Colorado Name Change Checklist After Marriage

Follow this sequence in Colorado:

• 1. Certified marriage certificate: order copies from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Vital Records Section.
• 2. Social Security (SS-5): free, and always first.
• 3. Wait 24–48 hours for the SSA record to sync.
• 4. Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV): update your license ($28–$30.87 (varies; confirm with the agency)).
• 5. Passport: DS-82, DS-11, or DS-5504.
• 6. Voter registration & everyone else: bank, employer, insurers.

• Certified copy of marriage certificate (or state verification) or divorce decree/court order
• Current Colorado driver's license, permit, or state ID card
• Updated Social Security card / proof SSA record already reflects the new name
• Proof of Colorado residency (two documents) if also upgrading to a REAL ID-compliant credential
• Completed DMV name-change application at the office visit

Good to know for Colorado: Colorado marriage licenses are issued and held by county clerk and recorder offices, so the issuing county is often the fastest source; CDPHE offers statewide marriage/civil-union verifications by mail, in-person appointment, or via authorized online vendors linked from the CDPHE page.

• Certified marriage certificate (3 copies): $30–$90
• Social Security card (Form SS-5): Free
• Driver's license update (Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)): $28–$30.87 (varies; confirm with the agency)
• Passport (only if you update it): Free–$165
• Voter registration: Free

Most people spend roughly $58–$286 in Colorado: on the low end if you skip the passport, on the high end with a full passport renewal and extra certificate copies.