District of Columbia · Name change checklist
District of Columbia Name Change Checklist After Marriage
Everything you need to change your name in District of Columbia, in the exact order that keeps you from getting turned away. Build your personalized version free.
The correct order in District of Columbia
Follow this sequence in District of Columbia:
- 1. Certified marriage certificate: order copies from the DC Superior Court, Family Court Operations Division - Marriage Bureau (Moultrie Courthouse); NOTE: not DC Health Vital Records, which handles only birth/death/domestic partnership records.
- 2. Social Security (SS-5): free, and always first.
- 3. Wait 24–48 hours for the SSA record to sync.
- 4. District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV): update your license (about $20 (confirm with the agency)).
- 5. Passport: DS-82, DS-11, or DS-5504.
- 6. Voter registration & everyone else: bank, employer, insurers.
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District of Columbia documents to gather
- Current DC driver's license, learner permit, or non-driver ID card (original, no photocopies)
- Certified marriage certificate showing the name change (original, no photocopies/scans)
- Proof of updated Social Security Administration record (required first if credential is REAL ID)
- Additional original proof of identity, SSN, and DC residency documents (required only if current credential is NOT already a REAL ID)
What a name change costs in District of Columbia
- Certified marriage certificate (3 copies): $30–$90
- Social Security card (Form SS-5): Free
- Driver's license update (District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV)): about $20 (confirm with the agency)
- Passport (only if you update it): Free–$165
- Voter registration: Free
Most people spend roughly $50–$275 in District of Columbia: on the low end if you skip the passport, on the high end with a full passport renewal and extra certificate copies.
District of Columbia FAQs
Most people spend roughly $50–$275 in District of Columbia: on the low end if you skip the passport, on the high end with a full passport renewal and extra certificate copies. The government forms themselves are free or low-cost; there is no fee to update Social Security.
Most people finish the government steps (Social Security, license, passport) in about 4–6 weeks in District of Columbia, then the remaining accounts over 2–3 months.
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