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Changing Your Name in California

Name changes are not complicated, even though we recommend you use court proceedings (the "court method"), rather than the old "usage" method, to change your name. (It used to be easy to start using your new name and have agencies like the DMV and Social Security to change your records.) Today, because of identity theft and fears about terrorism, most agencies won't change your records without a court order.

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marriage certificate

A document that provides proof of a marriage, typically issued to the newlyweds a few weeks after they file for the certificate in a county office. Most states require both spouses, the person who officiated the marriage and one or two witnesses to sign the marriage certificate; often this is done just after the ceremony.

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Can my husband's ex and I share the same last name without problems?

I am getting married; my first time, his second. I will be taking his name when we marry. Will there be any problems if his ex keeps her married name, too? We don't have the same first name.

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