Change your name in North Carolina
The exact steps, documents, and official North Carolina links to change your name after marriage or divorce, in the correct order.
DMV / license agency
North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV)License update fee
Approx. $16.75 for a duplicate license with new name (standard duplicate fee; not explicitly listed on the official name-change page itself)
Marriage certificate
NC Vital Records (NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health) or the county Register of Deeds where the marriage license was issuedVoter deadline
Name-change updates cannot be made through the online voter registration tool; must submit by mail (or in person) via a voter registration/change form to the county board of elections. Registration changes are due by 25 days before Election Day; those who miss the deadline may update their name in person during the early voting period when voting.
Instructions verified July 2026 against official North Carolina government sites. How we verify
North Carolina step-by-step guides
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