How many documents did you change after changing your name?

[Tessa James]

Hello All,

I am changing my legal name.  The rules for changing our name are clear and Oregon State laws are responding positively to us.  After you changed your name how many other documents did you absolutely need to change?  A drivers license, passport, credit cards, and professional registrations may be obvious.  I don't want to minimize or overlook the chores associated with this task and your advice is solicited before I talk to an attorney and it really starts to $$ cha ching;-)  I am happy to report that last May I won reelection to my Water Commissioner role as "Tessa James" which make me "Also Known As" AKA, in this country.

Thank you,

Tessa James

[Beth Andrea]

Congratulations on being re-elected!

The weekend before my hearing (which was on a Tuesday, at 0915) I made a list of all my bills and things that needed changed, including rent, phone, utilities, credit cards, car title/registration, car insurance, work (just went to HR, they had everything waiting for me; my immediate work environment already had me in my new name), etc. Oh yeah, I'd already gotten the paperwork for my birth certificate and had it all ready to go also.

I don't recall exactly, but it was like 10-15 things all told. I went to a "Kinkos" nearby and got 20 copies. Most everything can use regular copies, but DOL and Social Security need an original (In WA they give them back to you).

After I got the court document (and certified copies, here in WA we get 3 cert. copies for the cost of the hearing), I went straight to DOL and got my license...the next day or so I went to the Social Security office...after the dust settled, I still have all 3 certified copies and (iirc) 5 regular copies. I carried a copy of the court order (name change) with me, because for the first couple weeks there were a couple times when the person didn't believe that my drivers license was legit. Showed the the CO, and all was well. Hasn't happened again since then, though. Maybe I have more confidence in myself?

[Tessa James]

Thanks Beth,

Nice to know that it was a doable list.  Good for you for being so organized!  I forgot about the bills, ugg.  Congratulations on your name too, YOU earned it!  Please let me know if you discover any pitfalls as you roll on down the line.

Love and Hugs,

Tessa

[JennX]

College/University degrees and any professional certifications.
Car title and insurance.
Deed/title to your home and insurance.

[LordKAT]

Bank accounts and anyone you do business with or exchange monies with. This includes pesky debt collection people.

[kelly_aus]

Bank accounts and anyone you do business with or exchange monies with. This includes pesky debt collection people.

I must confess I've had some fun with some debt collectors.. 

[Tristan]

Everything. From DL to credit cards

[Jenna Marie]

Like others, I made a list... turned out to be ~20 places, I think, and there's still stuff that sneaks up on me (and it's coming up on 3 years now). Utilities, bills, bank accounts, mortgage, car titles, and a bunch of minor ones that I blessedly forget.

[Tessa James]

Thank you dear friends.  I am taking your advice and reluctantly making a list.  I somehow resist organization and the top of my desk has not been seen in years but, this is important.  On the bright side my adult son has the same name as my former male self and that name lives on with someone who actually wants it:-)
Regarding diplomas and degrees; I wonder if College registrars are typically cooperative?  Thanks for the ideas about having fun Kelly, you are a rebel!

Gratefully,
Tessa

[Beth Andrea]

Oh yeah, life insurance. And don't forget to have the wife/ex/significant other change the beneficiary to your new name (if it was in the old name).

[Jenna Marie]

It depends on the registrar, but I had no problem at all by calling them up and asking what they do for married women who change their last names - after all, changing just the *first* name is less of a problem from an "identification of the graduate" standpoint. Both my college and my Master's program were happy to reissue my diploma and rename my transcripts, for a fee of course.