Name-change guides that stay accurate
No fluff, no dated instructions, just the correct steps, in the correct order, reviewed every quarter.
Complete guide
How to Change Your Name After Marriage
The name change process after marriage isn't one task. It's a dozen, and the order matters. Here's the exact sequence that keeps you from getting turned away.
Complete guide
How to Change Your Name Back After Divorce
Reverting to a former name after divorce follows the same order as a marriage change, with one extra thing to check first: your decree.
Document guide
Passport Name Change: Which Form Do You Need?
The passport path forks based on how long ago your passport was issued. Use the picker below to find your exact form in seconds.
Form comparison
DS-82 vs DS-11 vs DS-5504: Which Passport Form Do You Need?
Three forms, one decision, and the State Department publishes the test as a list of yes/no statements. Here is that test in plain English, plus the deadline that quietly costs people $130.
Document guide
Social Security Name Change (Form SS-5)
Updating Social Security is free and always comes first: every other agency verifies your new name against the SSA record.
Form walkthrough
Form SS-5 Filled Out: A Field-by-Field Example
You have the form open and you are stuck on item 1. Here is every box on the SS-5, filled in for a marriage name change, including the two that people reliably get backwards.
Document guide
DMV Name Change: Documents, Appointment & Steps
The DMV verifies your new name against Social Security in real time, which is why timing, not paperwork, is what usually goes wrong.
Document guide
Social Security Name Change Appointment: Do You Need One?
Most people never need an appointment to change the name on their Social Security card. Here's how to tell whether you're one of them.
Free template
Name Change Notification Letter Samples
Some organizations, the VA among them, won't update your name until you send them a written request. Here are the letters, ready to copy.
Document guide
How to Get Your Newborn's Social Security Card
The honest version first: this is free, and if you applied at the hospital it's already happening. Here's how to tell which situation you're in.
Document guide
Business & DBA Updates After Your Name Change
Your business doesn't change its name just because you changed yours. Here's what actually needs updating, and the order that avoids double trips.
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