Just married in Louisiana? Congratulations. The Bayou State does a few things its own way (parishes instead of counties, and a special rule for New Orleans), but the name change itself is straightforward once you know the order. Here is exactly how to do it, with what it costs and how long it takes.
What a Louisiana Name Change Costs and How Long It Takes
The honest math for a standard married name change in Louisiana:
| Step | Louisiana cost |
|---|---|
| Social Security card (SS-5) | Free |
| Certified marriage certificate copies | $5 to $10 each, by parish |
| Driver’s license | $13 to $21 (4-year) or $17 to $25 (6-year) |
| Vehicle title correction (optional) | $76.50 |
The must-do core (Social Security plus your license) runs about $20 to $35.
The pricey optional one: correcting the name on your vehicle title is $76.50 ($68.50 plus an $8 handling fee). Louisiana has some of the highest title fees in the country, so many newlyweds wait until they sell the car.
Time: your new Social Security card takes about 2 to 3 weeks. There is no 60-day name-change deadline for your license in Louisiana, despite what many sites claim. Just update Social Security first and give it about 24 hours before visiting the OMV.
Step 1: Get Certified Copies of Your Marriage Certificate
Here is the first Louisiana quirk: your marriage record comes from the Clerk of Court of the parish (not county) where you got your license. The big exception is Orleans Parish: New Orleans marriage records come from the Louisiana Vital Records Registry (the state health department), not a Clerk of Court.
Fees by parish: Orleans $5 (plus $0.50 by mail), Jefferson $10, East Baton Rouge $10, Lafayette $5, Caddo about $6. Order 2 or 3 certified copies, since Social Security and the OMV each want an original.
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 (same number) arrives in about 2 to 3 weeks. Do this first, because the OMV verifies your new name against Social Security. Details: ssa.gov.
Louisiana has 21 Social Security field offices. Find the one nearest you:
| City | Address | ZIP | Phone | Mon-Fri |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | 3401 North Blvd | 71301 | (877) 876-3171 | 9 AM-4 PM |
| Baton Rouge | 4332 Harding Blvd | 70807 | (888) 487-0143 | 9 AM-4 PM |
| Baton Rouge | 5455 Bankers Ave | 70808 | (866) 613-3070 | 9 AM-4 PM |
| Bogalusa | 438 Avenue B | 70427 | (888) 748-7678 | 9 AM-4 PM |
| Hammond | 2100 Robin Ave | 70403 | (855) 848-7937 | 9 AM-4 PM |
| Houma | 178 Civic Center Blvd | 70360 | (866) 899-5631 | 9 AM-4 PM |
| Kenner | 1616 Joe Yenni Blvd | 70065 | (888) 850-2232 | 9 AM-4 PM |
| Lacombe | 64285 Highway 434 | 70445 | (866) 887-8997 | 9 AM-4 PM |
| Lafayette | 106 Corporate Blvd | 70508 | (888) 619-4771 | 9 AM-4 PM |
| Lake Charles | 149 W 18th St | 70601 | (877) 409-8431 | 9 AM-4 PM |
| Leesville | 2100 Sartor St | 71446 | (888) 577-6906 | 9 AM-4 PM |
| Minden | 103 Mbl Bank Drive | 71055 | (877) 319-5762 | 9 AM-4 PM |
| Monroe | 1120 Plaza Blvd | 71201 | (866) 815-8716 | 9 AM-4 PM |
| Morgan City | 1279 Clothilde St | 70380 | (855) 433-5874 | 9 AM-4 PM |
| Natchitoches | 950 Keyser Ave | 71457 | (855) 634-4195 | 9 AM-4 PM |
| New Iberia | 417 Spanish Town Blvd | 70560 | (866) 592-1496 | 9 AM-4 PM |
| New Orleans | 400 Poydras Street | 70130 | (855) 257-0984 | 9 AM-4 PM |
| Opelousas | 5097 I49 S Service Rd | 70570 | (866) 698-3338 | 9 AM-4 PM |
| Ruston | 2017 Bular St | 71270 | (877) 405-7823 | 9 AM-4 PM |
| Shreveport | 1240 S Pointe Pkwy | 71105 | (877) 319-3074 | 9 AM-4 PM |
| Terrytown | 115 Terry Pkwy | 70056 | (866) 931-2524 | 9 AM-4 PM |
Step 3: Change Your Louisiana Driver’s License
You will visit the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) in person (a name change is not an online transaction, since you need a new photo). The fee is $13 to $21 for a 4-year license or $17 to $25 for a 6-year license, the range being a local service fee that depends on the office. Update Social Security first: the OMV checks your new name electronically against Social Security, which takes about 24 hours to update, so give it a day. Bring your updated Social Security card, certified marriage certificate, current license, and proof of Louisiana residency. Despite what many guides say, there is no 60-day deadline for a marriage name change. You can book a slot through the OMV appointment system; walk-ins are served as time permits, and a private tag agent may add a convenience charge.
