Georgia Name Change Checklist After Marriage

Follow this sequence in Georgia:

• 1. Certified marriage certificate: order copies from the Georgia Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Records.
• 2. Social Security (SS-5): free, and always first.
• 3. Wait 24–48 hours for the SSA record to sync.
• 4. Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS): update your license (about $32 (confirm with the agency)).
• 5. Passport: DS-82, DS-11, or DS-5504.
• 6. Voter registration & everyone else: bank, employer, insurers.

• Certified marriage certificate (name-change document)
• Current Georgia driver's license or ID card
• Updated Social Security card showing new name (update SSA first, then wait 24-48 hours before visiting DDS)
• Two proofs of Georgia residency (for REAL ID compliance)
• For hyphenated surnames: certified copy of the marriage license application showing the hyphenated name selection

Good to know for Georgia: Statewide marriage records covered are from June 9, 1952 to present. Process is primarily mail-in (complete and mail the Request for Search of Marriage form or Marriage Verification Request form); $10 search fee plus $5 per additional copy. For marriages before June 1952 or for faster/in-person same-day service, contact the Probate Court in the county where the marriage license was issued.

• Certified marriage certificate (3 copies): $30–$90
• Social Security card (Form SS-5): Free
• Driver's license update (Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS)): about $32 (confirm with the agency)
• Passport (only if you update it): Free–$165
• Voter registration: Free

Most people spend roughly $62–$287 in Georgia: on the low end if you skip the passport, on the high end with a full passport renewal and extra certificate copies.