Today in ‘Ask the Experts’ we taking on the topic of changing your last name when you get married and how it can make you vulnerable to identity theft. We’ve brought in Denise Richardson, a top expert in this field and author of the book ‘Give Me Back My Credit,’ to offer a checklist of what you need to do to safely change your name.
*NOTE: We recognize that couples have varying philosophies around the tradition of the bride changing their last name. Today we see everything from the traditional bride name change to couples combining last names, grooms changing their name, brides embracing the tradition personally but not professionally, as well as same-sex couples making the decision based on criteria other than gender. For the sake of simplicity in this super-informative article, our expert has written it from the point of view of the bride. However, this checklist works perfectly for anyone wanting to change their name. The Deposit a Gift cash gift registry service was created with equal opportunity in mind — we welcome everyone!
Read on for the ultimate checklist to safely change your name when you get married…
Brides have many things to worry about on The Big Day, from the color of the flowers to the cut of the dress to which parent sits where. One thing she shouldn’t have to worry about is the theft of her name and identifying information. Unfortunately, when a woman changes her name when she says “I do,” she is particularly vulnerable to identity theft. That name—and the information associated with it—is worth a lot of money if it falls into the wrong hands.
TOP 5 THINGS YOU NEED TO DO TO PROTECT YOUR OLD NAME — AND YOUR NEW ONE AS WELL!
1. Get a new social security card. Notify the Social Security Department that you are changing your name and that you need a new card, and make sure to shred your old one when the new one arrives in the mail. It will of course be the same number on the card, but your new name will now be associated with that number. While you’re at it, make sure your new husband has his card safe, since, now you are married, the theft of his identity and his credit would take you along for the ride.
2. Notify your creditors. Once you let your credit card companies and your bank know that you will be changing your name, they will in turn notify the credit reporting agencies when they update their data. If you’re closing your single checking account, shred your old checks. While you’re at it, consider streamlining your credit profile. Do you really need duplicate department store cards? If you choose to close a credit card account, make sure to notify the creditor or department store that you want it noted “closed by consumer.” That way it will not appear on your credit report as having been closed by creditor that carries a score-damaging offense.
3. Check your new credit report’s potential accuracy. Is your new name also a common name? If you are marrying into the Jones clan or the Lee family, you may want to consider using your middle name to differentiate yourself. Before you officially change your name, you should obtain your free credit reports (www.annualcreditreport.com) and review for accuracy.
4. Legal documents need to be changed. Here is just a partial checklist of documentation that may need to reflect your new name. In all cases, keep a copy of the former version (making it clear that these are OLD records, not CURRENT) until your new name is the only one in regular use.
- business licenses
- prescriptions
- new address
- mortgages
- life insurance
- wills
- safe deposit boxes
- insurance
- driver’s license
- automobile registration
- home insurance
- medical/dental insurance policies
- utility and cell phones bills
5. Include your new marital partner’s credit in your plans. For better or for worse, you now have someone else’s credit linked to yours. It is up to you to protect yourself by making sure your new spouse’s credit is free from fraud or errors. Remember that your credit rating is directly tied to interest rates, insurance premiums, and job and home opportunities. You want to keep BOTH of your credit ratings safe and secure from fraud.
Take the steps above to keep your marital path as smooth as possible and ensure a happy, secure future.
Denise Richardson is a longtime consumer advocate and Author of Give Me Back My Credit! As a victim of identity theft, Richardson set out to research the effects of this kind of theft and became a Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist, trained and certified by The Institute of Fraud and Risk Management. She writes a monthly identity theft column for Lighthouse Point Magazine and continues to raise awareness to the dangers of identity theft as an Education Specialist for LifeLock.com, and on her blog GiveMeBackMyCredit.com
