What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Illinois
Hello everybody. Thanks in advance for reading. I plan to do some more research and probably contact an attorney, but a quick google search led me here so I figured I'd ask.
My wife (not married long) has only changed her name on her social security card. Her professional documentation, license, passport, credit cards, etc. are all still in her maiden name. It was just not really a priority and we never worried much about it. But then after a move from out of state, she wanted to register her car in Illinois. They seemed to give her the option of either a) finish changing over everything else and only then would they give her a new Illinois license that would allow her to get an Illinois registration, etc., or b) get divorced/separated because that's the only way in Illinois to change her legal name back to what it was.
So basically I was just wondering a couple of things.
1. Is it correct that in order to simply transfer an out of state license/registration to a new state you need to have everything in your new name? (I thought you just had to prove you were who you said you were and get new copies of your documents). I know that legally she is who her social security card says, but I guess we assumed she could simply get the new documents for the new state.
2. Not really an issue of concern, but just curious because it seemed extreme. Let's say changing everything over was too complicated and so she just wanted to change the name on her social security card...can you really only switch back to your maiden name in Illinois with a divorce or separation? It would stink if some lunatic made the news and had your name and you couldn't change it without having to get a divorce!
Anyway, thanks for any insight.
Hello everybody. Thanks in advance for reading. I plan to do some more research and probably contact an attorney, but a quick google search led me here so I figured I'd ask.
My wife (not married long) has only changed her name on her social security card. Her professional documentation, license, passport, credit cards, etc. are all still in her maiden name. It was just not really a priority and we never worried much about it. But then after a move from out of state, she wanted to register her car in Illinois. They seemed to give her the option of either a) finish changing over everything else and only then would they give her a new Illinois license that would allow her to get an Illinois registration, etc., or b) get divorced/separated because that's the only way in Illinois to change her legal name back to what it was.
So basically I was just wondering a couple of things.
1. Is it correct that in order to simply transfer an out of state license/registration to a new state you need to have everything in your new name? (I thought you just had to prove you were who you said you were and get new copies of your documents). I know that legally she is who her social security card says, but I guess we assumed she could simply get the new documents for the new state.
2. Not really an issue of concern, but just curious because it seemed extreme. Let's say changing everything over was too complicated and so she just wanted to change the name on her social security card...can you really only switch back to your maiden name in Illinois with a divorce or separation? It would stink if some lunatic made the news and had your name and you couldn't change it without having to get a divorce!
Anyway, thanks for any insight.
