Change your name in Mississippi
The exact steps, documents, and official Mississippi links to change your name after marriage or divorce, in the correct order.
DMV / license agency
Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service BureauLicense update fee
Fee not published on the name-change page itself; standard duplicate/replacement license fees apply per the Driver Service Bureau fee schedule (contact local office to confirm exact amount).
Marriage certificate
Mississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Records & StatisticsVoter deadline
Voter registration (new or updated, e.g., after a name change) must be received by the county Circuit Clerk or postmarked at least 30 days before an election; if the 30th day falls on a Sunday or legal holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day. Mississippi has no same-day registration.
Instructions verified August 2026 against official Mississippi government sites. How we verify
Book a DMV appointmentWhat Mississippi asks you to bring
Documents for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau
- Certified/original marriage license (only original or certified copies accepted, no photocopies)
- Current Mississippi driver's license or ID card
- Original or certified birth certificate
- Social Security card
- Two proofs of Mississippi residency
Online or in person
Mississippi does not accept the license name change online. A visit to Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Driver Service Bureau is required.
REAL ID in Mississippi
Only original or certified legal documents are accepted for a name change (marriage license, divorce decree, adoption order, or court order); no photocopies. Applicants must also present proof of identity/citizenship, Social Security card, and two proofs of residency, consistent with REAL ID documentation requirements.
Ordering your Mississippi marriage certificate
Certified marriage certificates cost $17 (search + first copy; $6 each additional copy at same time). Order online/by phone through VitalChek (state-authorized vendor, https://www.vitalchek.com/vital-records/mississippi), by mail with a cashier's check/money order, or in person at the Ridgeland office (222 Marketridge Drive). Records for July 1938-Dec 1941 marriages are held by the county Circuit Clerk instead of MSDH.
Mississippi State Department of Health, Office of Vital Records & StatisticsUpdating your Mississippi voter registration
Mississippi lets you update your registration online. Voter registration (new or updated, e.g., after a name change) must be received by the county Circuit Clerk or postmarked at least 30 days before an election; if the 30th day falls on a Sunday or legal holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day. Mississippi has no same-day registration.
Update your registrationMississippi step-by-step guides
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