ShareThisQ: I have no idea how to change my name! Where do I start?
A: First, arm yourself with your certified marriage license (make sure it has a raised seal) and call the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213. Follow the automated instructions, and they'll send you your new Social Security card for free. To get an updated driver's license, you'll need to make a personal appearance at your local DMV. Bring your marriage license, your current driver's license and your passport, if you have one. Once you've made the official changes, notify your employers for payroll, the post office, the phone company, your credit card companies and banks, schools and alumni associations, voter registration, mortgages, insurance policies and magazine subscriptions. Wait until after the honeymoon to update your passport, which needs to match the name on your plane ticket.
Carley Roney, co-founder and editor in chief of The Knot, the nation's leading wedding resource, advises millions of brides on modern wedding etiquette at www.theknot.com.)
ASK CARLEY
