Change your name in Ohio
The exact steps, documents, and official Ohio links to change your name after marriage or divorce, in the correct order.
DMV / license agency
Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), Ohio Department of Public SafetyLicense update fee
$29 duplicate license / $12 state ID
Voter deadline
Update your registration no later than 30 days before an election. Ohio name changes cannot be completed through the online system: submit a paper Voter Registration Update Form with your new signature to your county Board of Elections.
Instructions verified August 2026 against official Ohio government sites. How we verify
What Ohio asks you to bring
Documents for the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), Ohio Department of Public Safety
- Original or certified copy of your marriage certificate/license (to link your prior name to your married name)
- Updated Social Security card / confirmation that SSA has your new name on file (BMV verifies your SSN electronically)
- Current Ohio driver's license or state ID card to surrender/update
- Proof of Ohio residency (e.g., utility bill or bank statement) if updating to a REAL ID-compliant credential
- Certified copy of any divorce decree or annulment if a prior marriage name change is also being unwound
Online or in person
Ohio does not accept the license name change online. A visit to Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), Ohio Department of Public Safety is required.
REAL ID in Ohio
A name change must be done in person at an Ohio BMV/deputy registrar location; it cannot be completed online. Ohio recommends updating your name with the Social Security Administration first, since BMV verifies your SSN record electronically before issuing the new license/ID.
Ordering your Ohio marriage certificate
Ohio has no statewide portal for certified marriage certificates. Order from the probate court in the county where the marriage license was issued; the Ohio courts directory links every county probate division.
County Probate Court (marriage records are NOT held by the Ohio Department of Health's Bureau of Vital Statistics; they are recorded and issued only by the probate court in the Ohio county where the marriage license was obtained)Updating your Ohio voter registration
Ohio does not offer an online update, so you will need to file a paper form. Update your registration no later than 30 days before an election. Ohio name changes cannot be completed through the online system: submit a paper Voter Registration Update Form with your new signature to your county Board of Elections.
Update your registrationOhio step-by-step guides
Ready to change your name in Ohio?
Build your free, personalized checklist, sequenced correctly for your state.