Minnesota Name Change Checklist After Marriage

Follow this sequence in Minnesota:

• 1. Certified marriage certificate: order copies from the Minnesota Dept. of Health, Office of Vital Records (marriage/divorce records themselves are actually maintained at the county level, not by MDH).
• 2. Social Security (SS-5): free, and always first.
• 3. Wait 24–48 hours for the SSA record to sync.
• 4. Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS): update your license (about $26 (confirm with the agency)).
• 5. Passport: DS-82, DS-11, or DS-5504.
• 6. Voter registration & everyone else: bank, employer, insurers.

• Current Minnesota driver's license or ID card
• Certified marriage certificate (or marriage license with certified recorded marriage date)
• Proof of updated name with the Social Security Administration (name/SSN must match SSA records)
• Certified divorce decree or court order (only if name change is from divorce/court order instead of marriage)
• Proof of residency/citizenship documents if applying for or upgrading to a REAL ID

Good to know for Minnesota: Minnesota Dept. of Health does not record marriages/divorces itself. Certified marriage certificates must be ordered from the county office (Court Administrator/Recorder) that issued the marriage license; fees and ordering methods (online/mail/in person) vary by county. The state's searchable Minnesota Official Marriage System (moms.mn.gov) can help locate which county holds the record.

• Certified marriage certificate (3 copies): $30–$90
• Social Security card (Form SS-5): Free
• Driver's license update (Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS)): about $26 (confirm with the agency)
• Passport (only if you update it): Free–$165
• Voter registration: Free

Most people spend roughly $56–$281 in Minnesota: on the low end if you skip the passport, on the high end with a full passport renewal and extra certificate copies.