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How to Change to Your Married Name in California

How to Change Your Name in California

Just married in California? Congratulations. The Golden State makes a married name change straightforward, with one catch worth knowing up front: you have to lock in your new name on your marriage license before the wedding. Here is exactly how to do it, in order, with what it costs and how long it takes.

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What a California Name Change Costs and How Long It Takes

The honest math for a standard married name change in California:

StepCalifornia cost
Social Security card (SS-5)Free
Certified marriage certificate copies$19 to $21 each, by county
Driver’s license$39
Vehicle title (Form REG 227)$0

Core out-of-pocket runs about $40 to $80, with the $39 license as the main cost. A passport update adds more only if yours is over a year old.

Time: plan for a few weeks. Your new Social Security card takes about 2 to 3 weeks, and it must show your new name before the DMV will process your license. A mailed title update takes 10 to 30 business days.

Step 1: Get Certified Copies of Your Marriage Certificate

In California your certified marriage certificate comes from the County Recorder (Clerk-Recorder) of the county where you got your marriage license; the state vital records office can also issue one. Order 2 or 3 certified copies, since Social Security and the DMV each want to see an original. As of January 2026 the fee is $19 per copy in most counties ($21 in Alameda), listed by county below.

Step 2: Update Social Security First

Social Security is free and the same in every state: complete form SS-5, show your certified marriage certificate, and your new card arrives in about 2 to 3 weeks. Do this first, because the California DMV electronically verifies your name against Social Security and will not issue your license until your SSA record shows the new name. Details: ssa.gov.

California has 124 Social Security field offices. Find the one nearest you:

