New York · Name change checklist

New York Name Change Checklist After Marriage

Everything you need to change your name in New York, in the exact order that keeps you from getting turned away. Build your personalized version free.

Get my full New York checklist Free. Every step in order, about 90 seconds.

Checked against official New York and federal sources in August 2026. Sources are listed at the bottom of this page.

The correct order in New York

Follow this sequence in New York:

1. Certified marriage certificate: order copies from the 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 Clerk.
2. Social Security (SS-5): free, and always first.
3. Wait 24–48 hours for the SSA record to sync.
4. New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NY DMV): update your license ($12.50 for an amended driver license/learner permit; $5.00 for a non-driver ID card).
5. Passport: DS-82, DS-11, or DS-5504.
6. Voter registration & everyone else: bank, employer, insurers.

Every New York step, in the right order

This page covers name change checklist. Your free checklist puts it with the other agencies, sequenced for New York, so nothing gets done out of order.

Build my New York checklist

New York documents to gather

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

Good to know for New York: 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.

What a name change costs in New York

Certified marriage certificate (3 copies, at typical prices): $30–$90
Social Security card (Form SS-5): Free
Driver's license update (New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NY DMV)): $12.50 (driver's license)
Passport (only if you update it): Free–$165
Voter registration: Free

Most people spend roughly $43–$268 in New York: on the low end if you skip the passport, on the high end with a full passport renewal and extra certificate copies.

New York FAQs

Most people spend roughly $43–$268 in New York: on the low end if you skip the passport, on the high end with a full passport renewal and extra certificate copies. The government forms themselves are free or low-cost; there is no fee to update Social Security.

Without a passport, most people finish the government steps (Social Security, license) in about 2–4 weeks in New York. A passport is the slow part: the State Department says routine processing takes 4–6 weeks, plus up to 2 weeks of mail each way, so plan for up to 10. The remaining accounts go at your pace, and most people finish within about 3 months.

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.

More New York guides

New York: Name change after marriage New York: Social Security card New York: Driver's license / DMV New York: Voter registration

Free to start

Ready to change your name in New York?

Your free checklist already knows it's New York. Answer three quick questions and every step is sequenced for you.

Build my New York checklist See what's in the kit