Iowa Name Change Checklist After Marriage

Follow this sequence in Iowa:

• 1. Certified marriage certificate: order copies from the Iowa HHS (Iowa Department of Health and Human Services), Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics.
• 2. Social Security (SS-5): free, and always first.
• 3. Wait 24–48 hours for the SSA record to sync.
• 4. Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT), Motor Vehicle Division: update your license (about $10 (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 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

Good to know for Iowa: Certified copy fee is $20 per record search/copy (plus separate VitalChek convenience fees, starting around $9-13, for phone/online orders through the authorized third-party vendor VitalChek). 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.

• Certified marriage certificate (3 copies): $30–$90
• Social Security card (Form SS-5): Free
• Driver's license update (Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT), Motor Vehicle Division): about $10 (confirm with the agency)
• Passport (only if you update it): Free–$165
• Voter registration: Free

Most people spend roughly $40–$265 in Iowa: on the low end if you skip the passport, on the high end with a full passport renewal and extra certificate copies.