CityAddressZIPPhoneMon-Fri
Alhambra555 W Main St91801(866) 227-65619 AM-4 PM
Anaheim900 S Harbor Blvd92805(866) 657-31339 AM-4 PM
Antioch2508 Verne Roberts Cir94509(866) 331-23249 AM-4 PM
Auburn11855 Edgewood Rd95603(866) 931-60879 AM-4 PM
Bakersfield2575 Haley Street93305(866) 366-95589 AM-4 PM
Bakersfield5300 Office Park Drive93309(866) 476-14899 AM-4 PM
Berkeley2045 Allston Way94704(877) 531-46969 AM-4 PM
Brea3230 E Imperial Hwy92821(866) 593-27579 AM-4 PM
Burbank1420 W Olive Ave91506(888) 748-76999 AM-4 PM
Campbell1480 W Campbell Ave95008(866) 348-58329 AM-4 PM
Chatsworth20439 Nordhoff St91311(855) 727-35989 AM-4 PM
Chico1370 E. Lassen Ave95973(866) 964-75859 AM-4 PM
Chula Vista626 L Street91911(888) 487-99079 AM-4 PM
Compton171 E Compton Blvd90220(888) 472-61179 AM-4 PM
Concord2150 John Glenn Dr94520(877) 319-60429 AM-4 PM
Crescent City560 E Hoover Ave95531(855) 727-36009 AM-4 PM
Daly City355 Gellert Blvd94015(888) 748-77029 AM-4 PM
Delano2234 Girard Street93215(866) 635-02879 AM-4 PM
El Cajon846 Arnele Ave92020(866) 964-00129 AM-4 PM
El Centro3007 N Imperial Ave92243(866) 593-56809 AM-4 PM
El Monte9351 Telstar Ave.91731(866) 931-03409 AM-4 PM
Eureka3144 Broadway95501(866) 828-19919 AM-4 PM
Fontana10668 Sierra Ave92337(866) 726-78659 AM-4 PM
Fountain Valley17075 Newhope Street92708(877) 304-15669 AM-4 PM
Fremont3100 Mowry Ave94538(888) 632-70739 AM-4 PM
Fresno5140 E Olive Ave93727(866) 366-49189 AM-4 PM
Fresno865 Fulton Street93721(877) 311-26409 AM-4 PM
Fresno640 W Locust Avenue93650(866) 931-90419 AM-4 PM
Garden Grove11900 Gilbert Street92841(877) 669-31159 AM-4 PM
Gilroy1059 First Street95020(877) 452-41989 AM-4 PM
Glendale225 W Broadway91204(855) 886-96339 AM-4 PM
Glendora1165 E Route 6691740(866) 964-60459 AM-4 PM
Hanford330 North Harris St93230(855) 207-48669 AM-4 PM
Hawthorne11539 Hawthorne Blvd90250(866) 331-76949 AM-4 PM
Hayward24301 Southland Dr94545(866) 964-50549 AM-4 PM
Hemet3095 W Devonshire Ave92545(855) 207-70839 AM-4 PM
Hollywood1122 N Vine St90038(866) 613-28619 AM-4 PM
Huntington Park6303 Rugby Avenue90255(866) 931-99419 AM-4 PM
Indio46845 Monroe Street92201(877) 319-57589 AM-4 PM
La Mesa7961 University Ave91942(877) 405-14459 AM-4 PM
Lakeport991 Parallel Dr95453(888) 676-26669 AM-4 PM
Lakewood4957 Paramount Blvd90712(866) 964-64849 AM-4 PM
Lancaster42225 10th St W93534(866) 964-17259 AM-4 PM
Lodi1110 W Kettleman Lane95240(888) 257-26419 AM-4 PM
Long Beach2005 Long Beach Blvd90806(888) 256-26319 AM-4 PM
Los Angeles4000 Wilshire Blvd90010(866) 964-75929 AM-4 PM
Los Angeles3840 Crenshaw Blvd90008(877) 531-46939 AM-4 PM
Los Angeles12429 Avalon Blvd90061(877) 836-15589 AM-4 PM
Los Angeles1122 W Washington Blvd90015(866) 964-74019 AM-4 PM
Los Angeles215 N Soto Street90033(866) 964-20359 AM-4 PM
Los Angeles1401 W 8th Street90017(877) 803-63089 AM-4 PM
Los Angeles11500 W Olympic Blvd90064(866) 964-47799 AM-4 PM
Madera348 E Yosemite Ave93638(877) 405-14539 AM-4 PM
Manteca510 Commerce Ct95336(866) 320-25879 AM-4 PM
Merced3185 M St95348(888) 632-70699 AM-4 PM
Mission Viejo23311 Madero92691(888) 306-98789 AM-4 PM
Modesto1521 N Carpenter Rd95351(888) 748-76989 AM-4 PM
Montebello2216 W Beverly Blvd90640(866) 964-74359 AM-4 PM
Moreno Valley22815 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos92553(888) 590-27059 AM-4 PM
Mountain View701 N Shoreline Blvd94043(877) 319-01619 AM-4 PM
Napa1850 Soscol Ave94559(877) 836-15599 AM-4 PM
National City700 E 24th St91950(866) 331-22039 AM-4 PM
Needles1502 Bailey Avenue92363(866) 596-79469 AM-4 PM
Norwalk12440 E Imperial Hwy90650(866) 331-32819 AM-4 PM
Oakland7200 Bancroft Avenue94605(888) 527-93299 AM-4 PM
Oakland360 22nd St94612(866) 964-74209 AM-4 PM
Oceanside2160 S El Camino Real92054(855) 287-47939 AM-4 PM
Ontario1100 E Holt Blvd91761(866) 331-22169 AM-4 PM
Oroville115 Table Mountain Bl95965(866) 331-71309 AM-4 PM
Oxnard2000 Outlet Center Dr93036(866) 931-83529 AM-4 PM
Palm Springs4201 E Ramon Rd92264(877) 873-91059 AM-4 PM
Panorama City14500 Roscoe Blvd91402(866) 341-07859 AM-4 PM
Pasadena104 N Mentor Avenue91106(877) 255-15089 AM-4 PM
Placerville3916 Missouri Flat Rd95667(877) 545-54979 AM-4 PM
Pomona2130 N Garey Ave91767(888) 808-54869 AM-4 PM
Porterville890 W Morton Avenue93257(866) 388-89039 AM-4 PM
Redding2660 Park Marina Dr96001(866) 964-12369 AM-4 PM
Redwood City1718 Broadway St94063(888) 860-55829 AM-4 PM
Richmond3164 Garrity Way94806(877) 877-31169 AM-4 PM
Riverside10000 Magnolia Ave92503(866) 931-44959 AM-4 PM
Roseville910 Cirby Way95661(866) 348-78309 AM-4 PM
Sacramento2424 Arden Way95825(855) 782-91539 AM-4 PM
Sacramento40 Massie Circle95823(866) 708-32089 AM-4 PM
Sacramento8581 Folsom Blvd95826(877) 274-54199 AM-4 PM
Salinas928 E Blanco Rd93901(877) 600-28579 AM-4 PM
San Bernardino605 N Arrowhead Ave92401(866) 331-71329 AM-4 PM
San Diego8505 Aero Dr92123(866) 331-63979 AM-4 PM
San Diego1333 Front Street92101(855) 820-00979 AM-4 PM
San Fernando456 S F Mission Blvd91340(888) 383-15999 AM-4 PM
San Francisco560 Kearny Street94108(877) 319-30709 AM-4 PM
San Francisco3140 16th St94103(866) 755-63239 AM-4 PM
San Francisco90 7th St94103(866) 964-50519 AM-4 PM
San Jose6140 Cottle Rd95123(888) 383-11809 AM-4 PM
San Jose2500 Fontaine Rd95121(866) 931-44969 AM-4 PM
San Jose280 S First Street95113(866) 331-22359 AM-4 PM
San Leandro320 Davis St94577(866) 331-21819 AM-4 PM
San Luis Obispo3240 S Higuera St93401(855) 207-48659 AM-4 PM
San Marcos367 Via Vera Cruz92078(866) 614-47699 AM-4 PM
San Mateo800 South Claremont St94402(866) 726-81939 AM-4 PM
San Rafael99 Smith Ranch Road94903(866) 331-77619 AM-4 PM
Santa Ana1851 East First Street92705(888) 366-61469 AM-4 PM
Santa Barbara122 W Figueroa St93101(866) 695-62859 AM-4 PM
Santa Cruz169 Walnut Avenue95060(800) 593-85239 AM-4 PM
Santa Maria2436 Professional Pkwy93455(866) 331-23169 AM-4 PM
Santa Rosa2099 Range Ave95401(877) 870-63849 AM-4 PM
Sonora745 Morning Star Drive95370(888) 397-41259 AM-4 PM
Stockton4747 Feather River Dr95219(877) 803-63149 AM-4 PM
Suisun City700 Main Street94585(866) 964-50219 AM-4 PM
Susanville2603 Riverside Dr96130(855) 420-85639 AM-4 PM
Thousand Oaks322 E Thousand Oaks Bl91360(888) 397-48079 AM-4 PM
Torrance20000 Mariner Ave Ste 15090503(877) 319-07329 AM-4 PM
Ukiah521 S Orchard Ave95482(888) 590-27069 AM-4 PM
Valencia27200 Tourney Rd91355(888) 632-70729 AM-4 PM
Vallejo106 Plaza Dr94591(888) 808-54879 AM-4 PM
Ventura6477 Telephone Road93003(877) 651-71189 AM-4 PM
Victorville13955 Park Ave92392(877) 405-14359 AM-4 PM
Visalia1901 E Noble Avenue93292(866) 344-84759 AM-4 PM
Watsonville180 Westgate Drive95076(800) 521-33859 AM-4 PM
West Covina501 S Vincent Ave91790(866) 964-01629 AM-4 PM
West Sacramento825 Riverside Parkway95605(866) 726-81369 AM-4 PM
Whittier7200 Greenleaf Ave90602(866) 336-21879 AM-4 PM
Yreka1960 S. Oregon Street96097(888) 366-61459 AM-4 PM
Yuba City355 Percy Avenue95991(866) 331-54499 AM-4 PM
Yucca Valley56492 29 Palms Hwy92284(877) 325-74179 AM-4 PM

