Changing your name after marriage doesn’t come that easy. Deciding to keep your maiden name after getting married comes with its own considerations and processes. In Ghana, marriage is governed by both statutory and customary laws. Additionally, the tradition of taking one’s spouse’s surname upon marriage is common.
However, with evolving norms, more women are opting to retain their maiden names. In this blog post, we explore some truths they don’t tell you about changing your name. Opening the truth jar. Here, we go.
The 5 Things No Tells You About Changing Your Name After Marriage.
1.Changing your name is not compulsory or illegal. Its a choice.
It is important to know that you are not legally required to change your name after marriage. You can continue using your maiden name with the “Ms.” title attached. However, it is important to note these four points when maintaining your maiden name:
- At occasions and events, you and your husband are likely to be introduced as Mr. His Name and Ms. Your Maiden Name.
- Your husband and children will have a different surname from you.
- Not every husband will want their wife responding to her maiden name even after marriage.
- If you intend to travel internationally, be aware that you will need to take up your husband’s name. This is because having different names on your documents can sometimes cause complications.
2. Your Brand or Marital Name
Beyond the legal and social aspects, changing your name can have practical implications or consequences. It may impact your professional identity, especially if you’ve established a reputation or brand under your maiden name. Before taking a decision on changing your name, consider its effects on your career, business or personal branding efforts.
READ MORE ABOUT EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS FROM THE MOST EXPENSIVE WEDDING IN THE HISTORY OF GHANA.
3. Legal Implications
While changing your name is a personal choice and does not have any legal implications. You’ll need to update various documents such as your driver’s license, passport, social security card, and bank accounts once you decide to change it. This can be a time-consuming process, so be prepared to spend some on these tasks. Failure to do these things can lead to confusion and complications down the line.
4. Personal Decision
Ultimately, the decision to change your name after marriage is a deeply personal one. Take the time to reflect on your reasons for wanting to change your name and how it aligns with your values and beliefs. Whether you choose to keep your birth name, take your spouse’s name or have a compound name with your husband, make sure it’s a decision you feel comfortable with. Besides, changing your name can be done at anytime – either immediately after your wedding or some years down the line.
5. The Process
If you decide to change your name after marriage, here are a few documents you will need : the marriage certificate, a legal picture bearing ID, a signed affidavit stating your address and current name, filling fee.
Looking to change your name. Click here to know how to start.
