Name Change Advice

Looking for name change advice or some tips for newlywed life? The MissNowMrs experts have created state-specific name change articles and checklists for you. We’ve chronicled our recommendations for how to travel while changing your name AND how to handle voting during the transition.

We’ve also compiled our best guidance for how to handle difficult sister in laws, holidays as newlyweds, the ever-annoying baby questions, and much more. Why? Because, while we are name change experts, we’re also newlywed wives, moms, and sisters.

We hope our name change advice articles help smooth your transition to your new name, and a whole new phase of life. Congratulations and best wishes from the entire MissNowMrs team!

Virginia Changes their Driver’s License Form Again

It’s a little crazy, but Virginia changes their driver’s license form once again! This will be the second time this form has changed since January of 2007. Changes to a driver’s license form may seem like an irrelevant fact, but it may very well impact you. If you purchased a name-change kit or CD and are planning on using the Virginia driver’s license form in them, you are probably wasting your time. Unfortunately, books and kits are printed in bulk and cannot be updated until all of the supply is used and a new edition is printed.

The MissNowMrs app and online name-change service has the advantage of being able to immediately update forms and directions as state and government offices make changes. Once a new form is issued our service is updated and our customers receive the benefit of the new form instantly. Giving brides access to the latest Virginia driver’s license form is just a recent example of our dedication to Making New Beginnings Easier!

Help Me Change My Name

Name Change and Your Credit

Curious about name change and your credit? You’re not alone! Many brides are curious about what happens to their credit when they make the switch to Mrs. Do they lose their credit history and start over with a new name? Do they need to notify the main credit bureaus of their decision?

When you change your name you do not need to notify the three U.S. credit bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax, and Experion. When you update your name with all of your creditors (banks, credit cards, ect.) the bureaus will add your new name to your account and keep your maiden name as well. This way you keep your established credit and build credit with your married name.

How Many Marriage Certificates are Needed for a Name Change?

The number of marriage certificates that a person needs is very dependent on how and where they are changing their name. The DMV, State Department, and Social Security offices all require a certified marriage certificate to process a name change, but they will return them. Name change with many banks and creditors will require marriage certificates and they are not obligated to return the certificates. The average number of marriage certificates a bride uses for a name change in the United States is three.

Virginia Drivers License Update

Did you know that the State of Virginia recently updated their driver’s license form? This may seem like an irrelevant fact, but it may very well impact you. If you purchased a name-change kit or CD and are planning on using the Virginia driver’s license form in them, you are probably wasting your time. One of the drawbacks of printed kits is that they are typically printed in bulk and are therefore very hard to update. Many brides are disappointed to complete an outdated form and then have to re-write all of their information on a new form at the DMV.

On line services have the advantage of being able to immediately update their forms and directions. Once a new form is issued the service can be updated and customers receive the benefit of the new form instantly. MissNowMrs.com is the only on line name-change service that offers this kind of technology to newlyweds. The new Virginia driver’s license form is just a recent example of our dedication to Making New Beginnings Easier.

For more detail on the Virginia Drivers License name change process

Does it Matter How My Name is Listed on My Marriage Certificate?

If you are changing your name you may be concerned that your maiden name is printed on your certified marriage certificate or that you signed the certificate with your maiden signature. As long as your name and your husband’s name are listed on the certificate you can use it as legal proof of marriage for name-change purposes. The name you are changing to does not need to be listed on the certified marriage certificate.