How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Maine

Changing My Name After Marriage in Maine

Deciding to modify a name after marriage is a decision a lot of couples take. This decision could be one partner dropping their surname and adopting the surname of the other or a partner adding the significant other's name to their name.

In Maine, spouses who choose to forge new identities for themselves must follow specific legal steps. This includes obtaining a certified copy of the marriage certificate, reflecting the person's new name after the marriage. The certified marriage certificate is the most important document in the process of changing a name after marriage. All marriage records in Maine are held at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). However, interested and eligible persons may also access Maine marriage records by querying the record custodian in the judicial district where the marriage license was issued.

How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Maine

The steps to a legal name change in Maine are as follows:

Obtain a marriage license
Correct a social security card
Update a Maine driver's license
Update a US passport
Notify insurance companies, banks, credit card companies, and employers of the name change.

The process can be done by the individuals seeking the change or a family attorney hired to complete the process. A family attorney will be able to use his/her experience to simplify the process for clients. However, individuals carrying out the name change themselves must have some information about the process and be willing to follow instructions to the letter.

How to Update Your Social Security Card in Maine

After a name change, persons must contact the Social Security Administration to request a new social security card. The Social Security Administration does not charge for this service. The process of updating the name begins with completing Form SS-5. Additional documents needed to complete the process include:

Proof of US citizenship (Certificate of citizenship, certificate of naturalization, passport, and consular report of birth).
Certified copy of marriage certificate or marriage license
Evidence of age (Passport, final adoption decree, or a certified copy of a birth certificate)
Proof of immigration status (Form I-551, I-94, or I-776)
Valid government-issued ID to confirm identity (US military identity card, certified copy of medical record, or certificate of naturalization)

After filling the form, it can be dropped off at the Social Security Office closest to the applicant's location, along with a self-addressed and stamped envelope. The Social Security Administration has an office locator online, which can be used to find the nearest office. A new and updated card will be delivered to the applicant not more than 14 days after completing the application.

How to Get a New Driver's License in Maine

After obtaining a new social security card, the applicant can get a new driver's license, as state law requires that a Maine driver's license be updated within 30 days of changing the card. Applicants should note that requests for a new driver's license from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) can be carried out by visiting one of the 13 branches or through designated AAA Northern New England offices. Individuals will request a duplicate license with a new name. The steps to getting an updated driver's license are as follows:

Visit the BMV office to start the replacement process.
Provide the current license with the original name
Provide proof of residency in Maine.
Provide proof of United States citizenship or lawful presence in the country.
Prove identity in two ways. One is to show a date of birth, and the other, a written signature.
Certified marriage certificate or court order.
An eye test may be required.

A name update on a Maine driver's license costs $5. Acceptable payment methods include cash, check, money order, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover. Applicants will be issued a temporary paper license, and a new one will be mailed to applicants after a few weeks.

How to Update Your Insurance Information in Maine

The Maine Bureau of Insurance itemizes eleven different types of insurance policies available in the state. This includes:

Personal Auto Insurance
Commercial Auto, Property and Liability
Disability Insurance
Flood Insurance
Health Insurance for Individuals and Families
Health Insurance for Small Businesses
Homeowners and Renter Insurance
Life, Annuities, and Viaticals
Long-Term Care Insurance
Medicare Supplement
Workers' Compensation

A spouse who has just changed his/her name may contact insurance providers for account updates. Each provider has a different method of updating records. Nevertheless, the individual will be required to provide a certified marriage certificate or court order to validate the name change request. Holders of group coverage should inform their employers of the need to make a name modification on their policies. A prompt update on all insurance policies will prevent issues later on, such as the non-fulfillment of policies.

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

People who want to change their last name in Maine must petition the Probate Court judge in the county where they reside. For minors, a legal guardian may file this petition for them. The judge, after due consideration, may issue a decree approving the name change. This essentially changes the name on the applicant's birth certificate. The steps involved are as follows:

Apply for a legal name change at a local Probate Court in person or through a lawyer.
The Probate Court will notify the State Registrar of Vital Statistics at the Maine Center for Disease Control (CDC) Vital Records Office using Form VS-14.
The Probate Registrar will attach a check of the registration fee to the form.
The Vital Records Office will notify each municipal clerk with the petitioner's birth certificate to update the last name.

A $60 fee is charged for a change of name ordered by the court to be registered by the CDC Vital Records Office in Maine. Typically, the applicant or Probate Registrar will submit the fee with a Notification of Legal Change of Name. This fee also provides the applicant with a certified copy of the new birth certificate. It is payable by check to the "Treasurer, State of Maine."