Step 3: Update Your California Driver’s License

Head to a California DMV office in person. Here is your checklist:

  • Update Social Security first and wait for your new card. The DMV verifies against Social Security and will not proceed without it.
  • Bring a certified marriage certificate.
  • Pay the $39 license fee.
  • Expect a new photo and thumbprint, since it is done in person.
  • Book an appointment at dmv.ca.gov to skip the wait, since walk-in waits can top two hours. Or use the free Get in Line virtual queue.
  • Ask about REAL ID at the same visit. For REAL ID, also bring a passport or certified birth certificate and two printed proofs of California residency.
Ready for a New Name? Order Now!

Step 4: Update Your Vehicle Title

Good news for California car owners: a title name change is free. Use Form REG 227:

  1. Complete Form REG 227 with your new name.
  2. Attach a certified marriage certificate, your updated Social Security card, your current California title, and your California license in the new name.
  3. Mail it to the DMV.
  4. Allow 10 to 30 business days.

California Marriage Certificate Offices by County

Order certified copies from the County Recorder that issued your marriage license:

CountyCertified copy feeOrder from
Los Angeles$19Registrar-Recorder
San Diego$19Recorder-Clerk
Orange$19Clerk-Recorder
Riverside$19Clerk-Recorder
San Bernardino$19Recorder-Clerk
Sacramento$19Clerk-Recorder
Santa Clara$19Clerk-Recorder
Alameda$21Clerk-Recorder

Other California Licenses to Update

A few state-issued credentials need your new name too:

CredentialWhat to do
Notary publicFile a Name Change Application with the Secretary of State for an amended commission, then file a new oath and bond and get a new seal within 30 days.
Concealed carry (CCW)Submit a modification to the sheriff or police department that issued your permit (not wherever you live now). Update your license first, then upload your new license and marriage certificate. Fees vary by county (about $10, e.g. Los Angeles).
Hunting and fishingEmail the CDFW License and Revenue Branch at LRB@wildlife.ca.gov with your old and new names and your GO ID. Keep your existing record so your preference points stay attached.

Update Your Voter Registration

Re-register under your new name at RegisterToVote.ca.gov. A DMV name change does not automatically update your voter registration. The deadline is 15 days before an election.

California State Taxes

California has a state income tax, but there is no separate name-change form. Once you have updated Social Security, file your next Franchise Tax Board return under your new name (enter your prior last name in the return’s Prior Name field), and give your employer an updated DE 4. To fix an account issue sooner, call the FTB at 800-852-5711.

