Change your name in New York
The exact steps, documents, and official New York links to change your name after marriage or divorce, in the correct order.
DMV / license agency
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NY DMV)License update fee
$12.50 for an amended driver license/learner permit; $5.00 for a non-driver ID card
Marriage certificate
New York State Department of Health, Vital Records Certification Unit (Albany), for marriages outside NYC; NYC marriages are handled separately by the NYC Office of the City ClerkVoter deadline
Register or update your registration (including a name change) at least 10 days before an election. Online updates go through the state Board of Elections portal and are processed by your county Board of Elections.
To see how New York's license fee compares with every other state, use our name change fee table.
Instructions verified August 2026 against official New York government sites. How we verify
DMV appointment optionsWhat New York asks you to bring
Documents for the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NY DMV)
- Completed Application for Permit, Driver License or Non-Driver ID Card (Form MV-44)
- Current driver license, permit, or non-driver ID card
- Original or certified copy of U.S. marriage certificate (or divorce decree/court order if applicable)
- Updated Social Security card / SSN on file matching the new name
- 6 points of proof of identity and date of birth if no acceptable current photo document is available
Online or in person
New York does not take a license name change online. If you have a Standard license, permit or non-driver ID with your Social Security number already on file at the DMV, and you have already updated your name with Social Security, you can mail in form MV-44NC with copies of your documents and the fee. If you have a REAL ID, Enhanced or commercial license, you need to go to a DMV office.
REAL ID in New York
Standard-document name changes can sometimes be handled by mail if you already have an SSN on file, have updated it with the Social Security Administration, and need no other changes. Enhanced License/ID or REAL ID name changes require an in-person DMV office visit (a new photo must be taken). The name on the new DMV document must exactly match your Social Security card.
Ordering your New York marriage certificate
NYS DOH Vital Records (Albany) issues marriage certificates for marriages outside New York City ($30 per copy by mail; the issuing town or city clerk can also provide copies, often faster). Marriages performed in NYC are ordered from the NYC Office of the City Clerk instead.
New York State Department of Health, Vital Records Certification Unit (Albany), for marriages outside NYC; NYC marriages are handled separately by the NYC Office of the City ClerkUpdating your New York voter registration
New York lets you update your registration online. Register or update your registration (including a name change) at least 10 days before an election. Online updates go through the state Board of Elections portal and are processed by your county Board of Elections.
Update your registrationNew York step-by-step guides
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 agencyNew York: ordering a certified marriage certificate
- State agencyNew York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NY DMV): name change on a license or ID
- State agencyNew York official voter registration page
- The lawN.Y. Election Law § 5-210A registration form must be received no later than the 10th day before the election.
- 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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