Welcome, Guest | Login | Help

faq

About NameBirdie

Name Change Questions

Marriage Documentation Questions

About NameBirdie

What is NameBirdie?

NameBirdie is the simple, quick, and secure way to change your maiden name to your new married name online. We take the guess work out of the name change process by offering newlyweds an affordable, easy-to-use, web-based solution for preparing their name-change documents. In just 3 easy steps, you can quickly and easily complete all of the official federal and state forms required to legally change your name, plus create personalized change of maiden name letters to send your banks, credit card companies, utility companies and more.

Why should I use NameBirdie?

NameBirdie is the easiest and most complete name change service online! Avoid the hours of wasted time and the frustration of trying to change your name on your own (not to mention the mistakes that often occur). We provide you with ALL the forms you need to change your name, including state driver’s license forms when available (some of the other guys don’t offer that). Your experience with NameBirdie will be personalized to your needs, as our easy-to-use web-based application only asks the questions that pertain to you and filters out the ones that don’t. There’s no CDs, no kits, and it’s 100% GUARANTEED! And NameBirdie is also the most affordable online service with packages starting at just $24.95.

Who can use your service?

Anybody (both women and men) looking to change their name after married can and should use NameBirdie. Even if you’ve been married for months or years and never got around to changing your name, you can use NameBirdie. NameBirdie is not meant for minors, and therefore you must be at least 18 years of age to use the service.

Will NameBirdie work in my state?

Yes! NameBirdie supports all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and offers users the forms needed to change their name on their social security card, U.S. passport, IRS records, state driver’s license and more.

How does it work?

NameBirdie automatically completes the official government name change forms correctly and accurately using information provided by you in our easy-to-use online application. Once signed up, you are prompted to enter your pertinent information through a simple interview process. The forms and letters are then instantly prepared and ready to review and print. Simple instructions are also provided with each form and letter, guiding you on how and where to file each one.

How long does it take?

Using NameBirdie will save you hours of your time that you would have had to spend to research and gather all of the correct forms and fill them out by hand. With our automated service, your forms and letters can be ready to review and print in as little as 20-30 minutes. The actual completion time will vary by user, depending on which state your in, how many forms you will need and how readily available

What is your return policy?

NameBirdie is 100% guaranteed! If you are not completely satisfied with your experience at NameBirdie for any reason, simply contact our customer service department within 60 days of signing up for a full refund.

Is my personal information safe?

NameBirdie guarantees that we will not sell or share your personal information with anyone for any price. Our foundation is based on trust, and we want you to be confident that you are receiving an honest service, from an honest company, in a risk free environment. You can read our complete privacy policy here. With security of our customers’ personal and sensitive information of top concern, NameBirdie has taken various measures to protect the information by integrating products and services from top Internet security companies like Hacker Safe and VeriSign. Additionally, NameBirdie allows users not comfortable with submitting sensitive data online to simply skip those questions during the interview and write in their answers directly on the printed forms.

Can I purchase this service for a friend?

Absolutely! NameBirdie offers gift cards for its service, which make perfect bridal shower gifts or wedding gifts. Gift cards can be purchased on our Gift Card page.

What are the system requirements for NameBirdie?

NameBirdie is a web-based application that works on both PC and Mac operating systems running the latest versions of popular internet browsers, such as Internet Explorer, Netscape, Firefox and Safari. To view, print and save the name change forms and notification letters generated by NameBirdie, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader version 7.0 or higher. To install the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader or upgrade your current version, download it for free by clicking here. Please contact customer service if you need help.

Name Change Questions

Why should I change my name?

There are many good reasons to change your name after you get married. Here's just a few...
  • Tradition - Taking your husband's name after marriage is a traditional and social accepted practice. Most people will assume that you have changed your name and will start addressing you by Mrs. [Husband's Last Name], regardless of whether you have decided to legally change your name or not.
  • Unity - Many women feel that having the same last name as their husband helps them feel more like a family, and taking their husband's last name is a symbol of their unity together.
  • Children - Planning on having or already have children? It will be much easier when traveling and dealing with schools, doctors, and other parents if your whole family shares the same last name.
  • Simplicity - Monogramming, dinner reservations and travel plans become much easier.
  • Preference - Some women would rather have their husband's last name because they don't like their own.

