Your free marriage name change checklist
Answer a few quick questions and we'll build your name change checklist for after the wedding (or a divorce): the exact steps for your state, in the exact order, so nothing gets rejected.
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Good to know
Name change checklist: common questions
Most people finish the government updates (Social Security, license, passport) in about 4–6 weeks, and the full long tail of banks and accounts within 2–3 months. NameWright's sequenced playbook is designed to get the government portion done as fast as the agencies allow.
At minimum: a certified copy of your marriage certificate (not a photocopy), your current driver's license, and proof of your identity. Order 3–5 certified certificate copies up front, since nearly every agency wants to see an original.
Yes, they're separate steps, and the order matters. Social Security is always first and free (Form SS-5). Then, after a 24–48 hour sync window, you update your license at the DMV.
Absolutely. There's no deadline to change your name after marriage. As long as you have your certified marriage certificate, the process is identical whether it's been three weeks or three years.