Are Name Change Services Worth It After You Get Married?

Wondering if name change services are worth it after you get married? You’re in the right spot!

Though less common than it used to be, many people still do change their names after they get married. Yes, typically, it’s the woman in heterosexual relationships. But, sometimes it’s the man. And, in same sex relationships, it’s not uncommon for one, or even both, of the partners in the relationship to change their name when they get married. Long story short, people do it.

One reason why some people don’t change their name is because it’s daunting. Changing your name is a process, and it takes some effort. To help with this, there are some name change services out there who claim to take the all the stress away. There are pros and cons to these names change services, all of which are valid when you think about if they are worth it for you. They aren’t free of charge, so the choice to use a name change service is a personal one.   

Are Name Change Services Worth It After You Get Married?

This post is going to explore if name change services are worth it after you get married. As mentioned above, it will go over some of the positives with these services, and negatives, too. For some people, they may come to the conclusion that they do not need to use a name change service, and can just take care of their name changing themselves. Other people may be more intrigued and sign up for the help. Do what works for you!

Let’s get into it!

WHAT IT TAKES TO CHANGE YOUR NAME WITHOUT A NAME CHANGE SERVICE

Before we get into name change services themselves, let’s talk about the process to change your name in general.

Now, I’m going to share this process from an American perspective. If you are in Canada, or another country, the process may be a bit different. Or, you may call things something a little different. However, the general process is likely the same.

To sum up how to change your own name, you first need to obtain your marriage certificate. This certificate should have your original name, and also may note your intended new name. You then take that certificate to your local social security office (or social insurance office in Canada), and show it to them to get a new social security card. From there, you can change your identification card (like your license) at the appropriate office. After that you can then change everything else like your banks and bills. To learn more, check out this post.

As you can see, changing your name is a process. It involves going to multiple government run agencies, which is usually not the most fun thing to do. You may need to make appointments, and you may need to go during the week. This all may not appeal to you to do yourself, and that’s more than fair.

NAME CHANGE SERVICES CAN SAVE YOU TIME AND STRESS

Now that you know what it takes to change your name yourself, let’s talk about if name change services are worth it for you.

Just so we are clear, this post is attempting to be objective, and is not recommending a specific name change service. If you are looking for a good one, I suggest going online and searching. I did find this post that has some recommendations, if you need one.

Okay, on to the main pro of name change services. They can save you time and stress. These services take care of the paperwork and forms that you need to fill out in order to change your name. To use them, they give you really clear instructions about what to provide and do, and then make sure the change is done correctly from their end.

What’s nice about name change services is that they can walk you through the requirements. Or, in some cases, they can take care of the requirements for you. And, they aren’t that expensive, though there is a range with them. The more “hand holding” you need, the more they will cost. The nice thing is that you won’t feel unsupported as you make the change. This, in and of itself, may be worth it to you.

YOU STILL NEED TO PROVIDE THE RIGHT INFORMATION AND PAPERWORK TO THE NAME CHANGE SERVICE

One downside of name change services is that they aren’t totally hands free, even in the most expensive of offerings.

If you opt to go with a name change service, you need to provide them with the right information. Most services operate in a way where you answer a series of questions for them and they use those answers to auto populate name change forms for the appropriate government agencies and companies who need to know you have a new name.  

In other cases, you may need to print forms from a name change service and then send to various agencies. And there are others who operate a little different, too. All have the same goal of helping you change your name, but their methods to get there may vary.

All of this is to say, you’re going to have to be involved to some level. Whether it’s filling out online forms, providing information to the service, or “closing” the deal yourself with the agencies after the service walks you through the right process, you don’t get to change your name without, well, you.

IF YOU ARE ORGANIZED, YOU CAN TOTALLY DO IT YOURSELF

I know it seems like a lot of work to change your name all by yourself. It’s a process, and it’s not an exciting one.

That said, it’s not the worst thing you’ll ever have to do in your life, administratively speaking. Changing your name is not as bad as many name change services will lead you to believe. A simple search online will let you know the appropriate steps you need to take in your location, and then you can just complete them. In many cases, you can complete steps online or with a simple phone call. Yes, in others you may have to go into an agency in person, but it’s not the end of the world. If you are organized, and have a little time, you can totally change your own name, all by yourself.

THE COST OF NAME CHANGE SERVICES IS RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE

Costs of name change services may be a pro, or a con, depending on your financial situation and what you think is worth your money.

Depending on what you want the service to provide, you can spend as little as $13 for help changing your name. Note, though, that at that price point you’re paying for instructions and forms and still have to see everything through. The less involved you want to be, the more you’ll pay. A brief online search indicates that name change services may have costs upwards of $100, for a more full-service hand holding. In some cases, even more.

So, this amount may be worth it to you to not deal with changing your name all alone. Or, you may want to keep your money and just go through the process yourself.

VERDICT ON NAME CHANGE SERVICES

If you ask me, name change services are perfect for some people, but not everyone.

For people who get easily overwhelmed with paperwork, online forms, and navigating the requirements of government agencies, using a name change service may be just what they need. It likely speeds up the process, and ensures you do everything right, the first time. However, if you feel confident in your abilities to go through the process of changing your name, and can carve out a little time to do it, you don’t need a name change service. It all comes down to your own personal situation when it comes to what you want to deal with, how much time you have, and how much you are willing to spend. Happy wedding planning!

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