Get your personal step-by-step plan →

Official steps and fees verified November 6, 2026.

Name Change Planner

Answer a few questions to get your steps in the right order, with the cost, time, and documents for each. Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere, and there is no field for your name, Social Security number, or birth date.

Reason for the change

Marriage Divorce (returning to a former name) Court-ordered change

How long ago was the marriage or decree?

0–29 days 30–90 days More than 90 days

New name type

Spouse’s surname Hyphenated Maiden name as middle name Combined or new surname Former name restored

Who is changing

Wife Husband Both Other

Passport

None Issued less than 1 year ago Issued more than 1 year ago Expired, or can’t renew by mail

Do you have, or need, a REAL ID?

Yes No Not sure

International trip booked in the next 8 weeks?

Yes No

Will you file taxes or expect a refund before Social Security updates?

Yes No

Green card holder?

Yes No

Your fees (optional)

Certified copy fee ($ each)

Number of certified copies

DMV fee ($)

Court petition fee ($, if applicable)

Your plan will appear here.

A planning checklist, not legal advice. Agency rules and fees verified November 6, 2026; your state may differ.

The Right Order and Why It Matters

Get certified copies, let your state record the marriage, then update Social Security, your DMV, your passport, and everyone else, in that order.

Social Security comes before the DMV because SSA recommends it. Its October 22, 2026 guidance says to update your Social Security record before you visit the motor vehicle office, to avoid problems with employment, taxes, or benefits. The IRS also matches tax returns to Social Security records.

The 30 days matter too. The same SSA guidance says it is best to wait for your state to update its record first, and that this usually takes about 30 days.

Those two instructions sound like they conflict, but they fit together: wait for the state record, then go to SSA, then go to the DMV. Both are SSA’s recommendations, not legal requirements.

Step 1: Certified Marriage Certificates

Order 2–3 certified copies from the county or state office that recorded your marriage, because every agency wants one.

A certified copy is issued by the government office that holds your marriage record. Your marriage license is not a certificate, and a decorative keepsake certificate from your officiant is not either. Pennsylvania’s DMV, for example, says it does not accept a license or a commemorative certificate.

Social Security, your DMV, and your passport application each need one, and some of those go by mail. Extra copies save you from waiting on one to come back.

Fees and wait times differ by state and county, so check your office’s page. The CDC’s Where to Write for Vital Records page sends you to the right state office. Put your own fee in the planner above.

Step 2: Social Security

Update Social Security first among the agencies: it is free, often done online, and every later step checks against it.

SSA describes three ways to apply. Online is the quickest, and SSA says you often won’t need to visit an office. If you do need one, start online and book an appointment. Or complete paper Form SS-5 and bring your documents to an office. Start on SSA’s name change page and answer a few questions.

You will show three kinds of proof: your identity (a U.S. driver’s license is preferred, or a state ID or U.S. passport), your new legal name, and the event that changed it. A marriage certificate is the ideal name-change document. SSA may also ask for proof of citizenship or lawful status if it doesn’t already have it.

COST No fee. SSA’s card page says you can request a free replacement card.
TIME The card arrives by mail, about 5 to 10 business days after processing, according to SSA.
BRING ID plus your original or certified marriage certificate.

Your Social Security number stays the same. Only the name on the card changes.

Your Taxes After a Name Change

The name on your tax return has to match your Social Security record, and a mismatch may delay your refund.

The IRS says all names on a return must match Social Security Administration records, and that a name change can affect your taxes and delay your refund. Its guidance tells you to notify SSA before you file. See the IRS page Update my information.

There is no separate IRS name-change form for individuals. The IRS matches your return to SSA records by Social Security number, so updating SSA is the fix.

If you haven’t changed your name with SSA yet, the IRS says to use your former name on the return, not your married name. Filing under a name SSA doesn’t have is what causes the trouble.

After SSA updates its records, give the update time to reach the IRS. Some tax preparers suggest allowing up to about four weeks. That is practitioner advice, not an IRS rule, so treat it as “allow time,” not a promise.

Married couples can file jointly with different last names. The IRS says you can choose married filing jointly without changing your name with SSA. Each spouse enters their name as SSA shows it.

Your employer reports your pay under the name it has. Ask HR to update your name so your W-2 matches your Social Security card. Filing status and withholding are a separate form; see How to Fill Out a W-4.

Situation	Use this name	Why
SSA already shows your new name	New name	Matches SSA
SSA not updated yet	The name SSA has (usually your former name)	Avoids a mismatch
Filing jointly, different last names	Each spouse’s name as SSA shows it	Allowed by the IRS
A dependent’s name changed	Update SSA for them too	Names on the return must match SSA records

Step 3: DMV and REAL ID

Go to the DMV after Social Security, with your certified certificate and any linking documents, and expect the names on all your documents to match.

