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Changing or keeping your name is a deeply personal choice that reflects your values, identity, and life journey. In the United States, name changes are most commonly made after marriage, with women traditionally taking their partner’s surname. However, modern couples are increasingly exploring creative alternatives, from hyphenating names to maintaining separate identities entirely.
If you do decide to change your name, you’ll need to update numerous important documents and accounts in a process that will require some time, organization, and some financial investment. While there are no direct financial implications to changing your name, administrative fees and the potential for temporary complications make it worth understanding the full scope of what’s involved before making your decision.
Key Takeaways
- Changing your name involves updating multiple documents and accounts, with total costs ranging anywhere from $15-$500.
- Your credit score and financial history will not be impacted by a name change, since they are tied to your Social Security number, not your name.
- Keeping your current name avoids administrative costs and complexity but may require extra paperwork for joint financial activities.
- It’s important to be consistent and update your name across all documents and accounts to avoid any complications.
Reasons To Keep Your Name
Changing your name isn’t always straightforward, and many people choose to keep their current name for practical, professional, or personal reasons. The decision to keep your name can simplify your life while preserving important aspects of your identity.
Personal and professional identity: If you’re well-established in your career, keeping the name you’ve built your professional reputation with helps maintain continuity in your personal brand. This is especially important for entrepreneurs, licensed professionals, or anyone with significant public recognition.
As Nancy D. Butler, CFP and CDFA, explained from her personal experience: “For 12 years I was known as Nancy D. Seely, and during that time I built a business, gained media exposure through newspapers, TV, and radio, and raised two young daughters who shared that last name. When I remarried, I had to consider both the emotional and financial impact.”
Family heritage: Your surname may hold deep significance in your family history, representing cultural traditions or honoring your ancestors. Keeping your name allows you to preserve this heritage and pass it on to future generations.
Making a political statement: Some individuals view keeping their name as a statement about gender equality, personal autonomy, or challenging traditional marriage conventions.
Future flexibility: While no one enters a marriage planning for divorce, not changing your name during marriage will make reverting to your original name simpler should your circumstances change.
Reasons To Change Your Name
Despite the administrative complexity, many people find compelling reasons to change their names, often viewing it as an opportunity for personal transformation or family unity.
Personal choice: The most common reason people change their name is simply personal preference. Some want to simplify their name, make it more unique, or use the name change as an opportunity to take on a new identity. Names are powerful symbols of who we are and who we want to become.
Keeping the family unit/tradition: Many couples choose to share a surname to create a sense of family unity, especially when children are involved. This traditional practice can simplify administrative matters like school enrollment and medical decisions.
Fresh start: Names can represent a clean slate or an escape from a difficult past. Whether it’s leaving behind negative associations or embracing a new chapter in life, a name change can be deeply symbolic of personal growth and renewal.
Cultural and religious expression: Some individuals change their names to better reflect their cultural identity, religious beliefs, or spiritual journey. This might involve adopting a name that honors ancestral heritage or aligns with personal values.
Gender transition: For transgender individuals, changing their name is often an important step in aligning their legal identity with their lived experience. A name change can provide psychological relief, reduce potential discrimination, and create consistency across all personal documents. The process helps eliminate the awkwardness and potential safety concerns that can arise when official documents don’t match someone’s gender presentation.
Financial Implications of Keeping or Changing Your Name
“The biggest misconception I see about name changes is that it resets your credit or damages your credit score,” said Andrew Latham, a certified financial planner. “That’s false. Credit history is tied to your Social Security number, not your name.”
Note
When you change your name, credit bureaus simply list your new name as an alias, and your complete credit history continues without interruption.
Financial Implications of Changing Your Name
Administrative costs: Typical administrative costs for a name change include:
- Certified copies of marriage certificate: $10-$35 each
- Driver’s license update: $10-$89 (varies by state)
- Passport update: $130
- Professional licenses or legal documents: $25-$200+
- Optional name change services: $40-$100
Time and effort investment: Beyond monetary costs, changing your name requires a significant time investment. You’ll need to contact numerous institutions, fill out forms, provide documentation, and follow up to ensure changes are processed correctly.
