The tombstone will say whatever you want it to say, as will any newspaper announcements, provided you make your wishes known in advance to those who will handle the matter. I have no idea how changing your name would affect social security payments, especially if you are going back to a maiden name. The only trouble left is what the death certificate says and it does list maiden name, at least in California it does.

It can make a big impact on your passport. My sister had a situation with her name and it was a very convoluted process. Not sure why.

One small advantage, I plan to be cremated and no service. So that takes care of that. Just really don't want to spend the rest of my life with this name. I think I will make an appointment at SS. And start a list of things that will need a name change. The house, car, truck, bank accounts, will, trust, insurance, 401, - what else? Utilities. The list goes on!!

Won't you have to go to court to make a legal name change? I would think that'd be step #1.

It may not be the same thing, but when I married and wanted to change my SS info to my married name, I simply filled out a name change form and sent that and a copy of my marriage license to Social Security. A few weeks later I received a new SS card. I would think you could do the same thing in reverse by sending in a copy of your divorce paperwork. Best way to find out would be to check with the Social Security people. You can probably find out online by going to their website.

People marry and divorce all the time and change their names. I can't imagine it's very complicated to accomplish what you want to do.

Yes, $187 for name change. The name change is not an issue. Keeping the SS check coming is the issue.

No. Not complicated at all. Keeping my SS check coming is what I'm worried about. The Government. When was the last time you had an interaction with it and were happy with the result?

As you posted earlier, making an appointment with Social Security to talk to them about it is where you should probably start. Hopefully they can ease your mind and address your concerns about your check. Many people collecting Social Security change their names due to marriage or addresses due to moving and their checks still keep coming, but I can see how could be a worry. Hopefully the people at Social Security can explain how it all works so that there is no disruption of your checks.

You could choose to do nothing and leave things the way they are, but then you're stuck with a name you don't want.

"The Government. When was the last time you had an interaction with it and were happy with the result?"

It was the last time I had an interaction with a government agency. And the time before that and the time before that. Things have changed, or maybe it's just the ones I have been dealing with. I recently started receiving Social Security and the people I dealt with (including one guy on a 30 minute phone call while I was driving in the car) were knowledgeable and friendly.

You maybe don't need to change your name with Social Security. Why not go ahead with the process to change your legal name but leave alone the existing account they deposit your monthly check to? Open new bank accounts with your new name and change over the other accounts you have using the authority of the legal name change. Or, maybe it's simple, ask SSA (as others have said) what to do.

You've been thinking about this for 20 years and have done nothing?

A lot of stuff can be done on anniversary dates (insurance, mortgages, driver license,etc). Does your cheque actually come in the mail or is it automatic deposit.

direct deposit.

The only real issue that I see, other than time spent, is if you have a Medicare savings program (the state pays your premium). I have seen people go through a name change and it takes forever for the state and federal systems to recognize you are the same person.

Do have the name changed with SS if you have it legally changed elsewhere. And yes, do it right and have it legally changed and then change it (by providing each with the necessary proof of change) every single thing that has your name on it - utility bills, credit cards, bank accounts, passport - EVERYTHING! It will be a lot of work! But if this is what you want to do, then do it, but do it right so as not to cause complications.

forgot credit card. Will add that to my list.