California Name Change Tips

The one thing California newlyweds miss

  • Decide your new name before the wedding. California lets you take your spouse’s last name, hyphenate, or use your maiden name as your middle name, but only on the marriage license when it is issued. You cannot add or change it after the ceremony without going to court.
  • Do Social Security first. The DMV will not process your license until your SSA record shows the new name.
  • Your car title change is free. Do not pay for a new title unless you want one.

Which Names Can You Take in California?

Spouse’s last name, hyphenated, or maiden name as your middle name: Yes, chosen on your marriage license under California’s Name Equality Act. A certified marriage certificate is your legal proof.

The catch: you must choose the new name on the license before the ceremony. It cannot be added or amended afterward.

A new first name, or a name not offered on the license: this needs a court petition in Superior Court.

Licensed Professional? Update Through BreEZe

Most California professions, from nursing to real estate to cosmetology, are licensed under the Department of Consumer Affairs through the BreEZe online system.

  • A single name-change submission in BreEZe notifies every participating board and bureau, so you file once.
  • Do it within 30 days, with a certified marriage certificate. DCA name change details.

Changing your name is one of the happiest kinds of paperwork there is. Take it one step at a time, in the order above, and you will be signing your new California name before you know it.

Ready for a New Name? Order Now!

Prenups and Postnups

Prenups and Postnups

Curious about prenups and postnups? If you’re a bride-to-be or newlywed thinking the idea of a prenuptial agreement, you are not alone. The legal contracts once thought to be reserved for the rich and famous are becoming increasingly popular with millennials – and we mean seriously popular. As in, there was a 62% rise in prenuptial agreements created for millennials between 2013 and 2016 alone. The good news is that if you are recently married (and kudos for doing so just before or during this global pandemic), you didn’t miss the boat on your chance to reap the benefits of a financial agreement between spouses – in the form of a postnup!

While the pre- and post- prepositions define the type of contract between spouses (you cant sign a prenuptial agreement once you are married, or a postnuptial agreement until after you are married) a “postnup” is very similar in concept to the more common “prenup.” Confused yet? Don’t be. We’re here to guide you through the ins and outs of prenups and postnups, and why they might not just be for A-list celebs anymore.

Prenups & Postnups Defined

Both prenups and postnups are legal contracts that lay out which spouse is entitled to what “property” in the case of a divorce, by superseding state divorce law. Without one of these agreements, the division of your assets is left up to the laws of your state. A prenup or postnup helps to make it more likely that in the unfortunate event of a divorce, the division of assets and debt takes place on terms you and your spouse had already agreed to.

Generally speaking, prenuptial agreements are more widely enforced than postnuptial agreements, in large part because they have been around a lot longer. Many state courts will uphold postnuptial agreements as long as they are in writing, signed without coercion, and fulfill  disclosure requirements of both parties. Of course, nothing about prenups or postnups is foolproof, and the specific requirements for enforcement vary greatly from state to state.

Why You May Want a Prenup or Postnup

1. You Will Receive a Future Inheritance

A prenuptial or postnuptial agreement allows couples to dictate what happens to an inheritance that one of the parties may receive, in the event the marriage ends. How this division would occur absent a prenup or postnup is dependent on your state – for example, in community property states, all assets acquired during the marriage are generally split equally, and this can include an inheritance if it was comingled. In equitable division states, the inheritance could be subject to division, based on whether the marriage was only a few years long, or a long term marriage, as well as whether it was comingled, among a variety of factors that vary greatly from state to state. The point here? A prenup or postnup allows you and your spouse to decide for yourselves what should happen to that inheritance, rather than allow state law to decide for you.

2. You Are the Less Wealthy Spouse

Let’s say you’re entering the marriage with significantly fewer assets than your spouse. Guess what? A prenup or postnup can offer you great protective benefits. Depending on what you and your spouse decide to include in the contract, your prenup or postnup can ensure that future alimony is part of the deal, dictate a certain financial payout for each year of marriage to ensure future financial security, and even dictate the date that the agreement should terminate (called a sunset clause).

3. You Own a Business

A prenup or postnup allows a couple to categorize a business as “separate property.” Meaning that such property will remain the property of one spouse if a divorce is to occur in the future. This is crucial for a spouse that owns their own business, because valuing a business for purposes of divorce can be both incredibly expensive and time consuming. What a waste of resources! To balance things out, the business owning spouse may consider agreeing that the other spouse receive a larger share of the marital assets. There are always ways to make sure everybody wins.

4. Either You or Your Spouse Have Student Debt

Who doesn’t have student debt these days? On top of the other financial concerns when combining finances,  there are three cringe-worthy words that tend to amplify financial stress for many these days: student loan debt.  65% of graduates carry student loans debt at an average of about $35,000 in federal loans per person. That doesn’t even include private loans! As the cost of education has skyrocketed, student loans place a heavy financial burden on millennials that was unheard of in previous generations. So, why not do something now to mitigate all those “what if” money worries in the back of your mind?