What are my options for changing my name?

Bride takes groom's last name – This is the most common and traditional choice. Hyphenating your last names – Sometimes both the bride and groom change their names, but most of the time just the bride hyphenates (e.g., Cruise-Holmes), while the groom stays with his own last name. Keeping your maiden name as a middle name – This allows you to choose when to use your maiden name (e.g., Katie Holmes Cruise) and when to use just your married name (e.g., Katie Cruise), depending on the circumstance. Groom takes bride's last name – While only a small percentage of couples do this, it still is a viable option. Maybe you both like your last name better? Combine the last names into a new name – If your last name is Willington and his is Stackhouse, you can become the Willhouses. Choose a completely new or made up name all together – Don't like either name? Pick a completely different one and both use that. Maintain your professional name - Another option is to change your name legally but use your maiden name professionally to maintain the name you’ve made for yourself at work while making your day-to-day married life simpler.

If I just want to hyphenate my last name, do I still need to submit the forms?

Yes. Any time you modify your name you need to complete name-change forms to notify the appropriate federal and state government offices.

Can my husband change his name instead?

Yes. Our service can be used by men or women. If your husband wishes to change his name instead, it must be reflected on the marriage certificate.

Can my husband and I both change our names to a completely new name?

Yes, but you will need additional documentation from the court for this name change.

What is required to legally change my name?

If you are changing your last name because of marriage, then your marriage certificate is the legal proof needed when submitting your forms to obtain a new social security card, passport, driver’s license, etc.

When can I start changing my name?

You can start completing the forms necessary to change your name now! However, most government agencies require a certified copy of your marriage certificate, so you will have to wait until after your wedding to mail in all the forms. NameBirdie saves your information as you add it, so you can start now and come back as many times as necessary to finish up.

Should I change my name before my honeymoon?

If you plan on taking your honeymoon shortly after your wedding, then you should wait until you return to change your name. Some government agencies take longer than others to process your name change, so you don’t want to get stuck with some documents showing your new name while others show your maiden name. This will lead to a travel nightmare, especially with air travel since the name on your plane ticket must match the name on your driver’s license and/or passport.


Marriage Documentation Questions

How do I get certified copies of my marriage certificate?

Typically, you can get certified copies of your marriage certificate from the same place where you obtained your marriage license. However, you also may be able to order them via mail or online, depending on the state you were married in.

How do I know if I have a certified copy of my marriage certificate?

A certified copy of your marriage certificate will have a raised government seal on it. Also, many states put a special watermark that only shows up when you photocopy the document, so that is a good indicator whether you have a certified copy or not.

How many certified copies of my marriage certificate do I need?

The number of certified copies of your marriage certificate that you need depends on how quickly you want to process your name change on your documents. Most of the government agencies require a certified copy as legal proof of your name change, but will return it to you once the form has been processed. So if you don’t mind waiting for one document to come back before you send in the next one, then you can get away with only one certified copy of your marriage certificate. If you want to speed up the process by sending in all your forms at once, then we recommend obtaining at least 3 certified copies.

Can I use photocopies of my marriage certificate?

Most of the government agencies require a certified copy as legal proof of your name change, so a photocopy will not work. However, photocopies CAN be used with your notification letters to banks, credit cards companies and other non-government agencies.

If we got married in a different country, how do we change our name in the US?

If you got married in a country other than the United States, the marriage will usually be recognized under U.S. law. We suggest you follow these recommended guidelines from the U.S. State Department to make sure you can change your name: Check with the attorney general in your state before you go. This office can tell you if the license you get will be recognized in your state. If you need to have foreign marriage documents authorized, consular officers can do it for you for a small fee. American diplomatic and consular officers are NOT permitted to perform marriages. Marriages abroad are almost always performed by local (foreign) civil or religious officials. As a rule, marriages are not performed on the premises of an American embassy or consulate. The validity of marriages abroad is not dependent upon the presence of an American diplomatic or consular officer, but upon adherence to the laws of the country where the marriage is performed.
loading