Potential delays: Name mismatches can cause delays in tax refunds and other financial processes. Latham warned: “If your tax return name doesn’t match your Social Security file, the IRS may reject your return.
Business impact: If your personal name is tied to your business, professional reputation, or licenses, changing it could require additional marketing efforts and client communications to maintain recognition.
Financial Implications of Keeping Your Name
No administrative fees: By not changing your name, you avoid all fees and administrative costs associated with a name change, potentially saving $150-300 or more.
Simplicity and consistency: Keeping your name means maintaining consistency across all financial and legal documents. Latham noted: “Keeping your name saves time and money since you don’t have to update accounts, ID, or documents. It also avoids potential errors that can delay benefits, taxes, or financial approvals.”
No delays or disruptions: You won’t experience any interruptions in your financial activities, tax processing, or benefit payments due to name mismatches in government databases.
Potential for extra paperwork: The main downside is that joint financial activities like mortgage or estate planning may require additional documentation when spouses have different surnames. However, this doesn’t affect your creditworthiness or financial standing.
How To Legally Change Your Name: A Step-by-Step Guide
Follow this step-by-step checklist to navigate the name change process:
Step 1: Get a Certified Copy of Your Marriage Certificate
Obtain multiple certified copies of your marriage certificate, as you’ll need these as proof for various institutions. Most organizations require original certified copies, not photocopies.
Step 2: Apply for a New Social Security Card
The Social Security Administration (SSA) should be your first stop, as all other government agencies reference the SSA database. Download Form SS-5, complete it, and submit it to your local Social Security office along with the required documentation.
Important
Update your Social Security record before filing taxes or changing your name with your employer to avoid processing delays.
Step 3: Update your Driver’s License or State ID
Visit your local Department of Motor Vehicles to update your driver’s license or state ID. Each state has different requirements and processing times, so check your state’s specific procedures. It typically takes a few weeks to receive your new license by mail.
Step 4: Change Your Name on Passport and Travel Documents
If you travel, update your passport with the appropriate forms. Also, update any visas, Global Entry, or TSA PreCheck records.
Step 5: Inform Banks, Employers, and Financial Institutions
Contact all your financial institutions to update your name on:
- Bank accounts and credit cards
- Investment portfolios
- Mortgages and loans
- Insurance policies
- Employer payroll and benefits
- IRS records
Additional Updates To Consider
- Vehicle registration and title
- Property deeds
- Estate planning documents (wills, trusts, powers of attorney)
- Voter registration
- Professional licenses
- Subscriptions and memberships
- Online accounts
Tip
Nancy Butler recommended an “all or nothing” approach: “Either update your name across all documents and accounts, or keep your current name on everything. Partial changes can create unnecessary confusion, delays, and even legal or financial complications down the road.”
What Are the Pros and Cons of Not Changing Your Name After Marriage?
Pros include avoiding administrative costs and complexity, maintaining professional identity, and preserving family heritage. Cons may include extra paperwork for joint activities and potential confusion in some situations involving children or medical decisions.
Does Changing Your Name Affect Your Credit Score?
No, changing your name has no impact on your credit score or history. Your credit score is tied to your Social Security number, not your name. Credit Bureaus simply add your new name as an alias.
Who Changes Their Name in a Same-Sex Marriage?
In same-sex marriages, either partner can change their name, both can hyphenate, they can create a new combined surname, or both can keep their original names. The decision is entirely up to the couple.
The Bottom Line
Whether you choose to change or keep your name after marriage, the key is to make an informed decision that aligns with your personal values, professional needs, and financial situation.
Remember that traditional name changes aren’t your only options. Some alternative ideas include:
- Hyphenating both surnames
- Both partners adopting a new combined surname
- Both partners keeping their original names
- Creating an entirely new family name
Butler advised, “Couples should consider potential name change costs as part of their overall wedding or marriage budget and gather information about requirements and fees in advance.”
