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How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Vermont

Changing My Name After Marriage in Vermont

A popular reason why people legally change their names in the United States is marriage. Among name change options that spouses frequently consider are keeping their last name, taking a partner’s name, using a combination of last names or hyphenating them, keeping a surname professionally, or using a surname as a middle name. A couple may also decide to create a brand new last name, though this is rarer.

In Vermont, post-wedding name changes do not typically require a court appearance to become legal, nor are spouses mandated to indicate their preference when applying for a marriage license at a town clerk’s office. Couples can simply present their marriage certificates to agencies that have their identity documents to update their details. This certificate is sufficient proof of a marital union and the resulting name change, and can be issued by the town clerks or the Vermont Department of Health.

Interested and eligible members of the public may request Vermont marriage records from the clerk of courts in the courthouse where the marriage license was issued. These records are an especially critical part of the name change process as well as related legal processes following a marriage.

How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Vermont

Anyone who had their nuptials in Vermont can change their names by presenting certified copies of their marriage licenses to the relevant government and private offices. Unlike some states, Vermont does not require a couple to indicate the name they wish to adopt on their marriage license. Instead, the license serves as reasonable proof that a marriage occurred in the state and a legal document to formally change a name in any agency or institution. However, the marriage license can usually only change a person’s last name to a spouse’s own or a fusion/hyphenation of the two last names. Any other type of change may require a court order from the Probate Division of the Superior Court.

To achieve a name change, an individual will have to provide certain identity and legal documents, depending on the agency where a request was submitted. Spouses can decide to undertake these post-marital actions alone or with the assistance of a family law attorney. Either way, it will take some time before all relevant documents can be updated.

How to Update Your Social Security Card in Vermont

After getting married, individuals must begin their official name change process with the Social Security Administration (SSA). This involves submitting a form and some additional documents. The SSA does not charge individuals to update their security cards, whether the applicant was born in the US or not. However, the documents to be submitted differ by a person’s citizenship status.

Married persons born in the United States who require a corrected SS card must download an application form, called Application for a Social Security Card (Form SS-5), from the SSA’s website. Details required on the form include:

  • The applicant’s name (to be shown on the cards)
  • Place and date of birth
  • Sex
  • Citizenship
  • Race and ethnicity
  • Parents’ information (full names and Social Security Numbers)
  • Mailing and street address
  • A signature, etc.

Applicants can enter their data into the form before downloading it - as it is fillable; however, their signature must be hand-written.

After completing the form, attach the following documents and hand-deliver or mail them to the nearest SSA office:

  • One proof of identity document: a driver’s license, passport, or state-generated non-driver ID.
  • One citizenship document. Note that this is only required if an applicant has not yet established citizenship with the SSA.
  • One legal name change document: a marriage certificate or court order.
  • The existing Social Security card.

Note that the SSA does not accept notarized copies or photocopies from applicants, only original documents or certified copies. Therefore, if uncomfortable sending any document by mail, it is advisable to go to the office in person.

The instructions for other interested parties who have social security cards but are foreign-born US citizens or non-citizens can be found on the SSA’s website. The relevant documents to submit are also stated there.

Once the SSA receives an application, the agency processes it within 2 to 4 weeks. The applicant will then receive their social security card via the mailing address provided on Form SS-5.

How to Get a New Driver’s License in Vermont

Spouses who wish to correct their Vermont driver’s license upon obtaining a new legal name must visit the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles within 30 days of the switch (23 V.S.A. § 205). This applies to non-driver ID cards as well. The following documentation is required:

  • Original/certified copy of a marriage certificate/license or a court order authorizing the change.
  • A completed name change form, known as Form VL-040.

However, suppose it is a new applicant who wants to change his/her name. Then, there are more documents to submit, including:

  • Proof of identity and date of birth documents
  • Social security information, and
  • Documents proving Vermont residency and current residential address.

Documents proving lawful status in the country are only required for Real IDs and Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDLs). A list of the appropriate documents can be found on the last page of Form VL-040.

Furthermore, the Vermont DMV may require drivers to notify the Social Security Administration first, especially if the requester’s ID card or driver’s license is Real ID compliant. In that case, the applicant must update their record with the SSA and wait a few days before coming to the DMV to correct or get a new license. This is because the DMV is mandated to confirm the applicant’s name and date of birth from the SSA’s online database, and it may take a few days for the information to reflect on their database.

When in doubt about the DMV’s processes regarding name changes, contact the agency for more details. The phone lines are open on weekdays (Monday to Friday) from 7.45 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. at (802) 828-2000 or toll-free at 888 99-VERMONT ((888) 998-3766). Other contact details (email and fax) can be found on the agency’s contact us page.

How to Update Your Insurance Information in Vermont

Married individuals can sign up for or update their insurance information in Vermont after their weddings. Any person who already has an existing insurance policy must contact their provider or agent to amend it. This is important to prevent disparities between what is recognized legally about an individual and what the insurance provider has on the individual. Such irregularities can affect the individual’s claim if the insured loss occurs.

Persons who enrolled for a homeowner’s, auto, life, or health coverage, or any other kind of insurance, can notify their insurance providers directly upon a legal name change. This typically involves a visit or making a call to the relevant office. Some insurance companies may provide online forms or allow persons to log in to their accounts to submit the request for approval.

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

Persons who cannot effect a legal name change with a marriage certificate can petition the Probate Division of the Superior Court for an official order authorizing the change. The court name change process in Vermont is simple and can be completed with or without a lawyer.

