Weddingbee boards

Didn't your licence have one section for "name" (being your current/maiden name) and another for "name after marriage" (being your husbands last name or your hyphenated last name or whatever you wanted to change it to)? 

That's what ours had in NY.  (I haven't done it yet) but the SS office will change your name to whatever is on the license as "name after marriage". 

My sister goofed and didn't hyphenate on the license so the SS office wouldn't let her change from "maiden" to "maiden-married".  She didn't bother to fight it.

But I agree with others that say call up the county clerk and ask.

However, I don't think it's odd for those offices to want to see your marriage license- they have to have proof you were married to justify/legally change your name. 

As with any legal document, you sign the marriage license with your current legal name.  Some states have a place for you to also put your *intended* new name.  But at the time you signed, your legal name actually was your maiden name.  After all, the process of getting married does not automatically change your name - that's why you have to file the rest of the paperwork. 

The marriage certificate serves as the legal paperwork that allows you to change your name - in lieu of a name change petition.  (A divorce decree will also work.)  When you go to the SS office, they will have a form that requires you to put your current name, and the new name that you are requesting.  Showing your marriage license will give them your husband's last name, which is all the rest that should be necessary.  It works this way because actually you can't change your name to just anything - you can add your husband's name, with out without hyphen, or substitute your husband's name for yours.  You can't change your last name to something completely different with the marriage license (for instance, in the case where you and your husband both decide to take a new name that doesn't match either of your old names).  That would require a name change petition.

As far as what you do now, you need to get a certified copy of your marriage license (that would be from your county clerk; the copy you got at the wedding isn't official).  You take that certified copy to the Social Security office to request your new card, and then to the Department of Motor Vehicles for your new drivers' license.  You will also need to make sure as soon as you ger your new DL and SS Card, you go into your Human Resouces department at work and file a name change (they will want copies of your new ID) so that your payroll stuff doesn't get messed up.  HR should take care of changes on your health insurance and such.  You will also need to get to your bank with a copy of your marriage license before you start trying to cash checks written to your new name! 

There is a form for name change on your passport; basically if you've had your passport longer than a few months you have to apply for a new one.  If you're going to be travelling, make sure the name on your ID matches your plane tickets!  Everybody else (credit cards, auto and homeowners' insurance) it seems that you just have to call or make the change online.  It takes a lot of time and effort.  Five months later I have my new SS, DL, all changes at work, bank, and one credit card.  Oh, and I finally ordered new checks.  I hope I can make time before Christmas to get a new passport photo and get that paperwork sent off.