Tennessee Name Change Checklist After Marriage

Follow this sequence in Tennessee:

• 1. Certified marriage certificate: order copies from the Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records.
• 2. Social Security (SS-5): free, and always first.
• 3. Wait 24–48 hours for the SSA record to sync.
• 4. Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security, Driver Services Division: update your license ($8–$28 (varies; confirm with the agency)).
• 5. Passport: DS-82, DS-11, or DS-5504.
• 6. Voter registration & everyone else: bank, employer, insurers.

• 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)

Good to know for Tennessee: 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.

• Certified marriage certificate (3 copies): $30–$90
• Social Security card (Form SS-5): Free
• Driver's license update (Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security, Driver Services Division): $8–$28 (varies; confirm with the agency)
• Passport (only if you update it): Free–$165
• Voter registration: Free

Most people spend roughly $38–$283 in Tennessee: on the low end if you skip the passport, on the high end with a full passport renewal and extra certificate copies.