How much time will your service save me?
Experience has shown that our service will save you on average 8-10 hours of time compared to trying to accomplish this on your own.
Is my personal information safe?
It is. We use 128 bit encryption and Secure Socket Layer technology. What does this all mean? It means that all information that is sent to our server is protected. But we can never be sure that there isn't spyware or a virus on your computer that could render your information vulnerable (particularly your social security number). For this reason, you will never type in your social security number when completing our questionnaire. Instead you will simply write it in by hand on the three forms that require it after they have been printed out.
Does your service work in all 50 states?
Yes it does, including Washington D.C.
Can I use your service if I live outside the U.S.?
No, this only works for those who live inside the U.S.
Will I need anything in addition to your name change kit to complete the process?
Yes. Most government agencies require a certified copy of your marriage certificate as legal proof of your name change. (certified copies of your marriage certificate usually will have a raised seal or a watermark on them) So while one certified marriage certificate is all you really need, you can substantially shorten the time to notify all the government agencies by getting 2-3 certified copies of your marriage certificate and filing all those forms at once.
Other entities, such as credit cards, utilities, insurance, etc, will generally accept a photocopy of your marriage certificate. So you will want 10-15 photocopies of your marriage certificate as well.
How do I get additional certified copies of my marriage certificate?
You can order additional copies when you originally apply for your marriage license. Otherwise, you can contact to your county recorder's office and request addition copies from them.
Do I have to wait until after I'm married before starting the process?
No. You can complete all of the necessary forms online and even print everything out before you are married. But you will need to wait until after you have your certified marriage certificate before you can actually send your paperwork to the various organizations. If you are traveling by air or out of the country for your wedding or honeymoon, you will want to wait until after you are back home before updating your driver's license and passport (See the next question for an explanation of this).
If we're traveling by air or leaving the country for our honeymoon, do I need to update my driver's license and passport before we leave?
No. Although once you have your marriage certificate you can start the name updating process, if you are leaving on your honeymoon within a week or two of the wedding, then you will want to wait on changing your passport and driver's license information until you return. The worst thing that can happen would be for you to have travel reservations in your new last name and for some reason not getting your driver's license or passport information updated before you were scheduled to leave. So to avoid a potential disaster, just make the travel reservations in your maiden name, and then update your driver's license and passport info when you return.
If I'm hyphenating my last name, do I still need to go through the name change process?
Yes. If the name on your marriage certificate is different from your maiden name, you need to go through the name change process.
If my husband wants to take my last name instead of me taking his, can he use your service?
Yes. Again, this new name change must be reflected on the marriage certificate. The process will be exactly the same as if you were taking on his last name.
Can I use your service if I'm taking my old last name and making it my new middle name? (e.g. Hillary Rodham Clinton)
Yes, you can still use our service. As long as the new name you are changing to is what was written on your marriage certificate, you can use our online kit.
Can your service be used for gay/lesbian weddings?
If you're not able to legally marry in your state, then our kits will not work for you.
What if I decide that I don't want to do this online after purchasing it?
Not a problem, just contact our customer service for a full refund.
How long does it usually take for everything to be updated?
Generally, most, if not all documents will be updated within 6 weeks of filing.