Having a Prenup or Postnup Tends to Lead to Healthier Marriages

While prenups and postnups have long been stigmatized as, well, less-than-romantic, many engaged and newly married couples realize that they can lay the groundwork for a healthy and transparent relationship with finances throughout the marriage. It’s a fact that couples who talk about finances more regularly have healthier marriages. Simultaneously, and probably to no surprise, money serves as the leading cause of stress in marriages.

After all, a prenup or postnup isn’t just about finances. It’s about your relationship and open, honest communication. When crafted properly, these agreements can allow you and your partner to determine what you want in the case of a divorce. Instead of taking what relevant state law dictates. This increasing predisposition to such agreements isn’t happening because people don’t trust each other. But, rather because marriage is about partnership, and a partnership requires open communication about finances.

Until recently, prenups and postnups have been an underutilized, yet simple tool to set you and your partner up for financial and marital success. Are you are not yet married and interested in creating a prenuptial agreement? HelloPrenup is a service that allows users to create a prenup online in just a few hours, at a reasonable cost. If you are already married and interested in a formal financial agreement with your spouse, remember – it is never too late to begin the postnup process. After all, we can all benefit from little bit of financial security.

Name Change After Marriage In Texas: Tips & Tricks

Name change after marriage in Texas

Here is the thing nobody tells you about a name change after marriage in Texas: not one step of it can be done online. Social Security runs an online name change for residents of most states, and Texas is not one of them. The Department of Public Safety takes driver license business by appointment only. Your marriage certificate comes from a county clerk. So the whole job comes down to booking one appointment and turning up with the right pieces of paper, and this page is built around exactly that. Still weighing up your name change options? Start there and come back.

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What a Texas Name Change Costs

Cost & Time at a Glance

CostRoughly $30 to $55 for the core: $11 for the corrected driver license or ID, $28 or $33 for a corrected vehicle title depending on your county, and $6 to $21 per certified marriage copy. Social Security is free, and there is no state income tax step at all.
TimeSocial Security first, and in Texas that means in person or by mail, with the new card in about two to three weeks. Then one DPS appointment, booked up to 180 days ahead. You leave with a temporary paper license and the permanent card arrives within about 45 days.
Deadline30 days. “Visit any driver license office within 30 days of the change.”

That is a genuinely cheap name change by national standards. The $11 license is one of the lowest fees in the country, and the missing state income tax step removes an agency other states make you deal with. What Texas charges instead is your time, in the form of an appointment you have to plan around.

Step 1: The Certified Copy From Your County Clerk

In Texas the certified marriage certificate is issued by the county clerk of the county that issued your marriage license, not by a single state office and not by the county you happen to live in now. Order two certified copies while you are at it. Social Security wants to see an original and the DPS wants to see an original, and a second copy usually costs a few dollars rather than a second full fee. Texas State Law Library: marriage licenses · our guide to certified marriage certificates

Fees vary by county, from about $6 in Travis County to $21 for a first copy in Tarrant County. There is a county table further down. One warning that applies statewide: a certified copy is not the same thing as the keepsake certificate your officiant may have handed you, and no agency here will accept a photocopy of either.

Step 2: Social Security, and Why Texans Cannot Do It Online

Social Security lets people in many states change a married name inside a my Social Security account. Texas is not one of them: SSA policy RM 10205.630 lists Texas as yes for an unchanged replacement card and no for a last-name change due to marriage. So it is form SS-5, in person at a field office or by mail, with your certified marriage certificate and photo identification. It is free, your number never changes, and the card takes about two to three weeks. SSA policy RM 10205.630 · SSA: change your name · our Social Security name change guide

Do it first, and do it before you book the DPS appointment, because the DPS checks your name against Social Security records. These are the 65 Social Security field offices in Texas:

