To change your last name with Social Security after marriage, file Form SS-5 with a certified copy of your marriage certificate and an unexpired photo ID. It is free, your Social Security number (SSN) stays the same, and your new card arrives in about 2 weeks. Do it first: the IRS, your employer, and most state DMVs check your name against your Social Security record before they will update theirs.
This guide comes from MissNowMrs, the online name change service that has helped over 500,000 newlyweds. MissNowMrs is a private company, not a government agency. Filing with the Social Security Administration (SSA) is free whether or not you use our service.
How do I change my name with Social Security after marriage?
There are three steps, and most newlyweds finish them in one sitting plus a two-week wait.
- Get a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the county or state office that recorded your marriage. Photocopies are not accepted.
- Complete Form SS-5, the Application for a Social Security Card. Answer Question 11 “Yes” (more on that below).
- Apply online, in person, or by mail. Online works only for marriages in 21 participating states; everyone else visits an SSA office or mails original documents.
Cost & Time at a Glance
| Cost | Free (Social Security charges nothing; you only pay for certified marriage certificate copies) |
| Time | New card in about 10 to 14 business days (about 2 weeks) |
| Deadline | No hard deadline, but do this step before the DMV, IRS, and passport |
Good to know
- Your Social Security number does not change. Your 9-digit number stays the same for life; only the name attached to it changes.
- It will not use up your card replacements. A marriage name change is exempt from the usual replacement-card limits (3 per year, 10 per lifetime), even if you have replaced a card before.
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Watch: a short video overview of the Social Security name change, from the MissNowMrs name change experts.
Can you change your name with Social Security online?
Yes, but only if your marriage license is from one of 21 participating states and you meet every condition below. Everyone else can usually start online but must finish at an SSA office.
SSA’s online married name change runs through your my Social Security account. You qualify only if all of these are true:
- You are a U.S. citizen, 18 or older, with a U.S. mailing address.
- You are changing your name because of marriage, and the marriage was at least 30 days ago.
- Your marriage license was issued in a participating state (listed below).
- You have a my Social Security account, or create one in a few minutes.
Participating states for the online option (as of 2026, and the list keeps growing):
Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
If your marriage license is from any of the other 29 states, Washington D.C., or a U.S. territory, you can usually start online but will need to finish at an SSA office. Not sure which applies to you? Answer a few questions on SSA’s own tool and it will tell you: Change name with Social Security.
What documents do you need for a Social Security name change?
For a name change due to marriage, you need two original documents plus the SS-5 application: proof of your name change and proof of your identity. Photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted.
| What SSA needs | What to bring after marriage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Proof of the name change | Certified copy of your marriage certificate | Order it from the county or state office that recorded the marriage. The fee varies by county. |
| Proof of identity | Unexpired U.S. driver’s license, state-issued ID, or U.S. passport | Any one of the three. Without them, SSA may accept another photo ID such as an employee or school ID, or a health insurance card (not a Medicare card). |
| Proof of U.S. citizenship | U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport | Only needed if SSA’s records do not already show your citizenship. |
| The application | Completed Form SS-5 | Download it from ssa.gov. |
Not a U.S. citizen? See what non-citizens bring.
How do you fill out the SS-5 name change application?
Fill out Form SS-5 with your new married name as the name to be shown on the card, list your previous name where the form asks for other names used, and answer Question 11 “Yes”.
The Question 11 mistake
Question 11 asks whether you, or anyone acting on your behalf, has ever filed for or received a Social Security card before. If you already have a card, the answer is Yes, because your parents applied for you, and you enter your existing number.
Answering No can lead SSA to issue a second Social Security number, which splits your earnings record and is hard to undo. It is the question we are asked about most.
Before you file, check that every name and date on the form matches your marriage certificate and ID exactly. Missing fields are the most common reason an application is delayed or rejected.
Rather not hand-fill the SS-5? See the name change kit.
Skip the SS-5 Guesswork.
We pre-fill your SS-5 and the rest of your federal and state name change forms. Answer once.
How do you apply in person at a Social Security office or by mail?
If you cannot apply online, either visit a Social Security office or mail your SS-5 with your original documents. In person is faster for getting your documents back: the clerk copies them and returns them on the spot.
Applying in person
- Find your nearest office with SSA’s office locator, or call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to book an appointment.
- Bring your completed SS-5, your certified marriage certificate, and your photo ID.
- For state-specific steps after SSA, such as your DMV’s rules, see our state-by-state name change guides.
Applying by mail
- Mail the SS-5 with your original certified marriage certificate and one unexpired photo ID. SSA mails the originals back.
