How to Change Your Name After Marriage

The tradition of a bride taking a groom's last name after marriage dates back centuries, harkening back to a time when a woman's legal identity was merged with her husband's.

Marriage laws and customs have changed a lot since then, but most women in opposite-sex marriages still take their spouse's last name. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2023, about 8 in 10 women in the United States took their husband's last name after marriage.

Whether you decide to keep, change, or hyphenate your name, this guide will walk you through the steps and help you stay organized through the process.

Do I Have to Change My Name After Marriage?

You don't have to change your name when you get married. Whether you are in an opposite-sex or same-sex marriage, your marriage license and certificate have no impact on your legal name or identity. If you take no action after your wedding, your name will remain the same.

You may choose to take your spouse's name, hyphenate your name, change your middle name, or create an entirely new name with your spouse after marriage (more on these options below). But you must follow your state's formal name-change procedures to make it happen. Most states have a streamlined process for taking your spouse's last name or hyphenating your last name after marriage, allowing you to use your marriage certificate as proof of the name change.

Should I Change My Name After Marriage?

The decision to change your name after marriage is a deeply personal one that requires you to balance many factors, including tradition, culture, and identity. Thinking through the personal and professional implications will help you make the best choice for you and your family.

Here are some common advantages and disadvantages of changing your name after marriage.

Name Change Options After Marriage

The menu of acceptable name changes after marriage has expanded in response to evolving gender roles and the growing acceptance of same-sex marriage equality. Here's an overview of the most common options.

Keep Your Family Name

If you feel attached to your family name for whatever reason or don't want to deal with the hassle of changing it, you don't have to. You have no legal obligation to change your name after marriage.

According to the Pew Research survey, 14% of women in opposite-sex marriages kept their last name, as did an overwhelming majority of men in opposite sex marriages (92%). The sample size of women and men in same-sex marriages was too small to analyze in the survey.

Take Your Spouse's Name

The most traditional—and common—name change option after marriage is for a woman to take her husband's last name after the wedding. As previously noted, around 79% of women in opposite-sex marriages surveyed by Pew took their spouse's last name. Pew found that some women are more likely to change their name than others. For example, 90% of Republican women reported taking their spouse's name, compared with 66% of liberal Democrats. Women with a postgraduate degree (68%) were less likely to change their name than women with a college degree (83%).

A small but growing number of men in opposite-sex couples—5% in Pew's survey—are breaking with tradition and choosing to take their wives' last names.

Hyphenate Your Names

If you want to honor your family name and your spouse's name, you can join them with a hyphen. For example, if your last name is Ramsey and your spouse's is West, you could change your last name to Ramsey-West. Your spouse could also change their last name to Ramsey-West or keep the name West.

Pew found that 5% of women in opposite-sex marriages hyphenated both their name and their spouse's name, while less than 1% of men hyphenated both names.

Change Your Middle Name

A modern approach to a post-nuptial name change is to replace your middle name with your family name and take your spouse's last name. This option allows you to preserve a connection with your family name while still symbolically unifying with your spouse. For example, if your name is Josie Ellen Ramsey and you marry someone with the last name West, your new name would be Josie Ramsey West. You could also add your family name as a second middle name, becoming Josie Ellen Ramsey West.

Create a New Last Name

Some couples want to forge a new path forward as a couple with an entirely new name. The new name might be a blend of their last names, a meaningful reference, or an inside joke. For example, Rebecca Rosenthal and Chris Cline, a couple based in Texas, became the Rosenclines. Or a couple who met at a lake might change their last name to Lake.

Laws vary from state to state, but taking on a completely new name requires a court order, while adopting your spouse's last name, hyphenating your names, or changing your middle name is usually a more streamlined process.

How to Change Your Name After Marriage

The name change process varies by state, but it starts with applying for a marriage license. Some states, like California and New York, allow you to list the new middle or last name you want on the license application from a menu of approved options. Other states don't. Read the instructions carefully.

The information on your marriage license will be used to create your marriage certificate, which is a legal record of the marriage, proving that you have completed and registered the marriage. You can then use your marriage certificate to update your state and federal identity documents.

Be sure to get several certified copies of your marriage certificate. Your records aren't updated automatically with your new name. You'll have to take a certified copy of your marriage certificate to each agency you want to change your name.

