How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Iowa

Changing My Name After Marriage in Iowa

Iowa adult residents can change their names for multiple reasons. The most common ones include marriages, divorces, and court petitions for a name change decree. While these name-changing methods are entirely different, they all produce a legally binding and official document in the end. This document serves as official proof that an individual's name has been altered. It will also be used to update the entity's information across the state agencies and on other relevant documents, such as a social security card or driver's license.

In order to process a name change request after marriage, interested and eligible persons will be required to submit a copy of their Iowa marriage record along with their name change application. The record will serve to offer legal support to their claims of marriage, and it will be useful for a variety of other legal processes.

Also, Iowa allows minors to change their names with the consent of both parents, but the associated steps and procedures may vary from the adult name-changing process. In general, the name change process in Iowa is simple and typically a routine legal task. As a result, hiring an attorney might not be necessary, but it is recommended.

How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Iowa

For any individual to legally and officially change their name(s) in Iowa, they require permission in the form of a "legal name change document." If an adult changes their name after marriage, this document is their marriage certificate. No law in the state requires an individual to change their name after marriage. Still, most name changes occur because of marriage.

Spouses in Iowa can change their names when obtaining their marriage certificates. The process of getting a marriage certificate is specific to the county where the marriage occurred. However, in most cases, all that is required is that the interested individual obtain an application form from the local county registrar's office before performing their marriage ceremony or when applying for the marriage certificate. The form must be signed by the requester, the individual's spouse, and a witness, with a notary present. The witness must be 18 years or more. The marriage license usually costs about $35.

After the ceremony, the recorder's office will issue a marriage certificate. This legal change of name document is crucial to updating all personal documents.

How to Update Your Social Security Card in Iowa

With a marriage certificate, the individual who recently changed his/her name must report the new name to the relevant government bodies; first of all, the Social Security Administration (SSA) to obtain a new social security card. To do this, the individual must provide the following:

A completed Application for a Social Security Card, obtained from the official website.
Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful U.S. presence. This may be a citizenship certificate, working visa, or U.S. passport.
A certified copy of a name change decree or marriage certificate.
Proof of identity, i.e., a driver's license, state-issued identification card, or U.S. passport; or employer I.D. card, school I.D., health insurance card, or U.S. military I.D.

All documents can be mailed or hand-delivered to a local Social Security Administration office. The administration may take up to 14 business days to process the application and send the new card via mail. After changing or updating social security information, the individual may allow 48 hours for the data to update on the Department of Transportation's (DOT) system before placing a request to update their driver's license.

How to Get a New Driver's License in Iowa

If the individual with the new name is an Iowa motorist, he/she must apply to DOT to receive a driver's license updated with the name. The individual must first locate the nearest state DOT office and initiate the name change process within 30 days of changing the name at the SSA office.

At the DOT local office, the individual must provide their legal name change document as proof. The person should also carry the original certificate and a certified copy. Along with the name change document, other documents that confirm the entity's identity must be provided. These may be any of the following:

A passport
A certificate of citizenship or naturalization
A temporary or permanent resident identification card

The individual will also be asked to provide a current driver's license that carries their previous name and documents that establish residency. These include utility bills, bank statements, credit/debit card statements, and valid state-issued I.D. cards. Only original copies of these documents will be processed as the DOT does not accept photocopies or faxes. Unlike the SSA update that is entirely free, the DOT's name change process may attract a license replacement fee of $10.

How to Update Your Insurance Information in Iowa

Individuals may contact the insurance companies and agents that provide their life, medical, dental, homeowner, vehicle, and mortgage insurance policies to update their insurance information. They may also update the information attached to their retirement and pension accounts at the same time.

Insurance companies in Iowa are licensed and regulated by the Iowa Insurance Division. The department may assist the consumers in updating their information regarding the entities and policies that they control.

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

In addition to the name change after marriage, adult Iowa residents can change their names through divorces and court petitions. When splitting up, some individuals decide to drop the spouses' names. The state allows a divorcing party to request a name change as part of a divorce or annulment proceeding. The party interested in altering a name must include the request in the petition or its response. Through this means, Iowans can only change their names back to what it was before marriage or back to their birth/maiden names. Here, the divorce decree serves as the individual's official legal name change document.

The Petition Process for a Change of Name in Iowa

Iowa and all states in the country allow residents to change their names by petitioning a court. Here, the reasons one can give for a name change are broader. For example, individuals may change their names as soon as they become adults because they do not like their birth names. Other times, they may change their names to match a loved one or for privacy and security purposes.

Interested adults can apply for a name change with their local district court. A petition must contain:

Personal information, such as a current name and physical attributes
Current and previous residential addresses for the last five years
Reason for requesting a name change
Description of all real properties owned in Iowa
Proposed name

If the filing party is married, this petition must also be served on their spouse.