OfficeAddressCityZIPPhone
Abilene1202 E South 11th StAbilene79602(877) 607-9525
Alice1000 Medical Ctr BlvdAlice78332(888) 388-8744
Amarillo4750 Canyon DrAmarillo79109(877) 803-6318
Angleton2921 N Valderas StAngleton77515(866) 338-2940
Austin1029 Camino La CostaAustin78752(866) 627-6991
Austin South5508 Us-290 WAustin78735(855) 221-3523
Beaumont8455 Dishman RdBeaumont77713(866) 613-2864
Big Spring501 Birdwell LnBig Spring79720(888) 748-2018
Brenham2901 Victory LnBrenham77833(855) 287-4792
Brownsville3115 Central BlvdBrownsville78520(866) 964-6486
Brownwood300 Early BlvdEarly76802(877) 405-3630
Bryan2120 W Briargate DrBryan77802(866) 568-9428
Cleburne1711 W. HendersonCleburne76033(866) 227-1616
Conroe600 Sgt Ed Holcomb Blvd NConroe77304(866) 614-0032
Corpus Christi3801 S Port AveCorpus Christi78415(866) 613-2859
Corsicana221 S 45th StCorsicana75110(888) 456-9551
Dallas Fair Park2530 S Malcolm X BlvdDallas75215(888) 717-1529
Dallas North10824 N.Central ExpwyDallas75231(866) 572-2492
Dallas Oak Cliff2475 Cliff Creek Crossing DrDallas75237(866) 931-4958
Dallas Pleasant Grove2300 Dunson DrBalch Springs75180(855) 531-1683
Denton2201 Colorado BlvdDenton76205(888) 717-1530
Eagle Pass406 South Texas DrEagle Pass78852(888) 862-4864
El Paso11111 Gateway W BlvdEl Paso79935(866) 563-9310
El Paso Downtown600 Texas AveEl Paso79901(866) 964-6229
Fort Worth South2901 Altamesa BlvdFort Worth76133(866) 613-2745
Fortworth819 Taylor StFort Worth76102(866) 704-4858
Georgetown3010 Williams DrGeorgetown78628(877) 531-4699
Greenville2717 Terrell RoadGreenville75402(888) 306-3534
Harlingen2005 W Jefferson AveHarlingen78550(866) 931-7075
Houston Northeast5414 Aldine Mail RdHouston77039(866) 931-2729
Houston Northwest16200 Dillard DrHouston77040(866) 331-3277
Houston Southeast8989 Lakes At 610 DrHouston77054(866) 404-1861
Houston Southwest13302 Westheimer RdHouston77077(866) 592-1608
Kerrville1060 Guadalupe StKerrville78028(877) 895-0043
Laredo215 Calle Del NorteLaredo78041(866) 704-4857
League City2835 Gulf Frwy SouthLeague City77573(866) 299-3254
Longview611 Clinic DrLongview75605(888) 617-0455
Lubbock5825 16th StreetLubbock79416(866) 467-0460
Lufkin702 E Denman AveLufkin75901(877) 407-3442
Marshall1509 Sedberry StMarshall75670(800) 467-5313
Mcallen3004 N Mccoll RdMcallen78501(855) 886-9628
Mckinney3250 Craig DrMckinney75070(866) 931-2731
Mid Cities2010 N State Hwy 360Grand Prairie75050(855) 722-3499
Mission1013 Business Park DrMission78572(855) 245-0647
Odessa2015 E 37th StOdessa79762(866) 404-1866
Palestine215 Medical DrivePalestine75801(866) 495-0089
Pampa2333 N Hobart StPampa79065(877) 897-0603
Paris2805 Pine Mill RoadParis75460(888) 619-4772
Pasadena3300 Watters RoadPasadena77504(866) 563-4603
Port Arthur8208 9th AvePort Arthur77642(866) 964-1720
San Angelo40 W TwohigSan Angelo76903(877) 840-5742
San Antonio Central402 Isom RdSan Antonio78216(866) 571-0718
San Antonio Downtown727 E Cesar ChavezSan Antonio78206(877) 405-0482
San Antonio Nw411 Richland Hills DrSan Antonio78245(877) 697-4799
San Antonio South3438 E Southcross BlvdSan Antonio78223(866) 964-7432
San Marcos900 Bugg LaneSan Marcos78666(866) 388-8515
Seguin927 S St Hwy 123 BypSeguin78155(877) 445-0831
Sherman600 East PeytonSherman75090(877) 405-3521
Temple511 North MainTemple76501(866) 593-1341
Texarkana5735 Summerhill Rd.Texarkana75503(866) 931-7675
Tyler5509 Donnybrook AveTyler75703(877) 319-5707
Victoria8208 Ne Zac Lentz PkwyVictoria77904(877) 229-3536
Waco1700 Lake Air DrWaco76710(866) 964-6304
Waxahachie100 Dean Box DriveWaxahachie75165(866) 563-1912
Wichita Falls4314 Wendover StWichita Falls76309(866) 815-9605
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Step 3: The One DPS Appointment

Texas gives you 30 days: “Visit any driver license office within 30 days of the change.” The fee is $11, the same $11 the DPS charges for a replacement license or ID, and it includes a $1 administrative charge and keeps your current expiration date, so a name change does not restart your renewal clock. Texas DPS: change information on your license · DPS fee schedule

The appointment is the part to plan. The DPS “offers all in-office driver license and identification card services by appointment only“, with limited walk-in appointments at some offices and same-day slots at a few. Book through the Texas Scheduler, which opens up to 180 days in advance, and book it for a date after your new Social Security card should have arrived. DPS: driver license appointments · Texas Scheduler

What to take to the appointment

  • Your current Texas driver license or ID card.
  • One original name-change document: your marriage license, a divorce decree, an annulment, or a Department of State Health Services marriage verification letter.
  • Your updated Social Security card.
  • Two printed proofs of Texas residency if you are also moving to a REAL ID compliant card.

