Louisiana Name Change Checklist After Marriage
Everything you need to change your name in Louisiana, in the exact order that keeps you from getting turned away. Build your personalized version free.
Checked against official Louisiana and federal sources in August 2026. Sources are listed at the bottom of this page.
The correct order in Louisiana
Follow this sequence in Louisiana:
- 1. Certified marriage certificate: order copies from the Louisiana Vital Records Registry, Louisiana Department of Health.
- 2. Social Security (SS-5): free, and always first.
- 3. Wait 24–48 hours for the SSA record to sync.
- 4. Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV), Dept. of Public Safety: 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 Louisiana step, in the right order
This page covers name change checklist. Your free checklist puts it with the other agencies, sequenced for Louisiana, so nothing gets done out of order.
Louisiana documents to gather
- Certified marriage certificate or court order showing new name
- Current Louisiana driver's license or state ID card
- Proof of Social Security Administration name update (update SSA first, wait 24+ hours)
- Proof of Louisiana residency (e.g., utility bill, lease) especially for REAL ID
- Proof of car insurance if renewing/updating a vehicle-linked license
Good to know for Louisiana: The state Vital Records Registry holds marriage records ONLY for licenses purchased in Orleans Parish: $5.00 per certified copy plus a $0.50 state charge on mail or VitalChek orders (LDH service-fee schedule, checked 2026-08). For a marriage in any other parish, order certified copies from the Clerk of Court in the parish that issued the license; fees vary by parish.
What a name change costs in Louisiana
- Certified marriage certificate (3 copies, at typical prices): $30–$90
- Social Security card (Form SS-5): Free
- Driver's license update (Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV), Dept. of Public Safety): Varies, see the Louisiana license page
- Passport (only if you update it): Free–$165
- Voter registration: Free
The Louisiana 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.
Louisiana 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 agencyLouisiana Vital Records Registry, Louisiana Department of Health: certified copies
- State agencyLouisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV), Dept. of Public Safety: name change on a license or ID
- State agencyLouisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV), Dept. of Public Safety: appointments
- State agencyLouisiana official voter registration page
- The lawLa. R.S. 18:135Registration records close 30 days before an election (20 days for online applicants).
- 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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