What are all the legal things that need to be done before a wedding?

[jamie.jay]

I am looking into a wedding and I was wondering what all the legal things are than need to be done? Things such as name change, paperwork, etc. Also, anything that needs to be done before a wedding would be nice to know. Please be as specific as possible.

[Premium Blend]

Looking into a wedding...is it your wedding?

Name changes can't be done until after the wedding because the JP has to sign off on the license.

[Wendie]

you just need to get a marriage license.

[korrin_belle]

You need to apply for the marriage license, and book your officiant or priest.
Call your local town hall to inquire about the license. Different places have different rules attached, based on how long the license is good for, and how many days in advance of the wedding you need to have it.
Then you just need your officiant, and your witnesses.

Name change can't be done until you receive back your official marriage license, as it's what allows you to legally change your name, without having to pay and apply for it.

[lisaclara]

I think you're asking about more than just legal things, but here it goes......

1. Before the wedding, you need to apply for a marriage license at your local county office and the officiant signs after performing the ceremony. They will tell you everything necessary related to your state and locality.
2. After the wedding, you need to apply for a new social security card reflecting your new name. You can get all of the info about it at the social security website.
3. After the wedding, you need to contact your DMV to update their records with your new name and find out if your state requires that your actual driver's license needs to be updated. You may be able to do this online.
4. After the wedding, you need to contact your mortgage lender and work out with your spouse if both of you will be on the loan. It is easier if you are in the case of one of you dying.
5. After the wedding you need to update your financials and ensure that everything such as bank accounts and investments are set up the way you and your spouse have decided to.
6. You need to update your utilities, insurers and any other people you pay bills to.
7. Most people change their usernames for e-mail, twitter, facebook and other internet identities so that you are going by your married name.
8. You need to update your alumni accounts such as high school and college if you wish to keep connected with your school buddies.

The first and most important thing to do is send Thank you notes. It's not just a social courtesy because older relatives need your name in order to add you as an heir if they are going to do that. You are never every supposed to talk about it - but relatives have wills and they want to keep the most important people on it. If you are on it - they might need to have your name written on paper again if they don't already have it. They will want to change your name on it or add your spouse and such.