The document rule is strict and it is where people get turned away: “Documents must be original or certified copy. Certified documents should not be laminated. No photocopies can be accepted.” Do not laminate the certificate you just paid for.

You will walk out with a temporary paper license, and the permanent card is mailed to you within about 45 days. Our driver license name change guide covers what to do if yours does not turn up.

Step 4: The Vehicle Title, in Order

Texas vehicle paperwork is filed with your local county tax assessor-collector, not with the state motor vehicle department directly, and the form is 130-U. Form 130-U, Application for Texas Title and/or Registration

  1. Change the name on your driver license first. The title work is easier when your photo ID already matches.
  2. Complete Form 130-U in your new name and attach a short statement such as “Name Change Due to Marriage”.
  3. Take the form, the original title and your certified marriage certificate to your county tax assessor-collector.
  4. Pay the title fee, which is $28 or $33 depending on the county. Travis County, for example, charges $33.

Two things worth separating. Correcting your own name on your own title is a correction, and cheap. Adding your spouse as an owner is a transfer of ownership, with its own tax and fee consequences, and it is not something to do by accident on the same form.

What Texas County Clerks Charge

County clerkCertified copy feeWorth knowing
Travis$6A $5 certification fee plus $1 a page. A plain uncertified copy is $1 and is no use to you
Harris$6Cheapest when ordered at the time you file the license
Bexar$8Certified copy. The $2 standard copy will not be accepted by SSA or DPS
Dallas$10County Clerk vital records division
Tarrant$21 first copyThen $11 for each additional copy, the most expensive of the big five
Any of the other 249 countiesUsually $6 to $21It must be the county that issued your marriage license. Call before you post a check

State Income Tax: The Step Texas Does Not Have

Most state name-change guides have a section here telling you to file a change-of-name form with the state revenue department. Texas has no personal state income tax, so there is no state tax office to notify and no form to file. One agency fewer than a newlywed in almost any neighboring state. Texas Comptroller: taxes

Your federal return is a different matter. The IRS matches the name on your return to Social Security records, which is one more reason the SS-5 comes first.

Hunting and Fishing Licenses

Texas Parks and Wildlife runs hunting and fishing licenses, and this one cannot be handled at the counter where you bought the license. A retailer or sales agent cannot change the name on your record. Call the TPWD License Section on 1-800-792-1112 or 512-389-4820 with your customer number and your name-change document. There is no published online form for it. TPWD license sales information

Which Married Name Texas Allows

Texas is more generous here than most states, and a lot of guides get it wrong. No court order is needed to take your spouse’s last name, to move your maiden name into the middle position, or to hyphenate the two surnames. The marriage certificate is your legal proof for all three. Texas State Law Library: name change after marriage

A court order is needed to change your first name, to invent a merged or blended surname that is not simply the two names joined, or to take a last name unrelated to the marriage. That is a separate district court process with a fingerprint-based background check, and it is not part of an ordinary married name change.

You are also not obliged to declare anything in advance. Texas does not require you to write your intended married name on the marriage license application, so nothing is lost if you have not decided yet on the day you apply.

Voter Registration

Update your name at VoteTexas.gov using your Voter Unique Identifier, or on the paper application, and do it by the 30th day before an election. Submit it closer than that and you vote at your current polling place while the change is processed, which can itself take up to 30 days.

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What Newlyweds Get Wrong in Texas

Turning up at a driver license office without an appointment. All in-office license and ID services are appointment-only, and the limited walk-in slots are not something to build a plan around. Book first, on the Texas Scheduler.

Booking the DPS appointment too early. The DPS verifies your name with Social Security, and Texans cannot do the Social Security step online. Leave two to three weeks between the SS-5 and the appointment.

Laminating the certificate. The DPS says in as many words that certified documents should not be laminated and that no photocopies are accepted. A laminated certificate is a wasted trip.

Budgeting $11 for the vehicle title. The license is $11. The title is $28 or $33 depending on your county, and the two get confused constantly.

Missing the 30-day window. Texas publishes a real deadline for the license, unlike a number of states, and it starts at the name change rather than at your convenience.

Adding a spouse to the car title while you are there. That is an ownership transfer, not a name correction, and it carries its own tax and fees. Do it deliberately or not at all.

