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How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Florida

Changing My Name After Marriage in Florida

Married persons may choose to take up or add on a partner’s name after marriage. While state or federal laws do not require a name change after marriage, married persons may change names for religious, cultural, social, or personal reasons. Since names are primary identifiers and are present on official databases, persons who opt for name change after marriage must follow legal guidelines to update relevant databases with the new names.

Persons interested in a name change in Florida must follow specific procedures to ensure a smooth transition. The most important requirement in the process is the marriage certificate. The Bureau of Vital Statistics maintains and issues certified copies of marriage certificates. This certificate contains information from the marriage license. It is proof of the requesting party’s marital status and typically indicates the party’s new name. Florida marriage records are also relevant for a variety of legal processes other than name change requests. Interested and eligible persons may request these records from relevant court custodians or repositories within the same judicial district.

How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Florida

To change a name after marriage in Florida, interested parties must do the following:

  • Request a marriage certificate or a court order
  • File a Petition for Change of Name in court
  • Notify the Social Security Administration (SSA) and update social security information
  • Update driver’s license information with Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department
  • Update passport and other state-issued identification

The Florida name change process can be overwhelming as there are several steps involved. Interested parties may hire family lawyers to facilitate a faster and easier process. The lawyer will file all necessary forms on the case party’s behalf. The party may only need to appear in court for a hearing. Alternatively, interested parties may use third-party applications and websites that provide the service at a fee.

Persons who cannot afford lawyers or the costs associated with third-party service providers may follow available free guides online. These third-party guides lay out the step-by-step requirements for name change in Florida.

How to Update Your Social Security Card in Florida?

To update a social security card in Florida, interested parties must contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) in the state. Requesting parties must present required documentation to the SSA, including a signed court order, a marriage certificate, a proof of identification, such as a driver’s license, and a copy of an application form. The name on the presented identification must match the requesting party’s existing social security information. It is important to note that the SSA will only accept original or certified copies of required documents; however, the SSA will return every document that the requesting party sends with the application.

The SSA provides social security card updates at no charge. Requesting parties must mail completed forms and required documentation or present the forms in person at the nearest SSA office. The SSA has a locator to help interested parties find the closest SSA office using zip code search. Alternatively, interested parties may request replacement social security cards online. This process requires registration. The SSA processes each request on receipt and issues updated cards as soon as possible.

How to Get a New Driver’s License in Florida?

Another mandatory step in the name change process is the driver’s license update. Requesting parties can only request replacement driver’s licenses after updating social security card details. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) issues and regulates driver’s licenses in the state.

To get a new driver’s license, requesting parties must visit the nearest FLHSMV office. While it is possible to renew or replace Florida driver’s licenses online in some cases, parties who wish to process a name change must visit an office with required documentation. The FLHSMV requires requesting parties to present:

  • A marriage certificate or court order
  • Social Security number
  • Proof of identity
  • Proof of residential address
  • A replacement fee of $25

How to Update Your Insurance Information in Florida?

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation oversees insurance issuers in the state. The department lists different types of insurance available to Florida residents, including automobile, accident and health, flood, life, homeowners’ insurance, lender-placed insurance, workers’ compensation, long-term care, title insurance, surplus lines, and warranties.

It is important for insurance holders who change names after marriage to update insurance records with the new name. Interested parties may contact the relevant insurance agencies to complete information update forms. The agencies may require state-issued identification such as driver’s license and social security numbers.

Where Do I Go to Change My Last Name in Florida?

To change their last names in Florida, interested persons must first file a petition with the circuit court in the county where the party lives. To be eligible to file a name change petition, requesting parties must have resided in Florida for at least six (6) months and must not have suspended civil rights. Before filing the petition, requesting parties must first submit fingerprints at the Department of Law Enforcement. The department will also forward a criminal history check to the Clerk of Court to ascertain whether the requester is registered as a sexual offender or sexual predator. The requesting party must sign the completed petition in the presence of a notary public. The notary public must also sign the petition. Requesting parties may file the petition for a change of name in person at the courthouse or online. The court assesses filing fees, but persons who cannot afford the filing fees may petition the court for a fee waiver.

