As thrilled as I am to change my last name to something much less common after I’m married, I have to admit I’m not especially excited about the headache of going through the process. After all, a name change is a big deal, and is certainly not an easy task to undertake!

Well, you can imagine my delight when I discovered a few months back that I’d won a stress-reducing package from Name Change Express! If you aren’t familiar with this company, Name Change Express is an online service that guides you through the process, helping prepare all the necessary paperwork in just a few easy steps. And depending which package you choose and how much help you want, they can even do all the work for you by mailing in forms and taking care of nitty-gritty details.

Of course, I won’t officially tackle this project until after the wedding, but to get started, I’ve put together a list of key name-change musts. Check it out, and let me know if you think I’ve skipped anything important!
• Social security information
• IRS and tax records
• Retirement savings plans
• Bank and credit card records
• Insurance plans
• Magazines
• Social networks, including Facebook and Twitter
• University records
• Housing and billing records
• Driver’s license
• Passport
• Voter registration records
• Doctor’s office and medical records

Engaged ladies, if you’re changing your name, will you go it alone or use a service for help? Married girls, if you’ve already gone through the name-change process, do you have any helpful tips for the rest of us?

(Graphic Credit: Google Images)