Pennsylvania Name Change Checklist After Marriage
Everything you need to change your name in Pennsylvania, in the exact order that keeps you from getting turned away. Build your personalized version free.
Checked against official Pennsylvania and federal sources in August 2026. Sources are listed at the bottom of this page.
The correct order in Pennsylvania
Follow this sequence in Pennsylvania:
- 1. Certified marriage certificate: order copies from the County Clerk of Orphans' Court / Register of Wills (in the county where the marriage license was issued); NOT the PA Department of Health, which only handles birth and death records.
- 2. Social Security (SS-5): free, and always first.
- 3. Wait 24–48 hours for the SSA record to sync.
- 4. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Driver and Vehicle Services: update your license (the standard license fee (confirm the amount with the agency)).
- 5. Passport: DS-82, DS-11, or DS-5504.
- 6. Voter registration & everyone else: bank, employer, insurers.
Every Pennsylvania step, in the right order
This page covers name change checklist. Your free checklist puts it with the other agencies, sequenced for Pennsylvania, so nothing gets done out of order.
Pennsylvania documents to gather
- Certified copy of marriage certificate (from the county Clerk of Orphans' Court, not a decorative copy)
- Current Pennsylvania driver's license or photo ID
- Completed form DL-80 (Application to Renew/Replace/Change/Correct a Non-Commercial Driver's License)
- Proof of Social Security number update (recommended to update SSA record first)
- Two proofs of PA residency and additional identity documents if upgrading to/maintaining a REAL ID-compliant license
Good to know for Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania does not issue marriage certificates at the state level. Certified copies must be ordered directly from the Clerk of Orphans' Court in the specific county where the marriage license was issued; the linked pacourts.us page is the official statewide directory of all 67 county Clerk of Orphans' Court offices with their contact information.
What a name change costs in Pennsylvania
- Certified marriage certificate (3 copies, at typical prices): $30–$90
- Social Security card (Form SS-5): Free
- Driver's license update (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Driver and Vehicle Services): the standard license fee (confirm the amount with the agency)
- Passport (only if you update it): Free–$165
- Voter registration: Free
The Pennsylvania DMV charges its standard license fee, which isn't included here. Not counting it, most people spend roughly $30 to $255, depending on certificate copies and whether they renew a passport.
Pennsylvania FAQs
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 agencyPennsylvania: ordering a certified marriage certificate
- State agencyPennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Driver and Vehicle Services: name change on a license or ID
- State agencyPennsylvania official voter registration page
- The lawPennsylvania Election Code § 1231 (Act 77 of 2019)A valid registration application must be received not later than 15 days 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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