After filing a petition, the Clerk of the Superior Court will schedule a hearing; however, the judge may grant the petition without a hearing. When the judge signs the Final Name Change Judgment, the process is complete, and the requesting party now has the legal right to a name change.

How to Update Information with Florida Mortgage and Utility Companies?

It is important for persons who take on or add on a partner after marriage to update the information on different databases. While a mortgage information update is not mandatory, it may be difficult for property owners to refinance or resell without updating information. Additionally, mortgage holders may need to update the information to get new insurance policies.

To update information with Florida mortgage and utility companies, requesting parties must contact the company to inquire about the information update process. The parties may need to present the companies proof of new identities, such as a driver’s license. Some companies allow requesting parties to update information online or over the phone, while some others may require the parties to mail information update requests to a physical office.

What Documents Do I Need to Change My Name after Marriage?

To change last name after marriage in Florida, interested parties must have the following documents:

  • A marriage certificate
  • A court order/judgment
  • Old identification documents, including passports, driver’s licenses, and social security cards
  • Updated social security card/number
  • Updated state-issued identification such as driver’s licenses

How to Get Certified Copies of Your Marriage License in Florida?

Florida’s Bureau of Vital Statistics maintains and issues certified copies of marriage certificates in the state from June 6, 1927. The Clerk of the Circuit Court records information from marriage licenses to marriage certificates. The Clerk then forwards the certificates to the Bureau of Vital Statistics for filing. The process takes 60 days; persons with marriages less than 60 days old who need marriage evidence may contact the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the marriage license was issued. Persons interested in marriage certificates issued before June 6, 1927, may contact the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the court issued the marriage license.

How to Change Your Name After Marriage

A reliable alternative for obtaining vital records are third party websites. These are non-governmental aggregate sites that process record requests in a seamless, timely manner. While obtaining records from third-party sources is substantially easier than sourcing them from government-run repositories, the records and information contained in these sites may vary since they are privately-owned and independent of government sources.

How to Get a New Passport in Florida?

Interested parties must follow the Department of State guidelines for obtaining a new passport. The Department of State highlights different processes for different passport change needs. To correct passport data or update with a new name, requesting parties must submit a completed form along with:

  • The original or certified copies of the marriage certificate
  • A color passport photograph (see requirements)
  • The most recent passport document

The Department of State does not assess fees for this service unless the requesting party chooses to expedite the process. Requesting parties may only send the completed form and other required documents through USPS. It is important to note that this process applies to persons who want to update passport information less than a year after the Department of State issued the travel documents. For parties requesting an update more than a year after the issue, the requirements are different. A routine passport update takes 10-12 weeks. Expedited services can take anywhere from six (6) weeks to three (3) days.

How to Change your Name on Bank Accounts in Florida?

Financial institutions, credit card, and debit card issuers may have different processes for updating personal information. Requesting party must contact the bank or issuer to ascertain the correct name change process. However, requesting parties generally have to present:

  1. A marriage certificate
  2. A government-issued ID with the new name

Requesting parties must also request name changes on checkbooks, credit and debit cards. The requesting party must review personal financial statements to ensure that relevant service providers receive updated information for auto-paid bills and subscriptions. Requesting parties must send updated financial information to employers.

How Long Does it Take to Change Your Name in Florida After Marriage?

When a requesting party receives the court’s final judgment of name change, the party has the legal right to a name change. However, the party must first obtain a marriage certificate, as the court requires the party to present the certificate in the name change process. The timeline for the change of name in Florida varies, depending on several factors. For example, it can take up to 60 days after the marriage to receive the marriage certificate. Also, the time it takes for the court to grant a name change petition depends on the court’s schedule and varies per time.

How Long Does it Take to Change Your Name in Florida?

Depending on many factors, including how soon a person starts, a change of name in Florida could take weeks or months. A party’s name is legally changed once the court grants a final judgment of name change; however, it is the party’s responsibility to ensure that the new name is updated on all government databases, beginning with the Social Security Administration (SSA).