Name Change Questions

[njbride06]

I'm in the process of trying to get all this done. I have the checklist from the other thread, and I have also been told to do SS first. I talked to them and they said they need a marriage document that shows our DOB/age. Our religious certificate does not show that. I'm not sure what is happening with the state issued certificate. We have a carbon copy of the license application, which the church was supposed to send to the Registrar. Anyone know anything about this? Do they automatically issue one certificate or do you have to apply to receive it? Also, I'm not sure if I can go to the main office for the state or if I should go to the town I live in, or the town I was married in?! I've tried to call, but its all recordings and no specific information.

Any advice on this whole name change thing would be greatly appreciated!! I'm just confused! Anyone have any helpful links or articles on it??

Thank You!

[Jill]

I think it has to do with what state you are living in, which I assume is New Jersey. Here in CT you don't get your official marriage certificate until your officiant has filed it and it gets processed in the TOWN where you married. Ours came within the week of when we married. I think most people know you will need the document and will sent it to you without a request. I know that if we need more, we have to pay them per embossed copy.

It wouldn't hurt to call wherever you got the license. I have heard stories on the boards that some places take more than a month to process the license. You won't be able to do anything with SS until you get that document.

[Angela]

It is different state by state, but from what I understand regarding SS, they need a copy of your marriage certificate once it has been filed by your officiant. And it has to be an "official" copy, you can't just make copies on a copier or anything.

Good luck! Contact your officiant and make sure they filed the license after the wedding.