Along with the petition, the filing party must submit a certified copy of a birth certificate. The court will wait 30 days after filing to change the individual's name. This process attracts court fees and costs that may vary from county to county. Regardless, the general filing fee is $185, and the petitioner must file the petition electronically unless ordered otherwise by the court. If the court grants the name change application, the petitioner will receive a certified copy of the court's decree as the official proof of the name change.

Iowa courts will only allow individuals to change their names once unless there is a divorce proceeding later.

Name Changes for Minor Children in Iowa

Iowa also allows the name change process for children. This is only possible in 2 ways:

Through a pending custody action or pending divorce
Filing a petition with the district court.

In a custody or divorce action, the petitioner (the individual initiating the action) may include the request for the child's name change in the petition. On the other hand, the respondent may include the request in their response to the petition. While for new petitions, the process is similar to the adult name change process. However, the parent's names must be included, and they must offer a rationale for requesting the name change. If the child is under 14, the parents must file their consent for the name change. Children above the age of 14 must provide a written consent that will be included in the petition.

How to Update Information with Iowa Mortgage and Utility Companies?

After a name change, it is advisable to update all information relating to real and personal property, such as land, homes, vehicles, and others. As such, the individual may contact a lawyer, real estate agent, court clerk, local recorder, or treasurer on updating deeds, mortgages, certificates of title, leases, etc.

The information attached to household utility accounts may also be updated by contacting the service providers for a name change. These providers typically include the post office, gas and electric, water, phones, cable and satellite, sewer, and internet service. Most of these companies have specific ways of updating their consumer information. Regardless, a legal name change document is always required.

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

The required documents include:

Each party's birth certificate.
Photo identification (driver's license or government-issued I.D.).
Social security information at the time of applying for a marriage license.

No proof of state residency is required.

How to Get Certified Copies of Your Marriage License in Iowa?

Generally, marriage records, including licenses and certificates, are generated and maintained by the local county recorder's office. As a result, these records are obtainable by querying the county recorder's office where the marriage occurred. The county recorders can issue certified copies of marriages that occurred from 1954 to the present. The married couple will usually receive their marriage certificate after the ceremony. Notwithstanding, the parties may write to or visit the recorder's office for the document.

It is important to note that the marriage license retrieval methods may vary from county to county. Some may provide online access with application forms, while others may insist on in-person or mail requests. For example, Polk County provides an online request form.

In general, records that may not be available at the county recorder's office may be maintained by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Here, an application for a marriage certificate must be in writing, with enough information to identify the record easily. Also, only a few people aside from the couple named on the record are entitled to access certified marriage records. They include the couple's immediate and extended family, such as children, parents, grandparents, and grandchildren. Their siblings, legal representatives, or guardians may also be entitled to the records, but they must provide proof of entitlement.

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 Iowa?

Updating the information on a U.S. passport is important after obtaining a new name. This lengthy process could take six to eight weeks, so applicants are advised to start early. This process also depends on the condition and status of the individual's current passport. Although the Department of State's guide provides complete instructions on correcting or altering a passport, here's a quick breakdown:

The required documents include:

An application form.
A current passport.
A certified name change document.
A recent colored passport photograph.

There are three primary application forms available, depending on the applicant's current passport's condition:

Form DS-5504 - for name changes within a year of receiving the current passport.
Form DS-82 - for name changes when the current passport is in good condition and was issued within the last 15 years.

These forms must be sent in with the required documents stated above.

Finally, Form DS-11 is for conditions that do not meet any of the above. Here, the individual must fill the form and deliver it in-person to a Passport Acceptance Facility, along with proof of identity, proof of citizenship, and photocopies. The party must also include the certified name change document and a colored passport photograph.

How to Change your Name on Bank Accounts in Iowa

After receiving a new social security card and driver's license, it is easy to update all financial records of bank accounts, credit and debit cards, retirement accounts, checkbooks, and others. Because the method of updating name changes may vary from one financial institution to another, involved parties are advised to contact their financial institutions for the requirements. Regardless, they will be asked to submit a copy of their legal name change document, which could be a divorce decree, marriage certificate, or court order. They must also provide their updated social security card, driver's license, and an official form or letter requesting the update.

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

Changing a name after marriage in Iowa starts when a couple applies for a marriage license and is concluded when the certificate is issued. This certificate becomes the legal name change document. Usually, there is a three-day waiting period before the issued marriage license becomes valid. Then, after the ceremony, the name change process begins at the Social Security Administration to make it official.

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

The length of time it takes to change one's name in Iowa depends on the method adopted to change the name and the court processing time. If individuals choose to change their names via court petition, the process may take 4 to 6 weeks. In contrast, changing a name as part of a divorce process may take as long as the divorce itself. This is because the legal name change document is the divorce decree. Therefore, the name change could take as little as 90 days if the parties reach an agreement or as long as one year if they go to trial.

More importantly, while the court legally decrees a name change, it becomes official when the Social Security Administration acknowledges it. The SSA might take 24 to 48 hours or more to save the information on their database, but it will take 2 to 6 weeks for them to mail the new social security card.