Name change checklist for after marriage or divorce, step by step

This name change checklist is for anyone taking a new name after a wedding or a divorce who wants each step, document and account written down in one organized place. Across 20 undated pages you get a two part action plan (records first, accounts after), a list of documents to gather, a tracker for certified copies, six master lists covering where your name needs changing, a progress tracker, logs for appointments, forms, calls and costs, and a page to practice your new signature. Download it instantly as US Letter and A4 PDF files.

Keep it in a folder with your certified copies and work through it at your own pace.

How the name change checklist takes away the overwhelm

Changing your name touches dozens of places, and it is easy to lose track. Two step by step pages give you 14 general steps each in the usual sequence, identity records first and everything else after, with columns for notes, date and done, so the next move is always clear.

Across six master lists you will find 84 typical places to change, from your passport, driver's license and bank to payroll, beneficiaries, patient portals, airline and hotel programs and your logins online, with four spare rows on every list. The copies tracker shows where every certified copy went and whether it came home, and the forms and calls logs keep names and reference numbers ready for follow-ups. As new cards arrive, cross off the 60 circles on the progress tracker and practice a signature you can repeat every time.

Who it is for

• Newlyweds and soon-to-be brides who are taking a new surname after the wedding
• Anyone going back to a maiden or earlier name after a divorce
• Couples who are both changing, hyphenating or combining their last names
• People who like their forms, reference numbers and receipts on paper in one folder
• Anyone who feels overwhelmed by how many places need the new name

Design and print details

• Clean and minimal: white pages with soft blush pink accents that save ink
• Generous margins, so a home printer keeps every line
• Portrait US Letter (8.5 x 11 in) and A4 (210 x 297 mm)
• Undated, so you can begin whenever you feel ready
• General categories that work in any country, with spare rows for places that are specific to you
• Never asks for complete ID or account numbers
• Use it in a binder or on a clipboard, or have it spiral bound at a print shop

Inside the name change checklist: 20 pages

1. 1Cover with the contents and a space for your new name
2. 2Start here: a four stage path (gather, records before accounts, keep track), eight helpful habits, a checklist of things to keep nearby, my own way of using the pages and a please note box
3. 3My name change on one page: previous name, new name split into first, middle and last, everyday name, my reason (marriage, divorce, going back to an earlier name, other), date, the document I will use, number of certified copies, my plan, a 7 row table of upcoming trips, events and deadlines, places to tackle first and open questions
4. 4The first half of the plan, focused on official documents: 14 numbered steps with 2 spare rows and columns for notes, date and done, a waiting for box and a note on the typical sequence
5. 5The second half of the plan, focused on accounts: another 14 numbered steps with 2 spare rows and the same columns, the toughest ones to start early and old cards to shred
6. 6Documents needed: 11 documents listed plus 2 blank rows (have it, certified, copies, storage place, needed for), a checklist of things to ask before you go and where the originals are kept
7. 7Certified copies tracker: ordered from, date, quantity and cost, a 14 row table showing where each numbered copy was sent and whether it came back, copies still out and when to order more
8. 8Master list for government and legal: 14 prefilled places (passport, ID record, driver's license, vehicle registration and title, voter registration, property records, the tax office, power of attorney and will, licenses and more) and 4 blank rows
9. 9Master list for money and insurance: 14 prefilled places (checking, savings, cards and checks, mortgage and loans, investments and retirement, insurance for health, car, home and life, beneficiary forms) and 4 blank rows
10. 10Master list for work, home and utilities: 14 prefilled places (HR and your employer, benefits, payroll, work email, professional associations, your lease, gas, electricity, water, internet, mobile phone and more) and 4 blank rows
11. 11Master list for health, travel and loyalty: 14 prefilled places (your doctor and dentist, the pharmacy, online patient portals, the vet and your pet's microchip, car rental, hotel and airline programs, trusted traveler programs, trips booked in the old name and more) and 4 blank rows
12. 12Master list for online accounts and subscriptions: 14 prefilled places (social media, email, shopping, streaming, payment apps, cloud storage, library card, gym and more) and 4 blank rows
13. 13Master list for people and everyday places: 14 prefilled places (friends and family, the school your children attend, clubs, your alumni office, business cards, your email signature, return address labels, the holiday card list and more) and 4 blank rows
14. 14Progress tracker: cross off 60 numbered circles, mark 12 milestones with a date and a tick, list new cards and documents on their way and plan this week I will
15. 15Appointments log: four boxes, each with office, date and time, address, confirmation number, fee, what to bring and outcome
16. 16Forms log: 21 rows (form, place, date sent, method, fee, reference number, reply), forms still to complete and notes
17. 17Calls and emails log: 21 rows (date, place, person I spoke with, what was said, next step), callbacks and handy numbers
18. 18Costs and new cards: a 14 row fee table with the total spent and a 9 row table of new cards and documents (applied, expected, arrived, old one shredded)
19. 19New signature practice: how my name is written, 9 lines for signatures, initials practice and 3 boxes for monogram ideas
20. 20Lined notes

Files included

• Name Change Checklist, US Letter PDF, 20 pages
• Name Change Checklist, A4 PDF, 20 pages
• Read Me First, a short PDF printing guide
• Need more rows? Print another copy of the six master lists (8 through 13) or the four logs (15 through 18)

How to download and print

• Check out with PayPal, a debit or credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your download page opens as soon as the payment goes through.
• We email the same private download links to you, so you can download your files again later.
• Open the PDF in a free reader such as Adobe Acrobat Reader and print at 100% or Actual size.
• Print only the pages you need, as often as you like, for your own personal use.

Good to know

• This is a PDF for printing, not a hyperlinked digital planner. You can import it into most note taking apps and write on it.
• You receive a digital file only. Nothing physical is shipped.
• Printed colors may look a little different from your screen.
• For your personal use only. Please do not share, resell or pass on the files.
• Digital files can't be returned. If a file will not open or print correctly, email us and we will help quickly.
• These pages help you organize and are not legal advice. Requirements, forms, fees and the sequence of steps vary by country, state and province, so confirm what is needed with each office or company.
• Please never write full ID numbers, account numbers or passwords on your printed pages.
• No brand names or agency logos appear in the pages.

How this was made

Designed and written by PetiteDiary. AI tools helped draft parts of the text, and some background scenes in the preview images were created with AI. Every page was designed, reviewed and checked before release.

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