Change your name in Iowa
The exact steps, documents, and official Iowa links to change your name after marriage or divorce, in the correct order.
DMV / license agency
Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT), Motor Vehicle DivisionLicense update fee
$10 name change fee (in-person only, by appointment at any Iowa DOT driver's license station)
Marriage certificate
Iowa HHS (Iowa Department of Health and Human Services), Bureau of Vital Records and Health StatisticsVoter deadline
Registration updates (including name changes) must be received or postmarked at least 15 days before an election. Iowa also offers same-day registration in person at the polls with proof of identity and residence.
Instructions verified August 2026 against official Iowa government sites. How we verify
Book a DMV appointmentWhat Iowa asks you to bring
Documents for the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT), Motor Vehicle Division
- Certified copy of marriage certificate (or court order) showing the name change
- Updated Social Security card reflecting new name (recommended to update with SSA before visiting Iowa DOT)
- Current Iowa driver's license or ID card
- Proof of Iowa residency, e.g. two documents such as a utility bill, bank statement, or postmarked mail (especially for REAL ID)
- Payment for the $10 name-change fee
Online or in person
Iowa does not accept the license name change online. A visit to Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT), Motor Vehicle Division is required.
REAL ID in Iowa
Applicants changing their name should update their Social Security card first, as the Iowa DOT may verify the name change with SSA; for REAL ID-compliant credentials additional proof of Iowa residency (e.g., utility bill, bank statement) is required. Only certified documents are accepted, no photocopies or faxes.
Ordering your Iowa marriage certificate
Certified copy fee is $20 per record search/copy (hhs.iowa.gov, checked 2026-08); phone/online orders through the authorized vendor VitalChek carry VitalChek's own added processing fees. Requests can be made by mail, in person at the Lucas State Office Building in Des Moines, or via VitalChek by phone/online; a valid government-issued photo ID is required and only the record subject or immediate family/legal representative may order.
Iowa HHS (Iowa Department of Health and Human Services), Bureau of Vital Records and Health StatisticsUpdating your Iowa voter registration
Iowa lets you update your registration online. Registration updates (including name changes) must be received or postmarked at least 15 days before an election. Iowa also offers same-day registration in person at the polls with proof of identity and residence.
Update your registrationIowa step-by-step guides
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