When you get married in California now, you can elect to change
your middle or last names to what you want to be known as
after your legal wedding ceremony. The Name Equality Act
went into effect on 01/01/2009.
What does the new law mean?
The Name Equality Act allows one party or both parties to a marriage,
through the marriage license process, to elect to change the middle or
last names by which that party wishes to be known after solemnization
of the marriage. A certified copy of a marriage certificate containing the
new name, or retaining the former name, shall constitute proof that the
use of the new name or retention of the former name is lawful. The new
law also specifies that a certified copy of the marriage certificate shall be
accepted as identification establishing a true, full name for purposes of
obtaining a California driver’s license.