Adults seeking a name change can start by filing the Petition of Adult to Change Name (PC 122) form with the Probate Division or Court of their county of residence. This form can be downloaded online or obtained from the court. Along with the form, the petition must submit a certified copy of a birth certificate, any marriage certificate, and a consent document authorizing the court to check if the party is a registered sex offender. This may require a separate form, but filling Form PC 122 is akin to giving the court consent.

If the petition is to change the last name of a minor, the following forms and documents apply:

  • A Petition to Change Name of Minor. The consent form for parents is included in the petition form.
  • A certified copy of the child’s birth certificate.

Petitioners can then take the relevant forms and documents to the Probate Court and pay the associated filing fee. This fee is $150 and uniform across courts.

After filing these documents, the court will notify the petitioner if a hearing is scheduled. Otherwise, a judge reviews the petition and approves or denies it. The judge may deny a petition if it was filed for fraudulent purposes, to hide from creditors, or if the petitioner is a convicted felon.

Persons whose petitions were granted can then use the court order to change their identifying information in other places.

How to Update Information with Vermont Mortgage and Utility Companies

After marriage in Vermont, persons who want to update their mortgage or utility information can contact their providers to find out the required steps. Some companies offer mail, in-person, email, or fax methods for modifying a consumer account. At the same time, others may permit online access.

Usually, the request can be made in writing (some agencies offer request forms) or orally. Also, requesters do not typically need to produce any supporting document other than a marriage certificate or court order proving the legal name change.

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

When requesting a name change in Vermont, an individual will need to submit several documents and forms to agencies with their personal or financial records. The forms are usually agency-specific and ask for a person’s identifying or account information. Whereas the documents stand as proof of something - for instance, a person’s age, identity, or if indeed wedded in the state. These include:

  • Marriage certificate or court order
  • Birth certificate
  • Driver’s license
  • Passport, etc.

How to Get Certified Copies of Your Marriage License in Vermont

In Vermont, the town clerks issue marriage licenses for $60 and provide certified copies to spouses after their civil marriage has taken place. It is also possible to procure these certified copies from the Vermont Department of Health’s Vital Records Office (application forms for certified copies can be found on the Marriage and Civil Union Certificates page).

Note that a request for copies can be made to the clerk if it has been two weeks or more since the wedding ceremony. If it has been six or more weeks, the appropriate agency to request a certified copy is the Vital Records Office.

The cost of a certified copy is $10, regardless of the processing agency. Couples may choose to pay this fee along with the $60 license fee at the clerk’s office or wait until joined in matrimony to request copies. However, individuals who opt to pay beforehand can instruct the town clerk to mail the certified copies once available. This cuts out needing to visit or contact the clerk’s office or Vital Records Office to acquire the copies afterward.

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 Vermont

To get a new passport in Vermont after a legal name change, an individual can file paperwork in person or by mail to the US Department of State. It will be necessary to submit an application form, supporting documents, and in some cases, pay a service fee. The form, documents, and fee to submit will depend on the length of time a person has had his/her passport or used their new name.

Individuals who have had their passports for less than a year before a legal name change can submit Form DS-5504 with the following documents:

  • The current US passport
  • Original/certified legal name change document (the marriage certificate or court order)
  • A color passport

These documents must be submitted by mail via USPS. Out of other applications, this is the only one that is free unless the applicant pays for expedited service.

Individuals whose passports are over a year must submit Form DS-82 for passport renewal. The same documents as with DS-5504 are required. Here, applicants can submit by mail if they are eligible to do so. The eligibility criteria are as follows:

  • If the applicant’s current (most recent) passport is submitted with the application
  • If the passport is not damaged, except for the usual wear and tear
  • If the passport was issued when the applicant was 16 years or older
  • If the passport was dispensed in the last 15 years
  • If the passport has the applicant’s current name

If not, they must submit the paperwork in person, which consists of:

  • Form DS-11
  • Proof of US citizenship and a photocopy
  • Original/certified name change decree. However, this is not required if the applicant can produce an ID in the new name and provide details of the marriage in the application form.
  • Valid identification and a photocopy
  • A color passport
  • The applicable fees (adults, minors)

Form DS-11 can also be used by applicants who are already using a different name (and have used the name for at least 5 years) and cannot report the change with a court order or marriage certificate.

Note that these forms can be filed online or downloaded. More information on updating this travel document, including the relevant locations to submit applications, can be found on the Change or Correct a Passport page.

Note that after an application, the US Department of State processes the request in 10 to 12 weeks. However, a person can expedite the service to 4 to 6 weeks with $60.

How to Change Your Name on Bank Accounts in Vermont

Individuals must notify their banks upon a name change because of marriage. This is to prevent any issues with their financial accounts. Usually, the interested party can visit a local branch with a new social security card, driver’s license, and legal name change document (marriage certificate or court order). There, the party should also request new debit cards, credit cards, and checkbooks (a fee is normally required for this).

If the individual does not live near a bank location, it may be possible to request by mail. However, each bank has its procedure, so it is important to contact the bank before sending any document by mail.

After effecting this change, the new banking information can be sent to employers.

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

The certified copy of a marriage license is the official document needed to make a name change official in Vermont. This license is valid for 60 days once issued. Within this time, a couple can take their vows and return their license to the clerk’s office to obtain the certified copies. However, as Vermont does not allow spouses to write their new names on their licenses, the change is not official until the interested party visits a government or private institution with the certified copy to request the alteration. This will involve submitting some documents and waiting weeks or months before being able to use the new name officially.

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

There is no aggregate timeframe for name changes in Vermont, whether occurring from marriage or another event. Therefore, persons can spend weeks or months effecting these changes in the relevant public and private agencies. However, note that some agencies may have deadlines within which a change of name must be submitted. For example, Vermont law instructs persons who want to update their driver’s license to do so within 30 days of any name change.