How to Change Your Name After Marriage

If you are recently married and want to change your name your married name, you don’t need to go through the legal name change process by filing documents with the court. There is a much simpler process, as follows:

Step 1: Obtain a Copy of Your Marriage Certificate

Typically, a copy of your marriage certificate will be mailed to you within a month after getting married. If not, or you currently don’t have one, you can always obtain a certified copy of your marriage certificate in the same location you obtained your marriage license. Depending on how many places you need to change your name, you may want to consider ordering multiple copies of your marriage certificate.

Step 2: Update Your Name with the Social Security Administration

Before you update your passport or driver’s license with your married name, you will want to update your name with the Social Security Administration. You can do so by filling out the SS-5 Form, and mailing it in, along with the correct documents (a certified copy of your marriage certificate).

Step 3: Update your State Driver’s License

The best way to start is to call the office in your state that issues Driver’s Licenses (typically the Department of Motor Vehicles) and see what documentation is needed to update your driver’s license after marriage. Typically, it will be your marriage certificate and your new social security card, but this varies state to state.

Step 4: Update your Passport

If your passport was issued with your maiden name less than a year ago, there is no fee to renew your passport with your married name. If the passport was issued more than a year ago, you will need to pay the renewal fee.

You will submit Form DS-82, along with your previously issued passport, a recent passport photo, and evidence of your married name change (a certified copy of your marriage certificate).

Step 5: Update the Rest of Your Documents

You will then need to update your voter registration info, bank accounts, credit cards, investment accounts, utilities, any other personal accounts, and all of your subscriptions or memberships.