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How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Wyoming

Changing My Name After Marriage in Wyoming

Wyoming makes provisions for married couples to change their names after marriage either by one partner assuming the last name of the other or by both partners hyphenating each other’s last names. Since a name is a principal identifier for any purpose in the United States, it is essential to fulfilling the legal requirements when a person gets a new name. If not, newlyweds will not be able to access services in any official capacity.

The Wyoming Vital Statistics Services, a division of the Wyoming Department of Health, issues a marriage certificate after the wedding to serve as the evidence of name change in the state. Notably, a marriage certificate is an official document necessary to complete a name change process. Therefore, couples must report a change of name to public institutions and follow the required guideline for each to fully reflect the change. At both the state and federal levels, several governmental bodies require accurate identification records of all persons living in a state as references or as a basis for issuing legal documentation.

Wyoming marriage records are also maintained in local courthouses and repositories where licenses are issued. Interested and eligible persons may query record custodians in person or via mail to access these records in order to facilitate their name change request.

How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Wyoming

After marriage, couples have to complete the following steps to change their names;

  • Update information with the Social Security Administration
  • Obtain new passports from the U.S. Department of State
  • Get new driver’s licenses
  • Inform banks of the update in personal information
  • Notify other vital agencies and employers

To have a smooth name change process, an applicant may employ a family law attorney. The lawyer will assist in preparing any legal documents and may give any legal advice. Nevertheless, concerned parties can choose to go through the name change exercise themselves, but they must understand the whole process first. On the other hand, Wyoming residents with low income can access civil legal aid at no charges.

How to Update Your Social Security Card in Wyoming?

To update a name change on a social security card at the Social Security Administration (SSA), interested parties must;

  • Complete and submit Form SS-5
  • Tender a valid means of identification
  • Show proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful non-citizenship
  • Submit evidence of name change (marriage certificate or name change order)
  • Mail the form as well as other documents to the local SSA office

The Social Security Administration processes a name change request within 14 business days, after which the requestor receives a new security card. The process is entirely free, but interested persons must cover the mailing cost. In addition, requesters must note that they must submit the original copies of each document because the SSA does not accept photocopies.

How to Get a New Driver’s License in Wyoming?

Residents of Wyoming who want to get new driver’s licenses can visit the local exam office in person. There is no option for requestors to complete the process online or via mail, except if the requester will be away from Wyoming for more than 60 days. The Wyoming Department of Transportation requires that parties who wish to change information on their licenses must submit documents to support the new development. For name changes, requesting parties must present;

  • Marriage certificate or court order
  • Social security card

Persons must complete the change of name procedure with the Social Security Administration first before trying to obtain a new license. The driver exam office will cross-check the information of the requester with the SSA. If the details do not correspond, the office will not issue a new driver’s license. In addition, requesters must pay the renewal fee and expect a new driver’s license by mail within four to six weeks.

How to Update Your Insurance Information in Wyoming?

Updating one’s name on an insurance policy is possible by contacting the relevant representative of the insurance company physically, through the phone, by mail, or using online services. Insurance policies in Wyoming cover different aspects such as homes, business, car, health, flood, worker’s compensation, aged people, and life as a whole. Therefore, one’s details with an insurer must be as accurate as possible to avoid technicalities that can interfere with receiving a settlement when there is an incident.

Although the process of a name change is not the same with each insurance company, these companies may ask requestors to fill documents and submit vital files such as marriage certificates or name change orders.

Where Do I Go to Change My Last Name in Wyoming?

Residents of Wyoming can change their last names at the District Court in the county where they reside. However, an applicant must have lived in the county for a minimum of two years to be eligible for a name change. Meanwhile, the procedures for the action involves:

  • Filing a petition to change the name

A party can apply for a name change by filing a petition at the clerk’s office in the District Court.

  • Paying the filing fees and publishing in a local newspaper

A petition becomes valid when applicants pay the filing fee. While there is no uniform amount across the counties in the state, the charge is usually between $70 to $100. After completing the filing requirements, the petitioner must publish a Notice of Publication for Change of Name in a local newspaper for four weeks consecutively to inform the general public. In addition, the applicant must obtain the Affidavit of Publication afterward and submit it to the clerk’s office.

  • Getting a name change order

Requestors must wait for a month after the last publication to get a decision on the application for a name change from the court. Then, if no one contests the notification in the newspaper publication, the requesting party fills out an Order Granting Change of Name form. If the judge signs the form, the petitioner may submit it and the Affidavit of Publication to the clerk’s office of the District Court. Then, to validate the name change, the applicant can wait to receive a mail with a name change order.

