name change?

[ravda 0]

I have recently married my US fiance and we are now happily married and living in Oregon. This may seem like a daft question but it is one that has us wondering; now that we are married do we have to legally change my name to my husband's surname or is it the assumption that now we are married that i will be known by my husband's name? Also as my UK passport is still legal till 2008 will this still be legal for me to use even now that i am married? We have an appointment with the INS next week and will be asking these types of questions then but we were hoping for some advice sooner from this great forum that has helped us in the past.

thanks to all who help

R & D

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Congratulations on your wedding.... your passport is still valid and yes you can still use it for travel just make sure you book any flights in your maiden name and carry a copy of your marriage certificate with it... you can get your passport updated at the UK Embassy in Washington DC they have a website and you can find the passport forms there... that is what I did and I got my new passport and my old one back within 2 weeks..

If you are going to be using your husbands last name then all you need to do is file all your forms with your new last name and change any bank accounts, insurance, doctors and anywhere else that you were using your madian name...

Good Luck

Kezzie

[*Robert* 2]

What does your marriage certificate say your last name is?

That is where you should have legaly had your last name changed.

[Peter Miami 0]

What does your marriage certificate say your last name is?

That is where you should have legaly had your last name changed.

True.

[john_and_marlene 162]

What does your marriage certificate say your last name is?

That is where you should have legaly had your last name changed.

True.

Not always true. You certificate may indicate the names after marriage, but every state's certificate is different. You shouldn't give advice about the marriage certificate unless you know the facts about the state someone is married in.

Our certificate states the names before marriage, but not after. I've never seen one that states the names after marriage or even whether the names would change. I'm only familiar with certificates from 4 states though.

[Cassie 8]

What does your marriage certificate say your last name is?

That is where you should have legaly had your last name changed.

True.

Not always true. You certificate may indicate the names after marriage, but every state's certificate is different. You shouldn't give advice about the marriage certificate unless you know the facts about the state someone is married in.

Our certificate states the names before marriage, but not after. I've never seen one that states the names after marriage or even whether the names would change. I'm only familiar with certificates from 4 states though.

Exactly right. In Oklahoma, the Marriage License and the Marriage Certificate are all on one piece of paper. I am listed on the Marriage License with my maiden name. On the marriage certificate it states "...do hereby certify that I joined in marriage the persons named in and authorized by this license to be married..." So, no stating my married name on the marriage certificate for me!

To the OP: in this day and age, nobody should assume you will be taking your husband's surname, for a myriad of reasons. Like Kezzie said, you'll have to go and officially change ID and such, and your passport is still valid. I have travelled twice with my passport still in my maiden name (like Kezzie described) and had no problems.