If you want to change your first name or your last name to something unrelated to your or your spouse's names, you'll probably have to go through a legal name change process (more on that below).

What Documents Need to be Updated After a Name Change?

As many newlyweds are dismayed to discover, there's no central place to update all of your identity documents and records after a name change. Instead, you'll have to go to each agency individually to update your information.

Start with:

1. The Social Security Administration (SSA) to update your Social Security card.
2. The Department of Motor Vehicles to update your state driver's license or ID card.
3. The U.S. Department of State to update your passport.

Other important records you'll need to update include:

• voter registration
• vehicle title and registration
• bank accounts
• loans
• credit cards
• professional licenses and associations
• employment records
• home mortgage or lease
• insurance policies
• utilities and bills
• investment accounts
• property titles and deeds
• medical providers
• post office
• naturalization or citizenship certificate
• veterans benefits
• IRS (your tax return must match your SSA records), and
• personal accounts (such as subscriptions and memberships, social media, email, loyalty programs, and so on).

Be prepared for each agency and organization to have its own process and timeline. There may be fees associated with some changes.

You'll also start using your new name with friends, family, coworkers, and acquaintances. You might want to make a big announcement on social media, or you can privately share your updated contact information.

How Long Does It Take to Change My Name and How Much Does It Cost?

The time it takes to get a marriage certificate varies by state and county. Some states can issue one immediately, while others might days days or weeks. The best way to get an accurate time estimate is to contact the county clerk's office in the county where you plan to marry.

Once you have your marriage certificate, you can usually change your name with the SSA and receive your new Social Security card within a few weeks. Updating your state identification and other records can then take weeks or months, depending on your schedule and whether you encounter any backlogs. Having multiple certified copies of your marriage certificate can help speed up the process.

The cost to change your name after marriage varies by state and how many documents you need to have reissued. You'll have to pay for your marriage license ($15-$100) and certified copies of your marriage certificate ($5-$35 per copy). There is no fee for updating your Social Security card, but you'll have to pay for a new passport and state driver's license or identification.

If you and your spouse are creating a new last name or you're changing your first name, the process will take longer and cost more. You'll have to get a court order (see below).

Do I Have to Go to Court to Change My Name After Marriage?

You don't have to go to court if you're taking your spouse's last name, hyphenating, or combining your last names in a way allowed by your state's marriage laws. Your marriage certificate serves as proof of your name change.

You do have to go to court if you're changing your first name or you want a last name that isn't permitted by your state's marriage name change laws. For example, if you and your spouse are adopting an entirely new name unrelated to either of your names, you'll have to get a court-ordered name change.

How Long Do I Have to Change My Name After Marriage?

Most states don't impose a deadline for changing your name after marriage. You can start the process right away or wait until it makes sense for you. For example, some people wait until they have children, or they change their name as a milestone wedding anniversary gift to their spouse.

Some states, such as Florida and Texas, require you to get a state driver's license or ID within a certain number of days (usually 30) of changing your name with the SSA.

Can I Change My Name If My Marriage Is Common Law?

Common law marriages are rare, but still recognized in a few states. You can establish a common law marriage without legal formalities like a marriage license, marriage certificate, or formal ceremony. If you don't have a marriage certificate, you can't use it as proof of your name change. But you'll need a court order before you can change your name on your government IDs and with private companies like banks and title companies.

Other Court-Ordered Name Changes

Changing your name after marriage is the most common and easiest way to legally change your name. Your marriage certificate serves as your legal name change document throughout the name change process. (Similarly, a divorce decree can help restore a family name.)

All other name changes require a court order. You'll typically have to file a petition with your local court and pay a filing fee ($50-$450). You might have to publish your new name in a newspaper and then go to a court hearing. If the court grants your request, you'll use the court order to legally change your name with the SSA and then go from there.

Next Steps

Changing your name after marriage isn't legally complicated, but it is a hassle. You'll need to get your marriage certificate first and then update your Social Security card. From there, use this guide to make a list of all the documents and records you need to update from highest to lowest priority and make your way down the list. You'll need to be organized and patient.

If you'd like to simplify the process, consider investing in (or registering for) a name-changing service. Popular kits provide step-by-step instructions and auto-filled forms to save you time and reduce name change stress. Prices vary, but most kits range from $35-$125.

You can also, as with any legal question, talk to a family law attorney if you'd like more information or guidance.