Weddingbee boards

Congrats! Ok, now for your answer, more than likely, No. Most states issue a license stating that you are able to get married and then your officiant signs that form. You then have to turn that in to the clerk for your official legal marriage certificate. Their your marriage is valid and legal. Now, your name change is only legal until you change it with SSA and the BMV. You have to have the marriage certificate to do that. You do not need to use any websites to change your name, it really is a waste of money. But for it to be legal, it has to be changed with the SSA first and foremost. This is what I did, I took the license in myself on Monday after the wedding, got the certificate, went to SSA and then they issued me a paper stating my name is changed even though I will not get a card for 10 days but I could take that paper to the BMV. Went there next and boom, the official stuff done in less than 4 hrs. Some states and cities depending on size may take longer. The rest is the little stuff you have to fix like bank accts, loans, leases and bills. But once done with SSA and BMV you are legal. Good Luck!

It's not legal until you go through the process, but I've used my new last name several times (I've forgetten too - oops).  I start the SS process today - yay!  As far as the checks went, the bank had no problem depositing them all when I explained the wedding (which most of them said in the memo it was a wedding gift).