Name Change After Marriage California

What are the possibilities?

Name Change after Marriage California is available in 3 basic ways. Each way has it’s own process and costs. Your situation probably fits one of these choices: Marriage License, Decree Changing Name, Divorce Case.

Everybody is familiar with the most common form of Name Change through the traditional marriage process; The wife changes her last name to her husband’s last name. In 21st century California, there are MANY other possibilities. Many newlyweds no longer change names on their marriage license. AND, now either spouse can change last names, not just a wife. However you have to do that when you fill out the marriage license, before you get married. But whether you do that or not, every Name Change possibility is still open for you. You just need to commit, and follow it through.

Name Change After Marriage California

Using the Marriage License

If you haven’t turned in your marriage license yet, the marriage license Name Change may be for you! The license/certificate process will offer you ways to change your name free. To Name Change After Marriage, just write in your new married name on the license. Your Marriage Certificate will come back with your new name (see limitations). A Certified Copy of Your Marriage Certificate, showing your new married name, will work.

Name Change After Marriage California

Using the Decree Changing Name (Court Order)

If you did, or didn’t change your name on your marriage license, you can change your mind. People decide to keep their maiden name, then later decide they want their spouses name. Other people take their spouses name and then want their maiden name back, with or without divorce.

The marriage license name change is a legal name change. A court order will change it again. This is how to change it back, or to something brand new. Regardless of your marital status, you can still do this anytime you want. Even if you have no intention on divorcing, or are in a divorce now, you can get a New Legal Name. The Petition for Change of Name process is available for any adult or child. The court order you get at the end of this process is called a Decree Changing Name. The California Decree Changing Name is honored everywhere.

Changing your kid(s) last name after marriage, can only be accomplished through a court order process. Name Change, Adoption and Immigration all result in a legal Name Change Court Order. A Petition for Name Change is the least expensive and shortest of these processes. If you or your spouse changed your name through the marriage license, this is how to let your kid(s) share your new family name.

Name Change After Marriage California

Divorce Options

In California, you can restore your Maiden Name, within your Divorce Case. You have to do that before the case is over though. Even if you didn’t retake your Maiden Name in your Divorce Judgment, you still can. See Name Change After Divorce for more details. Choose a completely New Legal Name after divorce if you want. You are not required to keep your married name or retake a former legal name. Petition for a completely new legal name if you want. Upon approval, you’ll receive a Decree Changing Name with exactly the new legal name you want.

Non-Traditional Options

Due to Fan devotion to the Twilight saga, Abigale Kirk and Andy Weeks got married and took the last name “Cullen“. This Last Name wouldn’t be available to them through the Marriage License process in California. But, they could do that by getting a Decree Changing Name. This couple actually did it, because of Abigale’s devotion to the “Twilight” saga. A central character in that is a telepathic vampire named…Edward Cullen. Now, don’t get all judgmental. The point is, you can have exactly the name change after marriage you want. You’re not stuck with only some variation of your current legal names in California.