Sierrastyle Weddings - 23

Jayme and Scott Petersen, September 10, 2006 Photo courtesy of Sharpe Photographers, sharpephotographers.com. MARRIED LIFE It’s in the details By Denise Witt okay to have your head in the clouds as long as your feet are on the ground, because life is in the details – from planning a wedding to planning a life together. You may anticipate the decisions to be made about the day itself, where to get married, what to wear, the color of the flowers, but what about the administrative aspect of it all? You know, the (dare we say it?) paper work…marriage certificate, new driver’s license, passports, bank accounts, 401k, will, etc. From license to will, there’s nothing romantic about it! It’s enough to make you want to hire a personal assistant! While we can’t all afford that luxury, there are some simple steps to keep in mind during the whirlwind of wedding planning that will help you transition from single life to marital bliss. Say It In Writing The most obvious place to start is with the marriage license itself. Rules for applying for a marriage license vary from state to state, and some even require blood work – not California, though. Check with the county clerk’s office (see sidebar for info) where you plan to be married to find out what is needed and to make an appointment. Both bride and groom will need to go in and bring along a picture ID, birth certificate, tax information, and any information regarding previous marriages. Typically, it’s best to apply for the license within a month before the wedding. Don’t apply for it too early, as it may expire. Once you receive your marriage license, it is still not an official document until the wedding takes place. It is then that the officiant or chaplain signs it and returns it to the county clerk for validation. To find out more about marriage licenses and state requirements, log onto wedalert.com or allaboutthehoneymoon.com. It’ s In the Name of Love If the bride (or groom) decides to change her name post-wedding, there’s a lot to keep in mind. Many couples opt to use online services to enlist help with all the forms. Web sites such as MissNowMrs.com and USLegalForms.com charge a nominal fee to do the work for you. They contact the state agencies, get the proper forms, and guide you through the paper-trail process. For the do-it-yourselfer, here are some must-dos that are best done post I-do for a smooth name-change transition. Names that are hyphenated also require documentation for to be legally changed. (Don’t change names on IDs, passports, or anything else until after the honeymoon in order to minimize problems that may be encountered while traveling.) Apply for a name change on your social security card. Go to ssa.gov or call 800-772-1213 to get Form SS-5. Fill it out and take it or mail it to the nearest social security office. (See sidebar, or log on to ssa.gov for additional lo- Premiere 2007 Sierrastyle Weddings 23

http://sharpephotographers.com http://MissNowMrs.com http://USLegalForms.com http://ssa.gov http://wedalert.com http://www.allaboutthehoneymoon.com http://ssa.gov

Sierrastyle Weddings

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sierrastyle Weddings