Florida Name Change Checklist After Marriage
Everything you need to change your name in Florida, in the exact order that keeps you from getting turned away. Build your personalized version free.
Checked against official Florida and federal sources in August 2026. Sources are listed at the bottom of this page.
The correct order in Florida
Follow this sequence in Florida:
- 1. Certified marriage certificate: order copies from the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics.
- 2. Social Security (SS-5): free, and always first.
- 3. Wait 24–48 hours for the SSA record to sync.
- 4. Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV): update your license (an amount that depends on your situation (confirm with the agency)).
- 5. Passport: DS-82, DS-11, or DS-5504.
- 6. Voter registration & everyone else: bank, employer, insurers.
Every Florida step, in the right order
This page covers name change checklist. Your free checklist puts it with the other agencies, sequenced for Florida, so nothing gets done out of order.
Florida documents to gather
- Original or certified copy of marriage certificate (photocopies not accepted; must be recognized by the State of Florida, not a church-issued certificate)
- Current Florida driver license or ID card
- Proof of Social Security number
- Proof of Florida residency (two documents, e.g. utility bill, bank statement)
- Proof of citizenship or lawful presence (e.g. birth certificate or U.S. passport)
Good to know for Florida: Order online via VitalChek (contracted vendor) with a credit card, or by mail/in person directly at the Bureau of Vital Statistics (1217 N Pearl St., Jacksonville, FL 32202). State fee is $5 for the first certified copy (includes required search fee) and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time when ordering directly from the state; VitalChek adds its own processing fee on top. Records available for FL marriages from June 1, 1927 to present; allow ~60 days after the ceremony before the record is available.
What a name change costs in Florida
- Certified marriage certificate (3 copies, at typical prices): $30–$90
- Social Security card (Form SS-5): Free
- Driver's license update (Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV)): Varies, see the Florida license page
- Passport (only if you update it): Free–$165
- Voter registration: Free
The Florida DMV fee depends on your situation, so it isn't included here. Not counting it, most people spend roughly $30 to $255, depending on certificate copies and whether they renew a passport.
Florida FAQs
Sources
We checked the details on this page against the official sources below in August 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm anything you are about to act on at the agency's own page. The legal citations were last re-read against their sources in October 2026. How we verify.
- State agencyFlorida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics: certified copies
- State agencyFlorida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV): name change on a license or ID
- State agencyFlorida official voter registration page
- The lawFla. Stat. § 97.055(1)(a)The registration books close on the 29th day before each election.
- FederalSocial Security Administration: change your name
- FederalSocial Security Administration: Form SS-5
- FederalU.S. Department of State: change or correct a passport
NameWright is not a government agency and this is not legal advice. We prepare your paperwork; you file it.
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