Source
r/weddingplanning•
cfpyfp

Maybe not the right place, but could you guys help me out with name changes and passports?

H'okay, so.

I'm getting married in late August, and I'm planning on changing my last name. My cousin is getting married in Mexico in October, and we're planning on attending.

The issue is with my passport. It expires in the end of September, so I need to have it renewed in time for the October wedding. But if I renew it now, it will have my current last name, which will be outdated by the time October rolls around.

I figure I either have to change my name early enough for it to show on the renewal, or I have to wait until after October to change my name and then get another passport for when we honeymoon next February. Neither of these jumps out as the better solution to me, what do you guys think is the best way to do this?

Posted Jan 28, 2014, 7:43 PM UTC

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FancyPhilangesMarried 9/6/13•

I came here to say exactly that. They'll change it for free within a year.

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cfpyfpOPAugust 22, 2014 - Boston!•

Do you know if changing my name before we legally wed would create any issues regarding our marriage license?

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cfpyfpOPAugust 22, 2014 - Boston!•

What? That can't be true. People change their names without getting married all the time - I have two friends who have changed both their first and last names before they were married.

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tinaSaidYesJune 28, 2014 - Assonet MA•

Here's advice a travel agent gave me of this topic since I am in a similar situation where I am getting married in June and going to a destination wedding in August.

  • If your plane tickets were booked with your maiden name, it is 1000% easier during TSA check to provide valid identification that matches the name on your ticket.

  • You are only required to show ONE form of identification and it is supposed to match the name of the ticket. So if you renew your passport with your maiden name, you can show your passport as ID and this is perfectly valid.

  • For the next couple of years, when you travel, book your airline tickets with your maiden name and continue to show your valid passport as identification. For me, I have quite a few more years left on my passport before it expires so I will just need to remember to book travel with my maiden name. This is so common, the travel department where I work will accommodate travel requests using maiden names.

TL;DR: Renew your passport with your maiden name... continue to use passport with your tickets that were booked with your maiden name. It's the easiest, do-practically-nothing solution and it's perfectly legal.

Hope this helps!

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twistedsapphire Married August 2, 2014•

As a money pinching person, what I would do is to get started on changing your name legally (even if you don't use it in day-to-day life until September) and renewing your passport with your NEW name instead of having to get a passport NOW, then get a NEW one later.

But that's just my opinion, and I wouldn't be bothered about changing my name early for the sake of saving money/legality issues.

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rockspeakMarried!| Bride | Dallas, TX•

I'd recommend changing your name right after your wedding, and getting your passport then, with a rush order. It'll be less expensive to do the rush than get 2 passports in the same year.

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firemonkeeMarried 25 Oct 2014, UK•

In the UK you can pre-emptively change your passport (post-dated) - not sure if that is a possibility in the US (assuming that's where you are)

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