Change my family name to my husband's name after married

[Andsco 89]

Hello everyone!

As we are waiting for the NOA2 of the K1 visa, my fiance and I have been talking about what to do after married with my family name. He told me I can either keep mine or take his and I would honestly not mind taking his as I am proud to be part of his family and soon his wife. 

 

My question is, when we get to that point, how do I apply to change my family name to his? 

 

Thank you!

[LionessDeon 2,060]

Once you have POE and get married you can use your marriage certificate to legally change your name.  After marriage you just starting using your married name, nowhere to "apply".  You will file AOS using your new married name.

[geowrian 22,337]

Your marriage certificate is a legal name change document in the US, and acts as proof of such. It's that simple. That said, you should still change all your legal documents and such (Social Security Card, leases, bank accounts, etc.) to your married name once you have the marriage certificate. Depending on your state, the certificate might be instant (the marriage license acts as the certificate as well), or it may take a week or 2 to get the actual certificate.

Edited January 25, 2017 by geowrian

[Andsco 89]

First of all, thanks for the quick replies!. 

As for the question, so once we get our Marriage Licence and get married, that's when I change to my husbands family name? And where do I state the new name? 

It's my first time going through all this and I have never married so it's confusing! 

[LionessDeon 2,060]

You don't state your name anywhere.  I'll give you an example.  My marriage certificate states "my full maiden name" was married to  "his full name"  on such and such date.

The next day or soon after you begin changing your name to his on various accounts etc.   You just simply take on his name by just using it when you sign and when people ask you your name.  You do not do any formal paperwork to change it.  Your marriage certificate is the name change document.  

Edited January 25, 2017 by LionessDeon

[LionessDeon 2,060]

http://www.visajourney.com/sitesearch/?cx=partner-pub-3407508467788263%3A9725800110&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=UTF-8&q=changing+my+name+to+married+name&sa=Search&siteurl=www.visajourney.com%2Fforums%2F

 

There have been a ton of prior posts on this same subject.  Use the search tool to review them.  Maybe that willl shed some light on how other's explained it.