Professional Licenses: There Is No Single Texas Portal

Texas has no one licensing portal, so each board handles its own name change. The four that cover the most newlyweds:

AgencyWho it coversHow to update
TDLRCosmetology, barbering, the trades, athletic trainers, dietitians and many moreSubmit a government ID and your marriage license. Free if you do it before renewal
Texas Board of NursingRNs and LVNsReport it within 10 days. Texas Nurse Portal, then Manage Profile, then Request Name Change, and upload the marriage license
Texas Medical BoardPhysiciansMail the TMB Application for Name Change with an original signature, a written explanation and a certified or notarized copy of the marriage certificate to TMB, Attn: Registration, PO Box 2029, Austin TX 78768-2029. About 10 business days
TRECReal estate agents and brokersREALM Portal, then Licenses, then Amendment, then Update Contact Info / Legal Name Change

So the Texas order runs: certified copy from the county clerk that issued your license, form SS-5 to Social Security in person or by post, then the one DPS appointment for the $11 license inside 30 days, then Form 130-U at your county tax assessor-collector for the title. No state tax step, no court, and nothing you can do from your sofa. Our name change checklist handles the banks and accounts afterwards, and you can compare how other states handle it if you have moved recently.

Don’t miss our video about Texas Name Change!

New Spouse, New Name, New Journey: Embrace Your New Married Life.

With Personalized Name Change Services for Every Newlywed.

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5 New Years Name Change Tips

5 New Year Name Change Tips

Happy New Year! Here are 5 New Years name change tips! Was changing your name part of your New Year’s resolution? If so, you’re joining the millions of newlyweds who opt to change their names after marriage. As with any resolution, to be successful you need to break the goal into small steps. Below are steps to changing your maiden name, and our suggestions on how to check this resolution off your list in the next two weeks and spend the majority of 2018 as a Mrs.!

Step 1: Find your certified marriage certificate.

Order 2-3 additional certified marriage certificates from the county clerk’s office. This is the legal document you need to file all of your federal and state name-change forms. By having more that one copy, you can file several forms at the same time and become a Mrs. much faster!

Step 2: Select the name change option that best suits you and your life.

You can option to hyphenate, take two last names without a hyphen, take your maiden name as a second middle name, replace your middle name with your maiden name, or take your spouse’s last name. If you’re torn between choices, play the Married Name Game to learn your ultimate last name.

Step 3: File your federal forms.

We suggest filing the SS-5 with the Social Security Administration first, and then file the IRS 8822, notify the USPS, and file the DS-11, DS-82, or DS-5504 with the State Department for your new passport in your new married name.

Step 4: File your state-level name change forms.

These include forms to update your name on your new driver’s license, voter registration, and vehicle title. Each state has different requirements, so we highly recommend researching what you need to file with your name change forms. Many states require proof of residence, your certified marriage certificate, and another form of ID such as your new Social Security Card or U.S. passport. Knowing the office requirements in advance will save you from making multiple trips to change your name.

Step 5: Notify your creditors.

Call the 800 numbers on the backs of your credit cards, go in-person to your bank branch, and then begin notifying your employer, utilities, mortgage providers, professional licenses, loan providers, etc. of your new married name.

Newlywed Life Hack.

Instead of re-inventing the married-name change wheel, use the MissNowMrs easy online name change service. They condense the tedious 13 hour process into 30 minutes… and after assisting over 400,000 brides with their name changes, they’re experts that can help you with any difficult situations or questions!
 

Top 5 Black Friday Deals For Newlyweds

Top 5 Newlywed Black Friday Deals

It’s time for turkey, shopping, and the holidays! As you look for gifts, don’t miss out on the top 5 Black Friday deals that will help you celebrate your newlywed status and your new married name.
 

Newlywed Black Friday Deals |mrs wine glass

Tis the season to be jolly… so why not order a stemless wine glass with your new married name to enjoy your cup(s) of cheer? This elegant glass is 50% off with the code: EVERYTHING at Shutterfly!

Newlywed Black Friday Deals | miss to mrs ring dish

Where are you keeping your wedding rings when you’re not wearing them? If the answer is not in a special/safe location. Then, you are in dire need of this adorable ring dish! It’s a stylish way to celebrate your transition from Miss to Mrs.  And, the best part? This ring dish is 30% off with the code: GIVEJOY for Black Friday!

Black Friday Newlywed Deals | Mr and Mrs Towels

Mr. & Mrs. towels are a cute, yet practical way to celebrate your marriage and spruce up your master bathroom. So, use the code: SCORE to save an extra 15% on your purchase. You’ll smile every time you dry off after a shower or bath.

Newlywed Black Friday Deals | Mrs Earrings

Kate Spade has newlywed chic on lock, and Macy’s has a Black Friday deal on these gold Mrs. earrings. They’re an understated way to celebrate your new married name and status at work and on the weekends.

Newlywed Black Friday Deals | family pillow

Looking for a way to celebrate the day you became a family? This custom pillow from West Elm lets you showcase your new name and new family status with style. It’s perfect for your living room couch or as an accent pillow in your master bedroom. If you can’t decide, buy two! They’re 30% off with the code: SAVEMORE for Black Friday!

Get Your New Name Before the Holidays

We hope our list gets you excited about shopping as a Mrs. And, if you haven’t quite made the switch. We’d love to assist you with your name change. Our easy online name change app and service streamline the process into  minutes. So, you have time to officially become a Mrs. before your purchases and the holidays arrive!