Name Change In Financial Life

[Guest YaManShane]

How does name change affect the financial aspects of your life, such as the names on you bank accounts, the names on your CDs and government bonds, the and FAFSA, for student financial aid.

I want to change my name soon but I dont want any of this getting messes up. How do I go about adjusting all of this.

[Guest Evan_J]

Once you have been approved on your name change you'll be given a piece of paper with an official seal on it showing the old and new name. You submit it to (usually they just ask to see it but have copies in case) the office that issues drivers licenses for a new one, social security for a new card, banks and insurance company to change those. Credit card companies you typically can just call, they will put whatever name you like on the card as long as you're paying lol. For financial aid take the same sheet to the financial aid office -after the registrar/admin so that your name there is changed too.

[Guest Leah1026]

How does name change affect the financial aspects of your life, such as the names on you bank accounts, the names on your CDs and government bonds, the and FAFSA, for student financial aid.

I want to change my name soon but I dont want any of this getting messes up. How do I go about adjusting all of this.

When you do your legal name change you will be asked how many certified copies on the court order you want. It depends on how extensive your financial interests are and what individual vendors and utilities want. For example my financial advisor wanted one copy for each of my 4 accounts (401k, IRA, etc.). Most of my utilities only required a xerox copy of the original court order. The important thing is to do things in the order of importance.

1. Social Security- Many government agencies key off the SS database. For example my states DMV. So go to SS first. Keep in mind they will refuse to make gender changes without a surgery letter. You should get a new SS card in the mail in about 7 business days.

2. DMV. 24hrs after SS go to the DMV next. Some do make a gender change also, but most do not.

3. College

4. Banking. Stop by your bank and talk with an accounts representative. Mortgage?

5. Insurance. If you have your own insurance do it now. If you have it through an employer wait.

6. Utilities

7. Property Management if you rent.

8. Subscriptions

9. Employer. Why #8? Because they won't usually want to see you until you have your new Social Security card in hand.

etc, etc.

If I were you I would make up a list now, including contacts, so you'll have everything ready to go once the change happens. I think my list had about 28 names on it! Having a list made up in advance helped a lot.

[Guest Kelly Ann]

Thanks Leah....this is something I've considered...and now Santa will, hopefully, make a list and check it threitch(????<LOL>) for me and help to stop me from grinning and giggling. So much food for thought...with a courtsey...Kelly Ann

[Guest YaManShane]

thanx much for all the info. I'm thinkin to do the change sometime in Feb maybe

[Guest Nadeest]

Leah, why would you wait 24 hrs after going to the Social Security office to go to the DMV? I'll be going to court for my name change in a couple of weeks, and I had planned to go to the SS office, insurance office, and DMV that same day, in that order.

[Guest Leah1026]

Leah, why would you wait 24 hrs after going to the Social Security office to go to the DMV?

That's the advice Social Security gave me. They said it could take up to 24 hours to fully update their computer database. I had planned on going to the DMV next, but instead went the next day. And when I did everything went smoothly. I was worried about how the DMV clerks might react, but I worried for nothing. She just smiled and said "Well that's interesting". Maybe it helped that I went to a small satellite DMV office in a tiny town.

I should add this is how MY states DMV does things (uses Social Security data base). I have heard some states don't.

[Guest bronx]

I guess I got lucky, cause first I did my birth certificate, then DMV where they also changed my marker, and SS. SS also changed my marker, with no problems. I did this all in NY though so all I had was my court order and a letter from my primary doctor stating tha I was on hormones and I live fultime as a male. I've found out that it is really diffrent from state to state.