Are you a newlywed or did you just get engaged?  Congratulations!  Have you decided to change your last name to match that of your spouse?  Your marriage license is all the proof you’ll need to make the switch.  You’ll also need to update your vital documents and your info with the DMV and the Social Security Administration to make it official.  Here’s how:

1.   Change your name with the Social Security Administration.

Fill out this application for a new social security card.  You’ll need to include a form of ID (such as a driver’s license or a passport), proof of US citizenship (a passport or a birth certificate) and your new marriage certificate.  You can submit these original documents by mail or in person.

2.   Update your driver’s license / ID card.

Take this application for a new driver’s license or ID card to the DMV.  You’ll need to bring your current ID or driver’s license as well as your original marriage certificate.  A new driver’s license will cost $20 and a new ID card will cost $10.

3.   Change your name on your vehicle title / registration.

While you’re at the DMV, after you’ve updated your driver’s license or ID card, you’ll need to apply in person with this application to update your car title.  You’ll need your marriage certificate and your current vehicle title.  There will be a $10 fee.

4.   Update your bank accounts.

Now that you’re married, you may want to change your bank accounts around, anyway.  Maybe you’re considering opening a joint account with your spouse.  In any case, you’ll need to go to your bank in person with your ID and your marriage license to change your name on your accounts.  Be sure to request new checks and debit cards reflecting your name change.  There may be a fee.

5.   Update your voter registration.

This step is pretty simple.  Update your Virginia voter registration information here.

6.   Hire a service to do it all for you.

Don’t feel like waiting in lots of long lines?  Name Change Packages are available through various venders that boast one single application for all these processes.  Read more here.  Packages usually start at around $30.

7.   Tie up loose ends as you go along.

There will probably be a few remaining places where you’ll need to update your information, such as your doctor’s office or your school.  In most of these cases, a simple phone call will suffice.

Granting someone you trust a power of attorney allows that person -- known as your "agent" or "attorney in fact" -- to manage your financial and personal affairs if you are unable to do so.  Your agent is empowered to sign your name and is obligated to be your fiduciary -- meaning they must act in your best financial interest at all times and in accordance with your wishes.

A power of attorney can be made “springing,” which means that it only goes into effect under circumstances that you specify, the most typical being when you become incapacitated.  Often that means your agent cannot act until he or she provides doctors' letters and sometimes court orders to prove you are incapable of making decisions for yourself.

An attorney can help you decide which form makes the best sense for your circumstance. In any case, take care in choosing your agent. That person should be competent, trustworthy, willing to take on the burden of your affairs and financially secure.

If you choose a relative or friend as your agent, you probably won't have to pay them.  But if you name a bank, lawyer or other outside party, you will have to negotiate compensation, which can range from hourly fees to a percentage of your assets paid annually.

Why do you need a power of attorney?

No one is immune from aging or the loss of mental clarity that may come with it. And you're never immune to health crises that may leave you unable to handle the business of your life: paying bills, managing investments or making key financial decisions.

If you become incapacitated without having a power of attorney, the court may appoint a “conservator” to manage your affairs and handle your assets.  This process might cost your family well over $2,000 in attorney’s fees and court costs, not including the cost of the lawyer who will be appointed by the court to represent you during the court proceeding (this lawyer is called the guardian ad litem). 

The person chosen by the court may not be someone you would have picked.  Assigning someone you choose and trust a power of attorney now could save you and your family from heartache later on.