Wedding Official Business

Marriage is many things. They're fun, expensive and require a lot of planning, but a wedding is also first a legal matter. And as such, there are steps the couple must preform so that the union is recognizable in the eyes of the law. They'll need a wedding license, but before that, the bride must make an important decision â€" to except her future husband's surname or continue to use her maiden name.

You'd think that a name was just a name and changing it wouldn't be such a big deal, but it really is. During previous generations whether or not a woman changed her last name was something that wasn't given a second thought. The woman took her husband's name and that was that. But recently, women have challenged this tradition. There is no law that says a woman's last name must change in marriage, so really this decision is a matter of personal choice.

For those women who go a head and change their last names, the process to change isn't hard, but it can take time. Besides making the changes with the federal Social Security Administration, which thats where it all begins, a woman must also change the name on all her certificates, her credit card accounts, her bank and all financial/insurance related documents, utilities bills, property deeds, clubs at which she is part of and at her work â€" not only for Human Resource and erning tax purposes, but so that a new email address and new business info can be created.

And while you're going through the process of changing your name, you might want to consider changing your address, too. You've just got to double-check the timing. If it dont turn out right, you can take a change of address kit easily enough and complete this when you come back from the honeymoon. It's not really necessary to begin the process of changing your name until about 2 weeks before your wedding, so do whatever makes most sense.

One other aspect of the name change process that requires careful timing is planning your honeymoon. You might be better off making your reservations using your maiden name if you won't have official identification (or an updated passport) with your new name ready before you leave. You don't have to experience any unnecessary delays.

When dealing with the marriage license, be sure to check the requirements in your state of residence ahead of time. Each state will vary with some states requiring one or more witnesses and others requiring blood tests and/or physical exams, and others requiring something else such as a waiting period. Regardless of the state, you are going to pay for a marriage license. Costs will range from a low of $25 to a high of $100 or more. You'll both need to be present and you'll likely need to bring a birth certificate and proper identification.

Then breathe a sigh of relief, because you're almost there!

Copyright (c) 2007 Yehiel Carter

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About Yehiel Carter

Yehiel Carter: He can help you with anything on wedding planning and etiquette. he will help you to plann your wedding, for more information and a free guide go to: http://www.bestweddinginstructor.com/bestweddingever


And here is another random article you might be interested in...

Where To Invest In Real Estate

Where should you invest in real estate? If you know an area well, and have enough experience investing in real estate, you can make money almost anywhere. However, there are always places that are better or worse for real estate investments - places that have a better demand/supply ratio. Use the questions below to find them.

Demand Questions

1. Is the population growing fast? Check the US Census figures online, or ask the local government if they have the statistics. Stay away from areas that have little growth.

2. Is job growth decent? Again, ask local authorities or use the census information. You want to see job growth equal to or exceeding population growth. The people have to have money to pay for housing.

3. Decent quality of life? This is subjective, but important. Are there theaters and bookstores? Count coffee shops and cafes. Trendy areas usually have increasing demand for housing. It's also a good indication of a high quality-of-life if people are willing to take lower-paying jobs just to live there.

4. Wealth in the area? It is always a good sign when there is some degree of wealth in a town. Count rich homes. Wealth means everything doesn't die when the economy slows.

Supply Questions

1. How much new construction? The census figures can tell you what's happened over the last ten years. Then check with the local authorities to see if the the number of housing units they've issued permits for is more or less than the expected population growth.

2. How many homes for sale? A lower supply of homes for sale means upward pressure on prices. This indirectly drives up rents as well, which makes for better investing.

3. Rent and vacancy levels? Are rents high enough to justify investing? Are vacancies low? When we first came to Tucson, every building had vacancies, and we saw a man holding a sign that read, "Apartment - $250 Per Month." Great place for renters, but not a great place to invest in real estate.

4. Available land that is buildable? Less is better for future appreciation. When the land runs out, the prices start accelerating upwards.

Use these questions to compare various towns and cities, and you'll see the differences more clearly. You'll see how housing demand compares to supply in each. Finally, you'll see where it is better to invest in real estate.

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About Steve Gillman

Steve Gillman has invested in real estate for years. To learn more, and to see a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com.