How To Quickly Change Your Name With USPS?

Have you recently changed your name? If so, you may wish to update your information with USPS, but this isn’t as straightforward as you might expect. It can be done, however.

USPS does not have a form dedicated to changing your name, but it is possible. You should use the official form for changing your address because this also has an option for changing your name. You can do this on the USPS website, via phone call, or come to the post office and do it in person for free.

Today we will inform you on how to change your name with your post office in a quick and easy way.

Do You Have To Change Your Name With USPS?

You do not have to change your name with USPS if you would rather not do so. Most mail carriers only look at the address, rather than the name on the envelope. They will deliver mail to a given address, regardless of what name is put on the envelope.

A few mail carriers may notice a sudden name change and there is a slight possibility that it will raise questions, but on the whole, mail will arrive regardless of the name. You do not have to update your name with USPS if you change it.

Do You Have To Change Your Name With USPS After Marriage?

No, you don’t have to do this. USPS doesn’t need to know if you have changed your surname after marriage. They will deliver your mail in either case, whether it carries your maiden name or your new, married name.

You may wish to update it, but there is no need to do so if you would rather not. However, if you have moved in with your partner and your address has changed, you will need to update your information to reflect your new address.

How To Change Your Name With USPS

To update your name with USPS, follow these steps:

  1. Go to USPS’s website.
  2. Navigate to the page for changing your address. This should appear under the “Receive” tab, marked “Change of address.”
  3. Fill in the information required, and update the name on the account in the relevant box.
  4. Pay the fee for the changes, and submit the form.

You can use your credit or debit card to verify your identity if you choose to, so make sure these reflect your new name before you start.

You can also change your name over the phone if you want to.

  1. Call 1-800-275-8777 and ask for a representative.
  2. Talk them through your changes, and verify all spellings to ensure there are no errors, as you will have to pay again to make more changes if you need to correct something.
  3. Pay the fee for the changes.

You will then receive a letter confirming these changes.

We have a detailed article on changing your address below, please read it as well since it involves the same process as changing your name.

Related Post: How To Easily Change Your Address With The Post Office?

How To Change Your Name After Marriage With USPS

Changing your name after marriage can be done in either of the two ways stated in the previous section. You can simply go online and fill in the “Change of address” form, or you can speak to a representative of USPS, who can do this for you.

In both cases, you will have to pay a small fee for doing so.

How To Change Your Name On Your Post Office Account

If you have a Post Office Account, you may wish to update your name on here too. Again, this is not necessary, but you can do so if you choose.

If you have a saved payment method, you may need to update the cardholder’s name, because this must reflect the name that appears on your card. Make sure you update this, or your payment method may not work.

To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to your USPS account.
  2. Hover over “Hi” and click on “My Profile.”
  3. Go into “Saved Payment Info.”
  4. Click “Add a card” and enter your card information into the boxes as requested.
  5. Delete old cards if necessary, as you can only store up to three cards, and there is no point in keeping cards that do not have your current legal name on them.

Note that you cannot change the Username on your Post Office Account. This is fixed and there is no option to update it.

How Much Does It Cost To Change Your Name With USPS?

The fee for updating your name with USPS using their “Change of address” form is currently $1.05, but this is subject to change with time. This applies to online and over-the-phone changes. If you wish to update your information without paying the fee, you can do this in person at a USPS post office.

You can also fill in the form online but stop before the “Submit” button. Instead of submitting it, print the form and take it to the local post office.

You can get copies of the form from the post office if you choose to, or request a mail carrier bring you one.

Is There A Time Limit To Change Your Name With A Post Office?

No, there is no time limit in which you need to change your name with the post office. If you are having issues getting your mail, you may wish to make this a priority, but it is very unlikely to be the case.

There is no need to rush to change your name with the post office. Focus on other, more important entities, such as your banks, any government bodies, work information, etc. The post office can wait.

If you are having issues with getting your mail, try the following:

  • Speak to your mail carrier and explain the name change.
  • Stick a label inside the mailbox with the names of the current residents. This can resolve confusion with any mail carrier.

Hopefully, this will solve any confusion that occurs. If it doesn’t, consider filling in a “change of address” form to ensure USPS has up-to-date information for you.

Conclusion

You can change your name with USPS if you wish to, using their Change of Address form. However, if you would rather save yourself a job, your mail should still arrive as normal even if you do not update your USPS information.