).

I've been doing this for about a year and I've not run into any major problems yet. I do plan to get married again shortly and so I didn't want to change everything back to my maiden name only to change it again so quickly to my new married name.

Well, I kept my maiden name and I had no trouble at all. My sister changed her name, but didn't do it formally and she got in trouble at Tax Time - the IRS thought she was trying to pull a fast one since her Social Security number didn't match the name she gave. Many people change their name on credit cards etc, but forget to call the social security office to do it officially. Here's the link to them - you can get more info there: http://www.ssa.gov/

Peace!

I think this is a great question... I'm getting married March 10 and was wondering the same thing. I want to take my husband's last name.

Well, you aren't required to change your name at all. If you DO change it, just notify everybody. It's going to cause confusion if you change your name on some accounts and not others. Pick one name and stick with it---no problem.

no 'legal' issue, the name you use daily is what we call your 'assumed name', its what you go by. you dont have to change your name, but if you do change it on some things and not others, like you tell your boss to change it, but dont change it with social security and your bank, things like your tax refund direct deposit will be rejected.

I went without updating my ss card for like 2 years. I didn't update it till I needed it. But I don't know that anything would be done to you. maybe a fine...

There wouldn't be any legal problems. You are not required to change your name just because you got married.

There is no law that mandates a name change...you are entitled to keep your original name even after marriage if u so choose

not many, i've been married almost 10 years & never changed my name, u dont have 2 take his name