How to change your last name after marriage

The order matters: your marriage certificate, then Social Security, then your license, then everything else. Pick your state for its license rules and where to get certified copies.

Official pages checked November 3, 2026 · By the WedStay team · Sources listed below

Free guide

Your name change, in order

Steps
6
Do it yourself
Free, apart from the agencies’ own fees
Or a done-for-you kit
$49.99 to $129.99 (HitchSwitch)

  1. Step 1: Order certified copies of your marriage certificate

    Agencies want an original or certified copy, not a photocopy. Ordering more than one lets you mail one while you keep another for office visits. Order them from the office that recorded your marriage license, usually in the county where you got it.

  2. Step 2: Update Social Security first

    Request a replacement card with your new name. Depending on your situation you may be able to finish online, or start online and bring your documents to a Social Security office or Card Center within 45 calendar days. Otherwise, fill out Form SS-5 and visit an office. Many state licensing offices check your new name against Social Security’s records, so this comes before your license.

    • Bring proof of the name change (your marriage document), proof of identity such as your current driver’s license, and proof of U.S. citizenship such as a U.S. birth certificate or passport. Social Security accepts originals or copies certified by the issuing agency, never photocopies or notarized copies. Source (official page, opens in a new tab)
    • The new card arrives by mail 5 to 10 business days after Social Security completes your request. Source (official page, opens in a new tab)

  3. Step 3: Update your driver’s license or state ID

    Bring your current license, your new Social Security details and a certified marriage certificate to your state’s licensing agency. Most states require a visit in person, and some set a deadline. Pick your state above for its rules.

  4. Step 4: Update your passport

    The form depends on how recently your passport was issued and when your name changed.

    • Passport issued less than a year ago, and your name changed within that year: mail Form DS-5504 with the passport, an original or certified marriage certificate, and one photo. There is no fee, apart from $60 if you want it expedited. Source (official page, opens in a new tab)
    • More than a year since the passport was issued or since your name changed: if you can renew by mail (Form DS-82), include a certified copy of your marriage certificate. Source (official page, opens in a new tab)
    • Not eligible to renew by mail: apply in person with Form DS-11, using a valid ID in your new name and the marriage details section on page 2. Source (official page, opens in a new tab)

  5. Step 5: Banks, payroll and cards

    Each bank, card issuer and employer has its own process. Ask what they need, and have your new ID and a certified copy of your marriage certificate ready.

  6. Step 6: Everything else

    Vehicle title and registration, insurance, voter registration, utilities, your lease or mortgage, subscriptions, and travel and loyalty programs.

Optional: a kit that fills in the forms

Every step on this page is free to do yourself, apart from the agencies’ own fees. If you would rather not hunt down each form, HitchSwitch sells name change kits with the forms filled in for your state and instructions for each one.

A kit does not file anything for you. You still sign and submit the forms, and any visit your state requires in person still happens in person.

  • Print at Home$49.99

    Pre-filled forms and step-by-step instructions to download and print. Printer required.

  • Full Service$79.99

    The same forms mailed to you in a folder, with pre-stamped envelopes.

  • Platinum$109.99

    Full Service plus passport photos delivered and priority email support.

  • Platinum Plus$129.99

    Platinum plus more envelopes and passport photos.

HitchSwitch prices as listed on its site on November 3, 2026. Prices can change. Source (official page, opens in a new tab)

Name change questions

What is the first step to change your last name after marriage?

Get certified copies of your marriage certificate, then update Social Security. Many state licensing offices check your new name against Social Security’s records before they issue a license, so the license comes after. The passport, banks and everything else follow.

How do you change your name with Social Security after marriage?

Request a replacement card with your new name. Depending on your situation you may be able to finish online, or start online and bring your documents to a Social Security office or Card Center within 45 calendar days. Otherwise, fill out Form SS-5 and visit an office. Bring proof of the name change (your marriage document), proof of identity such as your current driver’s license, and proof of U.S. citizenship such as a U.S. birth certificate or passport. Social Security accepts originals or copies certified by the issuing agency, never photocopies or notarized copies.

How long does a new Social Security card take?

The new card arrives by mail 5 to 10 business days after Social Security completes your request.

Which passport form do you use after marriage?

Passport issued less than a year ago, and your name changed within that year: mail Form DS-5504 with the passport, an original or certified marriage certificate, and one photo. There is no fee, apart from $60 if you want it expedited. More than a year since the passport was issued or since your name changed: if you can renew by mail (Form DS-82), include a certified copy of your marriage certificate. Not eligible to renew by mail: apply in person with Form DS-11, using a valid ID in your new name and the marriage details section on page 2.

Can you change the name on your driver’s license online?

In most states, no. Most states that publish their rules require a visit in person. California and Virginia let you start online and finish in an office, and New York takes Standard license name changes by mail. Pick your state on this page for its rules and official link.

Do you need a name change kit?

No. You can do every step yourself, paying only the agencies’ own fees. A kit such as HitchSwitch ($49.99 to $129.99) fills in the forms and lays out the order for you. You still submit the forms yourself, and any office visit your state requires still happens in person.

Sources, checked November 3, 2026

  1. Social Security Administration, Change name with Social Security
  2. Social Security Administration, How do I change or correct my name on my Social Security number card?
  3. Social Security Administration, U.S. Citizen: Adult Name Change on Social Security Card (EN-05-10513)
  4. Social Security Administration, Form SS-5 (Application for a Social Security Card)
  5. U.S. Department of State, Change or Correct a Passport
  6. HitchSwitch, name change packages and prices

General information, not legal advice

WedStay is not a law firm or a government agency. This page is general information, not legal advice, and it does not create an attorney client relationship.

Agencies change their forms, fees and rules. Each fact here links to the official page it came from. Check that page, or call the agency, before you go.

Kit prices and contents are set by the company that sells them and can change. Check its site for current details.

Official pages last checked November 3, 2026.