Change your name in North Dakota
The exact steps, documents, and official North Dakota links to change your name after marriage or divorce, in the correct order.
DMV / license agency
North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT)License update fee
$3.00 for a name-change duplicate license (if not renewing at the same time); a new photo is also required
Marriage certificate
County Clerk of Court / County Recorder (varies by county); marriage records are issued at the county level, not by the state Dept. of Health and Human ServicesVoter deadline
North Dakota is the only U.S. state with no voter registration. There is no registration or name-update deadline; voters just need a valid, current form of ID (showing current legal name/address) when voting, and must have resided in ND for at least 30 days before Election Day.
Instructions verified August 2026 against official North Dakota government sites. How we verify
Book a DMV appointmentWhat North Dakota asks you to bring
Documents for the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT)
- Certified marriage certificate (or divorce decree / court order with seal showing new legal name)
- Current North Dakota driver's license or state ID
- Valid proof of identity/residency documents if REAL ID compliance is being obtained at the same visit
- Payment for the $3.00 name-change duplicate fee
Online or in person
North Dakota does not accept the license name change online. A visit to North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) is required.
REAL ID in North Dakota
Must visit any ND Driver License site in person within 10 days of the name change; bring certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order showing the new legal name. For a REAL ID-compliant credential, additional proof of identity/residency documents are required per NDDOT's REAL ID checklist.
Updating your North Dakota voter registration
North Dakota does not offer an online update, so you will need to file a paper form. North Dakota is the only U.S. state with no voter registration. There is no registration or name-update deadline; voters just need a valid, current form of ID (showing current legal name/address) when voting, and must have resided in ND for at least 30 days before Election Day.
Update your registrationNorth Dakota step-by-step guides
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