REAL ID rules ask that your legal name match your proof-of-identity document, such as a birth certificate or passport. If your current name is different, you bring a document that links the two. A certified marriage certificate does that for a marriage, a divorce decree for a divorce, and a court order for a court-ordered change.

Pennsylvania’s DMV is a good example. It accepts a certified marriage certificate from the county where the license was processed, a court order, adoption records, or an amended birth certificate. It does not accept photocopies. If you changed your middle name to your maiden name, it says your documents must show a logical connection between names. See PennDOT’s Changing Your Name on a REAL ID. Your state’s rules may differ.

That matters if your name has changed more than once. A birth certificate in one name, a first marriage in another, and a second marriage in a third means the DMV wants a document for each step, so the chain runs unbroken from birth name to current name. Order extra certified copies now.

Some DMVs verify your Social Security update electronically and ask you to wait a few days after your SSA visit. Check your state’s page before you go.

COST Varies by state; check your DMV’s fee page.
TIME Same day to a few weeks.
BRING Your updated SSA record or receipt, linking documents, proof of residency, and your current ID.

Step 4: Passport and Travel

Which passport form you use depends on how long ago your passport was issued, and within one year the name change is free.

If your name changed less than a year after your most recent passport was issued, use Form DS-5504. The State Department charges no routine fee for it. You mail your current passport, your certified name change document, and a photo. Expedited service is an extra $60.

After a year, you pay the standard fee. If you can renew by mail, use Form DS-82 ($130 for a book). If you can’t renew by mail, or you can’t show the change with a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order, apply in person with Form DS-11 ($130 plus a $35 acceptance fee). Use the State Department’s Change or Correct a Passport page to confirm which applies to you.

Your situation	Form	Fee
Name changed less than 1 year after your passport was issued	DS-5504	No routine fee
Passport over 1 year old and renewable by mail	DS-82	$130 (book)
Can’t renew by mail, or no linking document	DS-11, in person	$130 + $35 acceptance fee
Need it faster	Any of the above	+$60 expedite

Airlines match your ticket to the name in your passport. If a trip is already booked, keep the ticket and the passport in the same name. Change the passport after you return, or allow time for processing before you leave.

Processing times change often, so check the State Department’s current estimates before you plan around a date.

Step 5: Everyone Else

Once Social Security, your license, and your passport match, work through everyone else, starting with your employer and your money accounts.

Most of these cost nothing and need your new ID and, sometimes, a certified certificate. Beneficiary forms are the ones people forget, and they matter most.

For money after marriage, see How to Split Finances With Your Partner and Adding Someone to Your Bank Account. For beneficiaries, see Life Insurance Beneficiary Rules.

Update checklist

• Employer/HR and payroll
• Bank and credit union accounts
• Credit cards (issuers update the bureaus)
• Loans and mortgage servicer
• Car title and registration
• Voter registration
• Health, auto, home, and life insurance (and beneficiaries)
• Retirement accounts and 401(k)
• Utilities and lease
• Doctors and pharmacy
• Professional licenses
• USCIS (green card holders)
• TSA PreCheck / Global Entry, if you have one
• Email, social media, and memberships

Going Back to Your Former Name After Divorce

If your divorce decree restores your former name, that decree is your linking document, and the steps are the same as after a marriage.

Order certified copies of the decree. Then update Social Security, your DMV, your passport, and everyone else in the same order. The IRS also says going back to a previous last name is a name change you report to SSA.

Read the decree wording first. If it doesn’t restore your former name, you may need a separate court order, and that process depends on your state. A court order carries its own filing fee, which you can enter in the planner.

Update your beneficiaries after a divorce too; see Life Insurance Beneficiary After Divorce. For what the divorce itself costs, see How Much Does a Divorce Cost.

Special Cases

A marriage certificate alone covers the usual change to your spouse’s surname; hyphenated, middle-name, combined, and husband-takes-wife’s-name changes depend on your state.

Change	Marriage certificate enough?	What to check
Spouse’s surname	Usually yes	The certificate shows the names. Texas, for example, says you can take your spouse’s last name without a court order.
Hyphenated	Often; varies by state	Your state’s rule. Georgia’s DDS, for example, wants the hyphenated choice to appear on the marriage license application.
Maiden name as middle	Varies by state	Your state’s rule. California lets you list it on the license application; Pennsylvania asks for a logical connection between names.
Combined or new surname	Often needs a court order	Your state’s court or vital records site
Husband takes wife’s name	Varies by state	Your state’s rule. California’s license options are open to either spouse.
Back to former name after divorce	Decree or court order	The decree’s wording

Some of these can only be chosen when you apply for the marriage license. California’s courts, for instance, say a name you don’t list then can’t be added to the license later, and you would need to go to court. If you’re still planning your wedding, check your county clerk’s rules before you buy the license.

