New Jersey Name Change Checklist After Marriage

Follow this sequence in New Jersey:

• 1. Certified marriage certificate: order copies from the New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry.
• 2. Social Security (SS-5): free, and always first.
• 3. Wait 24–48 hours for the SSA record to sync.
• 4. New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJ MVC): update your license ($11 (duplicate license fee)).
• 5. Passport: DS-82, DS-11, or DS-5504.
• 6. Voter registration & everyone else: bank, employer, insurers.

• Certified marriage certificate (or civil union certificate) showing the name change
• Current NJ driver's license/ID card
• "6 points" of identification documents (e.g., certified birth certificate, U.S. passport, Social Security card) per NJ MVC point system
• Proof of Social Security Administration name update recommended before visiting MVC
• Certified English translation if any document is in a foreign language

Good to know for New Jersey: Certified copies cost $25 for the initial search plus one certified copy ($2 for each additional copy ordered at the same time). Can be ordered online/by phone via VitalChek, by mail, or in person at the Trenton state office or local municipal registrar; requires valid photo ID copy and proof of relationship to the person named on the record.

• Certified marriage certificate (3 copies): $30–$90
• Social Security card (Form SS-5): Free
• Driver's license update (New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJ MVC)): $11 (duplicate license fee)
• Passport (only if you update it): Free–$165
• Voter registration: Free

Most people spend roughly $41–$266 in New Jersey: on the low end if you skip the passport, on the high end with a full passport renewal and extra certificate copies.