  • Requesting a name change hearing (if applicable)

In some counties, the judge may ask requesting parties to schedule a hearing even if no one challenges the request. In this case, the clerk notifies the petitioner and provides the forms to request a hearing. Otherwise, the applicant may complete and file the Request to Set Name Change Hearing and Notice of Hearing forms at the court. Note that if there is an objection to the name change, the applicant must send the notice of hearing to every party in opposition to the name change.

  • Notifying government agencies

Applicants need to update all relevant government offices (for example, Social Security Administration) and provide the court order that shows the name change.

How to Update Information with Wyoming Mortgage and Utility Companies?

Individuals that want to make a name change with a mortgage provider can reach out to the company on the phone, online, or in person. While each company’s procedure may differ, the requestor must submit the following document;

  • The present information in use.
  • A certified and original name-change order.
  • A valid means of identification.

Equally, it is crucial to inform utility companies responsible for providing water, power, transportation, and telecommunication about a name change. Usually, one can put a call across to the provider and explain the situation at play. Also, requesters must submit a marriage certificate and name change order to effect the update.

A good number of utility providers manage online platforms. Hence, an information update can be as fast and easy. Parties can log on to the platforms and update the information on the consumer dashboards.

What Documents Do I Need to Change My Name after Marriage?

Newlyweds in Wyoming who want to change their names must possess the following documents;

  • Proof of identity (state-issued ID or Wyoming driver’s license)
  • Certified copies of marriage certificate
  • Birth certificate or work authorization letter or U.S. citizenship certificate

How to Get Certified Copies of Your Marriage License in Wyoming?

In Wyoming, interested couples can apply for certified copies of their marriage licenses at the Wyoming Department of Health. While the county clerk’s offices issue marriage licenses, it only grants certified copies of licenses for marriages that took place before May 1941. To obtain certified copies of a marriage license after May 1941, an applicant may take the following steps:

  • Download and fill the request form
  • Attach a photocopy of a driver’s license or state-issued ID
  • Put these documents in a stamped self-addressed envelope
  • Pay $20 as a searching fee along with the request
  • Mail the file to the Vital Statistics Services via UPS, FedEx, or US Postal express mail

The mailing address is;

Vital Statistics Services 2300 Capitol Ave Hathaway Building Cheyenne, WY 82002 (307) 777-7591

Eligible persons for collection are the couples and their legal representatives. However, the Wyoming Department of Health is only responsible for solemnization within Wyoming only. Hence, a couple whose marriage took place in another state cannot apply for a certified copy of a marriage license in Wyoming.

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 Wyoming?

An interested party can apply for a new passport after a name change by completing the appropriate form. Other important documents include;

  • Most recent U.S. passport
  • Certified copy of marriage certificate or name change order
  • A colored passport photograph according to the recommended specification

Applicants may mail the filled forms and the necessary documents to the U.S. Department of State via DHL, FedEx, and UPS. The time span it takes to process an application for a new passport is six to eight weeks. While this service is free, a requestor may have to pay for expedited service to receive a new copy of a U.S. passport faster. Parties who opt for the regular service can use their state-issued I.D. cards, PAN cards, and social security cards as makeshift travel documents, pending when they receive new passports. However, these substitutes are only applicable to travels within the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

How to Change your Name on Bank Accounts in Wyoming?

Parties can make changes to their bank accounts when they visit the relevant branch office. However, the bank requires evidence of a name change, including a marriage certificate and a valid ID. Alternatively, interested persons may put calls through to the customer support units of the banks. Requesting parties must have obtained new Social Security cards and renewed their driver's licenses before initiating name change actions at the banks.

While requesting name change with banking institutions, requestors can ask for new credit or debit cards and checkbooks. To demand a new credit card, the concerned party can call the numbers at the back of the card. However, the request process may be different with each card issuer. For example, few credit card issuers allow subscribers to change their names online. Others may request users to mail their driver's licenses or other means of identification and marriage certificates.

After changing one's name at the bank, it is crucial to inform one's employers to avoid disparity in information when paying wages. Also, individuals who activate automatic payments must update the service providers with the new names.

How Long Does it Take to Change Your Name in Wyoming After Marriage?

The time frame to complete a name change process after marriage is about eight weeks. While the time it takes to change a name after a wedding lies solely on the individual, some external factors play a decisive role due to the technicalities concerned organizations might undertake to verify requests for a change of name.

How Long Does it Take to Change Your Name in Wyoming?

Generally, it takes a minimum of eight weeks to change one’s name in Wyoming, considering the period of publishing the notice in the newspaper. At the same time, interested parties can only amend their names in the federal and state databases upon request. However, updating government repositories may take several weeks based on how timely a name-change commences. Therefore, it is advisable that the requestor hires an attorney to help with the name change process, but the applicant has to bear the cost.