name change

[bailey10]

hi all

just a quick question if anyone knows the answer, my partner wishes to take my last name once we are married, will this still be easy to arrange in the dominican republic ?

many thanks

[richarsd]

Hi Bailey10,

 

I'm not toally sure if I understand your question...your intention is to change your name when you're down in the DR?? You and your partner don't live in the DR, do you? I'm going to assume you don't so you may just be a little mistaken on the process.

 

If you have a civil ceremony (done by the judge), it is a legal marriage. You will be mailed your marriage certificate to your home address a month or two after the wedding. You need this first before you or your partner can change their name (because you need "proof" that you're actually married). Therefore, you change your name in your home state/province after you've returned from your trip. You wouldn't want to do it down there anyway even if this was possible (which it isn't) because then the passport would have a different name than what is techincally legal for when you go back home.

 

Does this help?

[bailey10]

hi there, thanks for the reply,

  what i ment to say was,   when someone marries they tend to take the man's (husbands) surname on the marriage certificate, but this time my husband will be taking my surname. if you understand.   are your names changed at the wedding? getting confused now.

[bailey10]

sorry yes were both from the uk

thanks

[adcarter41]

I don't think it matters who changes their name. I think the process is the same. Your name isn't legally changed until you get your marriage certificate and file for a name change. But I think most people start using their new last name immediately after the wedding even though it hasn't officially/legally changed.

[bailey10]

hi there, thanks for the reply,

i was a little unsure as i thought the name was changed straight away after you signed the marriage certificate, and that it was legally changed then at signing.

many thanks

[SusanJeff2008]

I'm not sure, but I hope everything working out and you know what you will do.

[islandbride8]

I didn't realize we needed the marriage certificate before changing our name.  I know people who changed their last name (not after a marriage) for no reason at all. 

[richarsd]

If you're changing your name because of marriage than yes, you definitely need the marriage certificate first.

 

People can change their last names without getting married but you need a court order to make it official (ie: you need to go before a judge/JP and give a valid reason first and it needs to be approved). The process varies by country/state/province.

[beachbum2010]

You will require the marriage certificate from the DR before you or your husband can change their name.  Further, most places - atleast where I am from - Ontario, Canada - will require the marriage certificate to also be translated back into english.

 

I got married a few weeks ago in the DR and when you sign the legal paperwork you sign using your maiden name - not the name you plan on changing it to.  So you would sign using your maiden name and your husband would sign using his name.  Even though people often start assuming their spouse's name immediately after marriage, it is not really official until you show proof to government agencies that you are married and therefore changing your name.