- You will be without those documents for about two weeks. If your driver’s license is your only photo ID, file in person or mail your passport instead, so you are never without a license.
- Mail adds a few days to the overall timeline.
Not in an online state and dreading the office trip? See the name change kit.
How long does a new Social Security card take, and what does it cost?
Changing your name with Social Security is free, and the new card arrives in about 10 to 14 business days (roughly 2 weeks) after SSA processes your application. Filing by mail adds a few days.
The only cost is the certified copy of your marriage certificate, which your county or state charges for; the fee varies by location. A marriage name change also does not count against SSA’s replacement-card limits (3 per year, 10 per lifetime).
Does your Social Security number (SSN) change when you change your last name?
No. Your 9-digit Social Security number stays the same for life; only the name attached to it changes. SSA calls the new card a corrected card: same number, new name. That is exactly why Question 11 on the SS-5 must be answered “Yes”.
Why change your name with Social Security first?
Social Security comes first because other agencies check your name against SSA’s record. Many state DMVs verify your new name with SSA before issuing a license, and your tax return must match the name SSA has on file. Update SSA, wait for the change to go through, then move on.
While you wait for the new card
Your new card takes about two weeks. Until it arrives:
- Hold off on the DMV. Many states verify your new name with Social Security before issuing a license, so a same-day DMV trip can bounce until SSA shows the change.
- Hold off on filing taxes under the new name until the card arrives, so your return matches SSA records.
If you also need a REAL ID, the order matters even more: see REAL ID and your married name change.
What do you do after your Social Security name change?
Once Social Security shows your new name, update everything else in this order.
- Driver’s license or state ID, and REAL ID. Most DMVs want your new Social Security card and marriage certificate. See driver’s license name change and REAL ID after marriage.
- Passport. Be careful if you have travel booked: the name on your ticket must match your ID. See passport name change after marriage.
- IRS. Notify the IRS with Form 8822. See Form 8822 and your name change.
- Employer and payroll. See updating your name with your employer.
- Banks, credit cards, insurance, utilities, and everything else. Most want your new ID and marriage certificate.
Track all of it with our free married name change checklist, or read the full name change after marriage guide.
Social Security Is Step One.
Get every remaining form, from the DMV to your passport, pre-filled in one kit.
Should you do it yourself or use MissNowMrs?
You can change your name with Social Security yourself for free; MissNowMrs saves time on the forms that come after it. Here is an honest comparison.
| Do it yourself | With MissNowMrs | |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security filing fee | Free | Free (government fees are the same either way) |
| Finding the right forms | You find each agency’s form | We identify the federal and state forms for your situation |
| Filling out forms | You enter the same details on every form | Answer once; we pre-fill every form |
| SS-5 Question 11 and similar traps | You check the instructions yourself | Pre-filled correctly, with step-by-step filing instructions |
| Filing | You file or visit each agency | You still sign and file; we tell you where and in what order |
| Cost | Your time | See current kit prices |
Other Social Security name change situations
What if you are not a U.S. citizen?
The process is the same, but you also bring your current U.S. immigration document, such as a Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) or work permit, plus your unexpired foreign passport. SSA uses them to confirm your identity, status, and work eligibility.
What if you need help in another language?
SSA provides interpreters at no cost. Ask for one when you book your appointment or arrive at the office.
How do you change your name back after a divorce?
File a new SS-5 with a certified copy of your divorce decree that restores your former name, plus proof of identity. The rest of the process is the same as after marriage.
How do you change a child’s name with Social Security?
A parent or legal guardian files the SS-5 for the child, with proof of the child’s U.S. citizenship and identity, proof of the parent’s identity, and the legal document behind the change, such as an adoption decree or court order.
What if your name change is not from marriage?
For any other change, including a gender transition, you need a legal name change document, usually a court order. Requirements vary by state, so check your state’s rules or ask a legal professional.
What if you lost your old Social Security card?
You do not need to return your old card. Apply with the same documents: proof of identity, proof of the name change, and proof of citizenship or immigration status if SSA asks for it.
What if Social Security rejects your name change?
Read the notice; it states why. The usual causes are missing SS-5 fields, photocopies instead of certified originals, or names that do not match across documents. Fix the issue and resubmit.
What are the most common Social Security name change mistakes?
The five mistakes we see most often:
- Answering No to Question 11, which risks a second Social Security number.
- Sending photocopies. SSA needs originals or certified copies from the issuing office.
- Going to the DMV first, before SSA shows your new name.
- Mailing your only photo ID and being without a license for two weeks.
- Assuming SSA updates everyone else. It does not: the IRS, your passport, your bank, and your employer each need their own update.