Individuals who need to contact a court can find the address of all Probate Courts in Maine on the county websites page of Maine's official website. Each county site has a link to a local Probate Court.

How to Update Information with Maine Mortgage and Utility Companies

A mortgage is a loan used as security for the transfer of property. It is important for individuals who took out a mortgage to update their names in the advent of a name change resulting from marriage. Mortgages require monthly payments that are deducted from a person's bank account. As such, a mismatch between the name on a bank account and the name on the mortgage company's policy can cause issues with the payments. Updating records with a mortgage company will require proof of the name change, i.e., a certified marriage license or marriage certificate. The applicant must then:

Call the mortgage company to obtain the necessary steps. Some have options for updating this information by email or phone call.
Visit the mortgage company's office to complete forms and submit documents. That is if the only option to update a record is an office visit.
Provide an updated social security card, government-approved photo ID, or passport.

Utility companies provide necessities such as natural gas, telegraph, electricity, water, and telephone services to the public. Typically, utility companies have a billing cycle that requires consumers to pay for services they enjoy. Bills from utility companies can also be required to prove identity or proof of living in a location.

As with most marriage-related name updates, updating information with a utility company starts with a marriage license or a certified copy of a marriage certificate. The steps include:

Find out the utility provider.
Check the provider's website for information on updating names.
Provide the required documentation, such as social security number, passport, or government-issued photo ID.
Pay for the modification with a debit card, credit card, check, or bank transfer (if there are administrative charges for the update).

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

Individuals who intend to change their names after marriage in Maine require the following documents:

Petition for Change of Name or Form CN-1
A marriage license or certified marriage certificate
An updated and certified birth certificate
A current government-issued photo ID (passport or driver's license)

Note that a county may require other supporting documents, for instance, notarized affidavits. This varies from county to county.

The Petition for Change of Name or Form CN-1 is available at the Probate Courts or online from their websites.

How to Get Certified Copies of Your Marriage License in Maine

In Maine, certified copies of marriage licenses are available at the Vital Records Office of the Maine CDC and the municipality where the marriage license was originally issued. Persons requesting marriage records that are less than fifty years must provide documentation establishing a legitimate and direct interest in the records.

The following information is required to order a certified marriage license in Maine:

The marriage date
The former name of the parties before the marriage
Name of the town or city where the marriage was held
A daytime phone number of the applicant
Check payable to "Treasurer - State of Maine."

Certified copies are billed at $15. Additional copies of the same record are billed at $6. The vital records office of the Maine CDC is located at:

11 State House Station
220 Capitol Street
Augusta, ME 04333-0011

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 Maine

The issuance of travel documents, such as passports, is within the purview of the United States Department of State. Passports are needed when an individual is traveling abroad by land, sea, or air. Individuals seeking to get a new passport need the following documents:

Application form
Passport picture taken to the State Department's specifications.
Proof of U.S. citizenship (certified copy of a birth certificate or expired passport)
Proof of identity (valid government-issued ID card)
Certified marriage certificate (newly wedded applicants updating records for the first time)

New passport applications are fulfilled within 10 to 12 weeks after an application. Persons who may need them urgently can take advantage of the expedited service to get the passport within a shorter period.

Residents can apply at any of the 73 passport acceptance facilities across the state or the Augusta passport office at:

40 Western Avenue
Augusta, ME 04330

Applicants can refer to the Fee Calculator on the State Department's website for the associated fees.

How to Change your Name on Bank Accounts in Maine

Most banks have unique steps for persons who need to change the names on their bank accounts after marriage. The common denominator is the document needed to verify the legal name change. Also, the bank will need to confirm the identity of the requesting customer. These documents include:

Updated social security card
Updated driver's license
Certified copy of marriage certificate

Applicants should also realize that other bank-related services must be updated, including credit cards, debit cards, retirement accounts, checkbooks. Persons changing their bank account details are encouraged to send the updated information to their employers.

Options for updating these records include in-person visits to the bank and phone call service for some banks. However, the recommended first step of any bank account-related update is to call the bank to confirm its processes.

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

The post-marital name change process in Maine takes a while because of the multiple steps involved. Each step takes some days before completion. An example is updating a social security card, which takes about 14 days. Others include updates to bank accounts and insurance policies. Taking advantage of the services of a family attorney is an option most people may use to quicken the process.

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

The process of changing a name in Maine can take some time. Some agencies have a fixed period to complete a name change, while some, like the Department of State, allow applicants to expedite parts of the process. These varied options make it quite difficult to predict the duration of a name change in Maine.