Looking for a complete name change checklist after marriage? Here it is. Below you will find every step, in the order you should file them, plus the documents you need for each one. Roughly 88.6% of U.S. brides change their names after marriage, and the process is full of red tape, confusing forms, and long government office lines. A checklist keeps you from missing a step or filing things out of order, which is the single most common cause of delays.
The Complete Name Change Checklist
Work through these in order. Each step depends on the one before it, which is why the sequence matters more than the speed.
- Gather certified copies of your marriage certificate
- File for your new Social Security card
- Get your new driver’s license, vehicle title, and registration
- Change your voter registration information
- File for your new passport
- Change your name with the US Postal Service (USPS)
- Update bank accounts, credit cards, and mortgage
- Update your employer, professional organizations, utilities, and vendors
Want this as a printable name change checklist you can tick off as you go? The MissNowMrs online name change service includes a proprietary checklist that gives you the exact filing order, spots to record the date you mailed each form, and prompts for the easy to forget items like utilities and medical providers.
Avoid These Mistakes When Changing To Your Married Name
- The name on any flights you book MUST match your passport
- Allow 6 to 8 weeks for routine passport processing, or 2 to 3 weeks if you pay for expedited service
- Not all states allow you to hyphenate or move your last name to your middle name
- A complete name change (one not based on marriage) will probably require a separate court order
- You cannot make your own copies of your marriage certificate. You have to order certified copies
Step 1: Gather Certified Copies of Your Marriage Certificate
In the married name change process you will need your marriage certificate as proof of your marriage. Your wedding officiant usually provides the original certificate, which you should keep safe. Every agency below will want to see a certified copy, and photocopies are not accepted.
Obtaining certified copies is straightforward. Contact the office that issued the marriage certificate, usually the county where the marriage took place, by email or phone. Order at least three copies so you are not waiting on the mail midway through the process. The office may charge a small fee and will send the copies to you by mail. For a fuller walkthrough, see how to request a certified copy of your marriage certificate.
Step 2: File for Your New Social Security Card
Your Social Security card is required for many of the later steps, so do this one first. You will file with the Social Security Administration (SSA) and provide supporting paperwork by mail or in person. The SSA takes roughly two weeks to issue a new card, and your Social Security number does not change. See our full Social Security name change guide for the detail.
You will need to complete SSA Form SS-5. When signing, use your new married name. If you are hyphenating rather than simply replacing your surname, see how to hyphenate your last name after marriage so the format you file here matches everywhere else.
For your married name change you will need proof of age, identity, and citizenship. A valid US passport meets all three. Otherwise you will likely need two documents. In general you must provide your birth certificate. Other documents the SSA may accept include:
- U.S. hospital record of your birth (created at the time of birth)
- Religious record established before age five showing your age or date of birth
- Passport
- Final adoption decree (it must show the birth information was taken from the original birth certificate)
There is no fee to change your name on your Social Security card. You can mail these documents along with the SS-5 to your local SSA office, or take them there in person.
Step 3: Get Your New Driver’s License, Vehicle Title, and Registration
The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) differs in every state, but in general a married name change requires a certified copy of your marriage license and your new Social Security card. Some states also require you to update your vehicle title and registration, which are separate forms. See our driver’s license name change guide, and check your own state’s rules, since filing order and fees vary.
The MissNowMrs.com name change kit has detailed instructions for each state.
Step 4: Change Your Voter Registration Information
In some states voter registration updates automatically when you change your driver’s license. In others it is a separate process. A married name change can often be handled through the US Postal Service, otherwise check with your state election office. It is a small step that is easy to skip and awkward to discover on election day.
Step 5: File for Your New Passport
The US Department of State issues passports and has three different forms that can be used for a married name change, depending on your situation. See our passport name change guide for the full detail.
- Use DS-5504 if your passport was issued less than a year ago
- Use DS-82 if your passport was issued more than a year ago
- Use DS-11 if you have never applied for a passport before
- Use DS-11 if your passport has expired for more than five years
You will need a properly taken passport photo printed on correctly sized paper. Some post offices offer this service, or the MissNowMrs mobile app can take care of it. Mail the application and fees, along with supporting documentation including your current passport, to the State Department. An adult passport book costs around $130, and additional fees apply for a passport card or expedited service. Check the State Department site for current fees before you file.
Step 6: Change Your Name with the US Postal Service (USPS)
You only need to change your name with USPS if you are moving. The USPS will use the name on your credit or debit card to confirm your last name, so the order matters:
- Change your address, old to new, using your MAIDEN name on the USPS website
- Change your name on your credit or debit card
- Change your address again, old to new, using your new MARRIED name on the USPS website
If you are combining two homes at the same time, our guide to merging two households after marriage covers the rest of that move.
Step 7: Update Bank Accounts, Credit Cards, and Mortgage
It is usually easiest to visit your local branch to change your name on your bank accounts. Bring a certified copy of your marriage certificate and an updated passport or driver’s license. If visiting a branch is not an option, call the bank and ask what they require. Not all banks require you to mail a certified marriage license, and many will accept a photocopy.
This is also the natural moment to decide how you want to structure your money together. Here is how to weigh joint vs separate bank accounts after marriage.
Step 8: Update Your Employer, Professional Organizations, Utilities, and Vendors
This step takes the longest, because you have to identify every organization that still has your maiden name on file. Start with your employer, since payroll, benefits, and tax withholding all flow from it. See how to change your name with your employer for HR, payroll, and benefits.
From there, work through household accounts and everything else: utility bills, insurance, medical providers, professional licenses, subscriptions, loyalty programs, and your professional profiles. Do not overlook changing your name on LinkedIn, where colleagues and recruiters find you. A simple form letter usually works, accompanied by photocopies of your marriage certificate and updated driver’s license.
Sample Name Change Notification Letter
To: [Organization Name] [Organization Address] From: [Your Maiden Name] [Your Address as the organization has it on file] Account: [Account ID] To whom it may concern, I am writing to inform you that I have changed my name [and address]. Please update your records to reflect my new name and address, which are listed below. A photocopy of my marriage certificate is enclosed. New name: [Your Married Name] New address: [Your Address] Thank you, [Signature]
How Long Does the Whole Process Take?
Changing your name after marriage takes time and patience. Expect a few months to finish everything, driven mostly by the two week wait for your Social Security card and the 6 to 8 week wait for a passport. There is no legal deadline forcing you to rush, though there are practical ones. For the detail on timing, see how long you have to change your name after marriage.
Two timing traps are worth flagging. Book travel in the name that matches your current passport, not the name you are moving to. And be careful at tax time: if the name on your return does not match SSA records, the IRS can reject your filing. See filing taxes after a name change before you file.
Married Name Change Help Is Available
If this checklist looks daunting, you are not alone. That is exactly why MissNowMrs exists. The online name change service and app auto-completes every form you need, tells you the order to file them in, and gives you the inside track on filing by mail so you skip the office lines. It condenses a roughly 13 hour process into a short questionnaire.
Prefer to handle the whole process yourself from the beginning? Start with our complete guide to how to change your name after marriage.
What will you do with the 13 hours you save? We suggest a couples massage, a bit of shopping, and dinner to celebrate your new married name.