Frequently Asked Questions 

We’ll be the first to admit that changing your name is not a hard task. However it is a very taxing and frustrating experience when you factor the entire experience. Changing your federal documents is pretty routine and straightforward. But take for example the case where you might be a member of the Southwest Airlines’ Rapid Rewards Program. While flying the skies with them your name on your boarding pass, which must match your driver’s license unless you have a marriage license with you, must also match the name on your Rapid Rewards account to get credit. So what does it take to change your name with them? We’re the only service that actually called them up, researched the matter and provide that instruction and forms if applicable to you. Yes – we just saved you the 20-30 minutes of having to call them up, be put on hold, find out what you need to do, where you need to send things and then your time to prepare a letter to send to the Rapid Rewards team. Don’t get us wrong, they’re great people over there, it’s just not easy to do. Now rinse and repeat because the average bride in the US has 25 accounts with which she needs to change her name.

Keep in mind, we’re the only service that has this level of information. No other service calls companies like Southwest Airlines to find out what is needed for a name change.

The first organization you need to inform of your name change is the Social Security Administration and the SSA requires that you initiate the name change with them directly.  Even though you are required to change your name directly with this and other governmental agencies, Name Change Express provides you with all of the forms and instructions to change your name not only with government agencies but also all of the many other organizations that you do business with — banks, credit card companies, loyalty programs, investment providers and many more.  While we’re not allowed to submit the paperwork on your behalf, we save you the time of figuring out what you need to do and provide you with addresses of where to mail your request and any required documentation.

No, we do not collect or store your Social Security Number, Driver’s License Number or account numbers.

Name Change Express is committed to helping you with your name change. This help starts by first being very conscientious of your security. Our best security precaution is the simplest – don’t ask you for it in the first place. We’ll never ask you for anything more than your name, address, email and phone number. We’ll NEVER ask you for your social security number, drivers license number, credit card number of anything of the sort. We do ask however with which companies and organizations you are affiliated so we can generate a personalized PDF document. This document has fields into which you can type or handwrite your personal account number and other private information and is never transmitted.

We set forth with the objective of helping others and strive to do so each day. If you are not 100% satisfied with the service and want a refund, give us a call and we’ll refund your money*. Rest assured that your complete satisfaction is what we care about most.

*Please note that due to billing and partnership with 3rd party websites, we cannot process refunds for purchases of vouchers and coupons past 7 days from the date of purchase. Such efforts should be coordinated with the 3rd party service directly.

If you’ve gotten divorced, you can follow the same instructions that are included in this guidebook but instead of sharing your original/certified marriage certificate for the organizations where this is mentioned, you would simply share your divorce decree.

If you want to change your first or last name due to reasons other than marriage or divorce, you need to apply for a legal name change through your local county courthouse.  Each county’s courthouse typically has information on their website regarding the forms and fees required to change your name.  Once the court issues a court order granting your name change, then you can use the Name Change Express service to inform all of the relevant government organizations and companies you do business with of your legal name change.

Note that as each county can vary on their requirements for a legal name change, Name Change Express does not provide this information.  However once you’ve got the legal name change there’s still lots of work ahead to inform everyone – that’s where we can still help.  In your guidebook, wherever it’s mentioned to share your original/certified marriage certificate, in the case of a legal name change, you’ll simply share the court decree that grants the name change.

While many of our brides purchase and set-up the Name Change Express service before they get married, you can file the paperwork only after you are legally married and have obtained your certified marriage certificate.

When you get married, the certified marriage certificate gives you the legal right to change your last name to the your spouse’s last name.  However, if you also want to change your first name, you are required to apply for a legal name change through your local county courthouse.  The paperwork is typically online and there will be fees involved.  Once the court issues a court order granting your name change, then you can use the Name Change Express service to inform all of the relevant government organizations and companies you do business with of your legal name change.

Note that as each county can vary on their requirements for a legal name change, Name Change Express does not provide this information.  However once you’ve got the legal name change there’s still lots of work ahead to inform everyone – that’s where we can still help.  In your guidebook, wherever it’s mentioned to share your original/certified marriage certificate, in the case of a legal name change, you’ll simply share the court decree that grants the name change.

Many organizations that you do business with will accept a mailed in request to update your name (accompanied often with a photocopy of your certified marriage certificate).  However, there are some government agencies like the Department of Motor Vehicles and often your bank that will require a visit in person to update your name.  With our service feel rest assured that you’ll have the most up-to-date forms ready to go so that even when you have to go in person the process will be streamlined and smooth.

Many brides feel more comfortable ordering multiple copies of their certified marriage certificate.  However, we’ve found that generally one copy is sufficient as government agencies like the Social Security Administration and the DMV will return your marriage certificate to you after processing your name change.  Even your bank will want to see your marriage certificate but they too generally give the original back to you.