Change your name in Tennessee
The exact steps, documents, and official Tennessee links to change your name after marriage or divorce, in the correct order.
DMV / license agency
Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security, Driver Services DivisionLicense update fee
Duplicate license fee of approximately $8-$16 (varies by license type/duplicate history); temporary license around $28
Marriage certificate
Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital RecordsVoter deadline
A name change on your existing registration needs a signed form received by your county election commission office at least 5 days before the election. A new registration, including after a move to a different county, must be complete at least 30 days before the election.
To see how Tennessee's license fee compares with every other state, use our name change fee table.
Instructions verified August 2026 against official Tennessee government sites. How we verify
DMV appointment optionsWhat Tennessee asks you to bring
Documents for the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security, Driver Services Division
- Certified copy of marriage certificate from Tennessee Vital Records or county clerk (original or certified copy only, no photocopies/faxes)
- Current Tennessee driver's license or ID
- Proof that Social Security Administration record has been updated with new name (recommended before DMV visit)
- Proof of Tennessee residency (utility bill, lease, etc.) if updating for REAL ID compliance
- Completed in-person application at a Driver Services Center (no separate form needed to bring, but bring proof of identity/citizenship if upgrading to REAL ID)
Online or in person
Tennessee does not accept the license name change online. A visit to Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security, Driver Services Division is required.
REAL ID in Tennessee
Tennessee Driver Services requires an in-person visit to a Driver Services Center for any name change; documents must be originals or certified copies (no faxes/photocopies). Making an appointment is recommended.
Ordering your Tennessee marriage certificate
Certified copy of marriage certificate costs $15 per copy; can be ordered online via VitalChek, by mail (Tennessee Vital Records, Andrew Johnson Tower, 1st Floor, 710 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243), or in person. Requires a signed application and a valid government-issued photo ID; mail requests take about 4 weeks.
Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital RecordsUpdating your Tennessee voter registration
Tennessee lets you update your registration online. A name change on your existing registration needs a signed form received by your county election commission office at least 5 days before the election. A new registration, including after a move to a different county, must be complete at least 30 days before the election.
Update your registrationTennessee step-by-step guides
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 agencyTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records: certified copies
- State agencyTennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security, Driver Services Division: name change on a license or ID
- State agencyTennessee official voter registration page
- State agencyTennessee Secretary of State: how to update your voter registrationThe state's page: a name change needs a signed form received 5 days before the election; new registrations close 30 days before.
- 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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