Hyphenated last name

Many states allow a hyphenated surname through the marriage license, but not all do. Where it isn’t allowed, you need a court order. Ask your county clerk before you apply for the license, and check your state’s DMV page.

Maiden name as your middle name

This is a common choice, and the rules vary. Some states let you list it on the license application, and some DMVs want documents that show a clear link between your old and new names. If your state doesn’t support it, a court order is the usual route.

Combined or brand-new surname

If you and your spouse want a new shared surname, expect to need a court order in many states. Some states allow limited combinations on the license. Check your state’s court or vital records site first.

A husband taking his wife’s name

Some states treat both spouses the same on the marriage license, and others make the process harder for husbands. If a clerk says you need a court order but your state’s rules say otherwise, ask to see the rule in writing or speak to a supervisor.

Green card holders

A name change means replacing your card with Form I-90. File it with proof of the legal name change, such as your marriage certificate. USCIS sets the fee and changes it, so check the current amount on the USCIS Form I-90 page before you file. For the wider process, see Marriage Green Card Process.

Your name differs on your birth certificate

If your birth certificate shows a different name from your other documents, you need a linking document for each change between them. A passport in your current name can sometimes stand in for a birth certificate at the DMV, depending on the state. Ask your DMV what it accepts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I change first after getting married?

Order certified copies of your marriage certificate first. After your state records the marriage, change your name with Social Security, then the DMV, then your passport.

How long after the wedding should I change my name?

SSA suggests waiting for your state to record the marriage, which usually takes about 30 days. After that, there is no single nationwide deadline, but some state motor vehicle agencies set their own timeframe for updating a license. Check your state’s DMV.

Can I change my name with Social Security online?

SSA says that in many cases you can complete the change online without visiting an office. If you can’t, start online and book an appointment, or file paper Form SS-5. Start on SSA’s name change page and answer a few questions.

Does it cost anything to change my name with Social Security?

No. SSA lists no fee, and its card page says you can request a free replacement card. Be wary of sites that charge you to do this.

What name do I use on my tax return after marriage?

Use the name Social Security has on file for you. If SSA already shows your new name, use that. If it hasn’t been updated yet, use the name SSA has, usually your former name.

Can we file jointly with different last names?

Yes. The IRS says you can choose married filing jointly without changing your name with SSA. Enter each spouse’s name as SSA shows it.

Will a name change delay my tax refund?

It may. The IRS says a name that doesn’t match SSA records can cause processing problems and may delay your refund. Updating SSA before you file avoids it.

How do I change my name on my passport after marriage?

Mail Form DS-5504 if your name changed less than a year after the passport was issued. After a year, renew by mail with Form DS-82, or apply in person with Form DS-11 if you can’t renew by mail. Include your certified marriage certificate and a photo.

Is the passport name change free?

Within one year of issue, yes: Form DS-5504 has no routine fee, though expedited service is $60 extra. After that, the fee is $130 for a book by mail (DS-82), or $130 plus a $35 acceptance fee in person (DS-11). Fees checked November 6, 2026.

Can I travel with my old-name passport after marriage?

Your passport stays valid in the name it shows, so you can travel on it. Your ticket must match it, so don’t book international travel in your new name until your passport shows it. If you’re unsure, ask your airline.

What do I need for a REAL ID after a name change?

Your names must match across your documents. If your birth certificate shows a different name from your current one, bring a linking document for each name change: a certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. Your updated Social Security record and proof of residency are usually needed as well.

How much does it cost to change your last name after marriage?

It depends on your state. Social Security is free. The passport is $0, $130, or $165 depending on the form. Certified copies and the DMV fee vary, so the planner above adds your own numbers. If you need a court order, add the court’s filing fee.

Can I hyphenate my last name with a marriage certificate?

In many states, yes, if the hyphenated name is listed on the marriage license application. In others you need a court order. Check your state before you apply for the license.

Can a husband take his wife’s last name?

Often, but it varies by state. In California, for example, the marriage license name options are open to either spouse. In some places a husband is asked for a court order. Check your state’s rule.

How do I change my name back after divorce?

Check that your divorce decree restores your former name, then order certified copies and update Social Security, your DMV, your passport, and everyone else. If the decree doesn’t restore it, you may need a court order. See How Much Does a Divorce Cost.

Do green card holders need to update USCIS?

A name change requires a replacement green card, which you request with Form I-90. Check the current fee and instructions on the USCIS page, and see Marriage Green Card Process.

Last updated: November 6, 2026

This article is general information, not legal advice. Agency procedures and fees were verified on November 6, 2026 and may change. State rules for non-standard name changes vary, so check your state’s court or vital records site.