Your marriage record is important for more than just proof of a union – it can serve as a legal document in court, an official record of your family, and establish your relationship publicly. Many people place emphasis on the rituals of a marriage and let the legalities slide, but this will lead to problems down the road. The wedding itself is not proof enough of your marriage – you need official documentation. Registering your marriage and keeping track of your marriage record can solve a variety of problems you may encounter in the future.
During a Name Change
If you or your spouse changes a name to a married name, you need a certified copy of your marriage record as proof of this change. You can start using your new name as early as you want, but until you make it legal, society will not recognize it as your legal name. Before you can update important documents such as your Social Security card, passport, and other forms of identification, you need to show proof of your marriage using an official record.
If you don’t have your marriage certificate, more establishments will not allow you to change your name on official documents. If you can’t change your name on forms of identification, you will encounter difficulty in the future. For example, if you want to sign documents using your new name, the forms may not be legal until you prove your name is officially changed. Without a record of your marriage, you may not be able to use your new name in any official capacity.
Many establishments have a list of requirements you must meet before you can proceed. Often, to update documents such as passports and driver’s licenses with your new name, you’ll need proof of your marriage. The first step toward getting your name changed is updating your Social Security card. Once you have a Social Security card with your new name, you can usually use this as sufficient proof of the change for other documents. However, to change your Social Security card, you will need your marriage certificate – otherwise, the Social Security Administration will not recognize the change.
For Life Insurance Policies
Life insurance can protect you or your spouse in the event that of death. Your insurance policies can save you from financial hardship if your spouse was the primary earner, and ensure your future. Insurance can cover the costs of day-to-day living, as well as pay off existing debts such as mortgage payments. If you don’t update your insurance policy after marriage, your spouse may not receive the benefits you believe he or she should receive.
We unfortunately cannot plan for our time of death. Instead of waiting to update your insurance policy, you should do so as soon as possible after marriage. If you pass away without updating your policy, your spouse may have an unexpected shock on top of your death. Use your marriage certificate as proof of your official union to change the nomination on you or your spouse’s insurance policy. For example, if the current nominee on your policy is your mother, and you want to update it to your spouse, you’ll need your marriage record to register the bond legally. If you don’t have your marriage certificate, your insurance company may not allow you to change your nominee.
In Custody Battles
When you get married, the last thing you want to think about is divorce – but this is a possibility you should discuss with your partner. If you or your spouse bring children into the marriage, or have children together, you also need to think about custody in the event of a divorce. Custody battles are some of the most difficult legal proceedings, but you can make the process slightly easier with a marriage record. If you cannot agree about custody rights at the time of divorce, the courts will make the decision for you. If this is the case, the court will base the decision on what is best for the child(ren).
As the biological parent, you have the right to fair consideration for custody. However, if you are the stepparent of a child, you may have limited rights. Unmarried parents of nonbiological children can ask the court for custody, but the court may not agree. If you have your marriage record, the courts may be more willing to consider you for custody or visitation rights.
Obtaining your marriage record is incredibly important for proper identification, updating official documents, and for the courts to recognize your marriage. You can obtain your marriage records using a public record database.
