How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Missouri
Changing My Name After Marriage in Missouri
The state of Missouri provides newlyweds the opportunity to take up their partner’s last name or hyphenate it after marriage. While name changes have no tangible impact on an individuals identity, it has several legal implications. Hence, individuals who opt to adopt their partner’s last name must declare their new identity to relevant state and federal agencies.
In Missouri, the name change process typically involves preparing and submitting several documents, including a certified copy of the marriage license and/or certificate issued by the county clerk or the state Department of Public Health. Since the marriage certificate is the first official document containing the individual’s new name, it is an essential part of the name change process in Missouri. To obtain a Missouri marriage record to facilitate the name change process, requestors may query the courthouse where the marriage license was issued or local repositories in the same judicial district.
How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Missouri
The name change process in Missouri is not unique. Like most U.S. states, Missouri state law requires newlyweds with revised names to update their personal information on relevant state databases across the board. To begin the name change process, the individual(s) will be required to file a petition for a name change through the court. A petition is especially necessary in cases where the first name is also being revised.
Prior to filing a name change petition, intending petitioners are advised to prepare supporting documents that provide proof of their marriage. Marriage licenses are usually issued by the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the couple resides. Within 15 days of the wedding, the couple or individual must return to the Recorder of Deeds office to obtain a marriage certificate. The certificate can then be presented as a legal name change document when applying to other institutions for a biodata update.
How to Update Your Social Security Card in Missouri
Missouri state residents who opt to adopt a new last name after their marriage are required to update their social security information to ensure that their public information is uniform across the board. Like in most U.S. states, social security cards can be updated in a three-step process in Missouri.
To update a social security card in Missouri, interested and eligible persons must begin by downloading and completing the SS-5 form - an application form issued by the Social Security Administration. Applicants may request this form in person or via mail from the Social Security Office in Missouri or obtain the application online from the administration’s website.
Requestors are typically required to include identifying documents when submitting a card replacement application. The required documents include a state-issued ID, as well as a certified or notarized marriage certificate.
The application and accompanying documents can be submitted in person at the local security office, via mail, or online. Information regarding the submission process can be found on the ssa.gov website.
How to Get a New Driver’s License in Missouri
Newly married couples with updated or revised names are required to get a new driver’s license in Missouri as soon as their name change is approved by the court. To change the name that appears on the Missouri driver’s license after the marriage, eligible persons must apply to the DMV License Office in their jurisdiction. Applications must be accompanied by documents to provide proof of name change - in this case, it may either be a certified marriage certificate or a court order. Requestors may also be required to present documents to prove their identity and citizenship such as their U.S passport or birth certificate. Applications may be made to the Motor Vehicle and Driver License Office in the jurisdiction where the petitioner resides. All driver license-related queries may be directed to the licensing offices’ email address dlbmail@dor.mor.gov
How to Update Your Insurance Information in Missouri
Newlyweds with new or revised last names are often encouraged to update their insurance information with their various insurance providers. Given the variability in the operations of most insurance companies and providers, the process for making the update is typically unique to each provider. Along with updating their personal information, requestors may also be required to update their coverage to include their spouse and/or children. Hence, the legal and eligibility requirements for this process will vary from provider to provider. Nonetheless, there are a few general essentials for updating insurance information in Missouri, they include:
- The previous name of the requesting party
- Their full revised name
- A certified copy of the marriage certificate
- A court order approving their name change
- Details of their new coverage plan (if applicable)
Requests may be made to the insurance provider concerned. Depending on the provider, requestors may be required to visit the establishment or submit their application online or via email.
Where Do I Go to Change My Last Name in Missouri?
Missouri name change requests are processed by the state’s courts. Requestors are required to file a petition to the Missouri Superior Court using the Petition for Change of Name form (CAFC401). The petition must include the personal information of the requesting party, the reason for the requested name change, and a written guarantee that the intent is not to defraud creditors.
Upon filing the petition, requestors will be provided with a hearing date during which the name change will be approved or rejected by the judge. Consequently, approved name changes will be published by the court, and the requesting party will be entitled to a certified court order approving the name change.
How to Update Information with Missouri Mortgage and Utility Companies
In Missouri, mortgage and utility companies need to have the accurate personal information of their customers to enable them to dispense their services properly. Newlyweds whose names have been updated following their marriage are advised to inform their utility service providers and mortgage lender of their new or updated name.
To update information with Missouri utility companies requestors are required to obtain a certified marriage certificate or a court order approving the name change. With the proof of name change document, the requestor may contact their utility provider online, via mail or in person, and request to be issued an account holder update form. The update form should be completed and submitted along with the supporting documents and any associated fees.
Missouri mortgage companies also require the petitioner to update the grant deed with any new personal and grantor information. The requesting party must then sign the deed and submit the form along with associated documents to the local county assessor’s office.
What Documents Do I Need to Change My Name after Marriage?
In the state of Missouri, interested and eligible persons can request a name change from a variety of state-run institutions. The requirements for processing name change requests typically vary from institution to institution. However, there are a few requirements that are universal. They include certified copies of a marriage certificate, I.D documents such as a driver's license or international passport as well as documents that offer proof of citizenship or naturalization (for non-U.S. citizens).
How to Get Certified Copies of Your Marriage License in Missouri
Missouri residents who seek to obtain a certified copy of their marriage license may do so by querying the County Recorder's Office in the juridical district where the license was issued. At state level, marriage-related information of state residents are maintained and disbursed by the state Vital Records Office operated by the Missouri Department of Public Health. However, the state department of public health does not maintain marriage licenses specifically, even though it serves as a repository for divorce records in the state.
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 Missouri
Across all U.S states, U.S citizens can request new passports through locally-run institutions. These institutions serve as an intermediary between the U.S. Department of State and the requestors. In Missouri, Interested and eligible persons may request new passports at designated municipal buildings.
To request a new passport, the requesting party will be required to download and fill out the appropriate passport application form. For petitioners seeking a name change, their past and current name must be indicated in the form. Application forms must be submitted along with the following:
- A copy of the most recent passport
- A certified copy of the requestors marriage certificate or a court order
The completed form along with the supporting documents must be enclosed in a self-addressed stamped envelope and submitted at any of the designated passport offices in Missouri.
How to Change your Name on Bank Accounts in Missouri
In the state of Missouri, newlyweds are advised to inform their banking providers of their preferred name or guarantor changes following their marital union. The criteria and approaches for changing a name on a bank account differ from institution to institution. As such, interested parties are must enquire from their bank or service provider, the requirements for processing name changes.
Most institutions typically request documents such as a certified marriage certificate, updated Social Security card or information, and/or driver’s license. For tax information updates, requestors will be required to sign a W-9 form (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification Form). Name changes are processed within 5-7 business days.
How Long Does it Take to Change Your Name in Missouri After Marriage?
The length of time for processing a name change in Missouri varies depending on the individual and the institution processing the name change request. Name changes can be completed in a matter or days or months. However, as soon as the requestor obtains a court order authorizing the name change, they can legally assume their new identity, even though it may be several months before the change is reflected in official government databases.
