Weddingbee boards

You don't have to change your name. However, if you are going to it appears to be far easier if you do it within months or up to a year after getting married. After that, many agencies seem to want more documentation to prove your identity and the reason why you are changing your name.

It's a great debate. Depends on how you feel about changing your name and taking his. 

I am not wanting to change my name but feeling pressure from the FILs

I'm not sure where you are located, but the first place you have to go to is Social Security with your marriage license and a picture ID. They apparently give you a paper name change document to use when you go to the DMV. At the DMV, you present your S.S. documentation, marriage license, and driver's license and they change your license for you (though, depending on your state, they may mail it to you). After you have your S.S. card and your driver's license you can do everything else, I suppose in any order. I'm planning to start all of this on Friday. I'll try to post back if I come up with/learn anything else about the process.