What's in a Name?

I'm in name limbo!  I have a new social security card, a paper drivers license, and a new credit card.  A new debit card is on it's way, as well as some other cards.  So some things have one name, and some have another at this point.  But honestly?  This name changing thing has been so much simpler than I imagined!

Here are my steps to changing your name:

1. Think it is going to be really hard and take forever.  This sets you up to be pleased when it isn't that difficult and takes less time.
2. Change your facebook name.  Bonus points for doing this on your wedding day.
3. Send in a request for certified marriage certificate copies.  Anticipate it will take a couple days, it will take about a week.  Only get 1, maybe 2 copies.  3 is not necessary, everyone gives it back.
4. Practice your new signature while you wait.  It is super weird.
5. Go to the social security office with your marriage certificate and already completed form.  Wait about 15 minutes, get up to the window, have their computer barely work so it takes another 15 minutes to enter your info from the form, verify it is correct, and go on your merry way.  The card arrives in like a week.
6. Don't wait to go to the Department of Licensing!  They don't need to see your new social security card!  Just take the $10, your marriage certificate, and your old ID, and go at a weird time, not at lunch, and not the first day in the week they are open.  That will cut down on the wait.
7. Search your credit card website frantically to see how to change your name.  Get confused, and send an email.  It is way way easier and less involved than you think.  They take care of it and send a new card lickity split.
8. Search your bank's website for info about how to change your name.  Give up and call.  Find out it is easiest and quickest to take your marriage certificate into a branch.  Do so, and it is about 15 minutes of your time.  
9. Create a new email address with your new name (if you do that sort of thing) and start migrating subscriptions and things over.  Get annoyed that gmail can't just migrate everything, like your calendar and music.  Find an easy way to copy the calendar over and celebrate.  
10. Compile an extensive list of everything linked to your old name.  Create a google doc, and keep adding as you remember things.  Rewards cards, insurance, social media, etc. etc.  It's amazing how many things you keep thinking of!
11. Work your way down the list as you go.  This needn't be an immediate thing, but knocking out a bunch at once is nice.  Make sure to cross them off so you remember you actually did change them already!
12. Get used to seeing your new name everywhere, and remind yourself that it won't be that weird in a year.  Or two.  Or maybe longer.  We'll see.

There you have it!  An easy, 12 step process!  Okay, so maybe it's more time consuming than I realized, but it's something I'll only be doing once, and it kind of helps remind me that I have a new name now.  I'm also not doing very well at phasing out the old email address...  But that takes time!