Step 4: Update Your Vehicle Title and Registration
Own a car? You can correct the name on your title at the OMV, though at $76.50 many people wait until they sell. Here is the process:
- Change your driver’s license first (Step 3).
- Complete the Vehicle Application (Form DPSMV 1799).
- Bring your current title, certified marriage certificate, updated license, and proof of insurance to the OMV.
- Pay the $76.50 fee (a $68.50 title correction plus an $8 handling fee) and receive a corrected title and registration in your new name.
Louisiana Name Change Mistakes to Avoid
The Louisiana-specific trip-ups: first, it is a parish, not a county, and the Clerk of Court holds your marriage record. Second, if you married in New Orleans, do not go to a Clerk of Court: Orleans records come only from the state Vital Records Registry. Third, do not skip Social Security, since the OMV verifies against it (update it and wait about a day). And finally, do not chase the mythical “60-day deadline” you will see on other sites: there is no such deadline for a marriage name change. Order two or three certified copies up front so Social Security and the OMV each get one.
Other Louisiana Licenses to Update
Firearm carry
Louisiana has been a permitless (constitutional) carry state since July 4, 2024, so no permit is required to carry. If you keep the optional Concealed Handgun Permit from the Louisiana State Police, report a name change within 30 days in writing, either at CHP.LA.GOV or by certified mail. There is no separately published fee for reporting the change.
Hunting and fishing
Update your name in your Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) account. If a name change flags your license as “restricted,” the LDWF ENVOC Helpdesk at 225-267-9996 can clear it.
Passport
Federal and optional: use form DS-5504 (free within a year of issue) or DS-82; worth it if you travel.
Louisiana State Taxes
Louisiana has a state income tax, so update your name in the Louisiana Taxpayer Access Point (LaTAP): sign in, open your account’s Account Summary, then More, then Manage Names & Addresses, and use the Names tab. If you cannot use LaTAP, file Form R-6505 (Individual Income Tax Name and Address Change) by mail, fax, or email to the Department of Revenue at no charge. Then give your employer an updated Louisiana withholding form (L-4) so your W-2 matches your new name.
Update Your Voter Registration
Update your registration at GeauxVote.com (or the GeauxVote app) at least 20 days before an election, or through your parish Registrar of Voters by mail or in person at least 30 days before. If your name was changed by court order, include a copy of the order.
Louisiana Marriage Certificate Offices by Parish
Order certified copies from the Clerk of Court that issued your license, except in Orleans, where records come from the state Vital Records Registry:
| Parish | Where to order | Certified copy fee |
|---|---|---|
| Orleans | Louisiana Vital Records Registry (state) | $5 (plus $0.50 by mail) |
| Jefferson | Clerk of Court | $10 |
| East Baton Rouge | Clerk of Court | $10 |
| Lafayette | Clerk of Court | $5 |
| Caddo | Clerk of Court | About $6 ($6.78 by mail) |
Which Names Can You Take in Louisiana?
Louisiana is the country’s one civil-law state, but the everyday choices are simple. Taking your spouse’s last name, or hyphenating both surnames, is covered by your certified marriage certificate with no court order. Only a name you cannot build from the marriage needs a judge.
| What you want to do | Court needed? | What proves it |
|---|---|---|
| Take your spouse’s last name | No | Certified marriage certificate |
| Hyphenate both spouses’ last names | No | Certified marriage certificate |
| A new first name, an invented surname, or a legal change of your birth name | Yes – district court petition | Signed court order |
A formal legal name change is a petition to the district court of your parish, and Louisiana adds an unusual step: the district attorney must be served with the petition. For a straightforward married name, though, the marriage certificate is all you need.
Licensed Professional? Update Your Board
Most Louisiana professions are licensed by a state board that takes a name-change notice with your marriage certificate. Two common ones:
Registered nurses (LSBN)
Log in to the Nurse Portal, choose Manage Profile, then Demographics, and upload your marriage license or divorce decree as a PDF. It cannot be folded into your renewal. The board does not currently list a fee for the portal name change.
Licensed practical nurses (LSBPNE)
In the Nurse Portal, choose Other Applications, then Apply, then the Name Change Application. Upload a certified court-processed marriage license (the only accepted marriage document) plus a copy of your current driver’s license. Processing usually takes 3 to 5 business days, and there is no published fee.
Other professions
Real estate, cosmetology, teaching, medicine, and the rest: notify your Louisiana licensing board with a copy of the marriage certificate. Most accept an online or portal update.
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 Louisiana name before you know it.