The wedding and honeymoon is over and now lies the significant decision of either changing your name, maintaining your maiden name or having a compound name with your husband. Marriage doesn’t officially change the last name you carry. To change your name after marriage is a significant step that involves both legal processes and cultural considerations.
While it isn’t a difficult process, the tasks and legal processes involved are time-consuming. But, that doesn’t have to be your headache anymore. In this blogpost, we have put together a step by step guide to help you what to do and how to go about it.
Benefits of Changing Your Name After Marriage.
While changing your name is a personal decision, there are some benefits that come with carrying your husband’s name. First of all, it gives a sense of unity and commitment in the marriage. It also simplifies family dynamics as children will share the same surname as their father. In addition, if you intend to travel internationally sometime later, it will make the documentation processes easier. It is however important to not that, changing your name after marriage may vary for each individual and couple.
Name Change Options
There are four(4) options available when you are considering a name. These are:
- Maintaining your maiden name and adding a Ms. title to it.
- Fully adapting your husband’s name.
- Compound Names. That is combining your spouse’s name with your maiden name. In this option, you can either use a hyphen(-) to join them together or use the two without the hyphen.
- Blended Surnames. Though not very common, there are a few couples who decide to create a name by blending the two surnames.
Legal Documents Needed
Once you have decided to change your name after marriage, here are a list of documents that will be required of you:
- A copy of a legal ID card. This can either be your Passport, Birth Certificate, Ghana Card.
- Your Marriage Certificate.
- A Signed Affidavit.
- Filling Fee.
How To Change Your Name In Ghana.
What next after getting all the needed documents?
- The first thing you need to do is to get an affidavit signed by a commissioner. In getting your affidavit, you will need to present an identification card, your marriage certificate and a fee.
- After getting your affidavit, visit the birth and death registry and submit your application. You will be given a form to fill and a time frame to return for your gazette. This shouldn’t take more than 21days.
- Once everything is ready, copies of the gazette will be given to you stating your new name and a section that states your old name is still valid.
Documents That Should Be Mended After Change.
Once you have received copies of the gazette for your records stating your new name, and also states that documents with your old name are still valid. When viiting any of these places, go with your marriage certicate and birth certificate. Here is a list of all the places you will need to visit to notify them of your name change:
- Bank Accounts and Insurance Companies
- Investment Accounts
- Employers/Payroll
- Insurance Companies
- Passport Office
- Voters Registration Office
- Ghana Cards
- Other Identity Cards
- Your Attorney(to update your will and other legal documents)
- Your Brand/Business if your maiden name was used branding
- Phone Records
- Land Titles
- Car Parks
- All Other Documents
Changing your name after marriage in Ghana involves a series of steps, from obtaining a marriage certificate to updating official documents and notifying relevant institutions. By following this step-by-step guide and navigating the process, you can successfully change your name and embrace your new identity as you embark on this new chapter of your life. Congratulations.
