Louisiana Name Change Checklist After Marriage

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 ($0–$13 (varies; confirm with the agency)).
• 5. Passport: DS-82, DS-11, or DS-5504.
• 6. Voter registration & everyone else: bank, employer, insurers.

• 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.

• Certified marriage certificate (3 copies): $30–$90
• Social Security card (Form SS-5): Free
• Driver's license update (Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV), Dept. of Public Safety): $0–$13 (varies; confirm with the agency)
• Passport (only if you update it): Free–$165
• Voter registration: Free

Most people spend roughly $30–$268 in Louisiana: on the low end if you skip the passport, on the high end with a full passport renewal and extra certificate copies.