West Virginia · WV

Change your name in West Virginia

The exact steps, documents, and official West Virginia links to change your name after marriage or divorce, in the correct order.

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DMV / license agency

West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles (WV DMV)

License update fee

No online fee schedule confirmed; standard WV license fee is roughly $5/year of validity plus a $0.50 surcharge (e.g., ~$23.50 for a 5-year credential). Call 1-800-642-9066 to confirm current fee for your renewal cycle.

Marriage certificate

West Virginia Vital Registration Office (WV Department of Health), 350 Capitol Street, Room 165, Charleston, WV 25301; certified copies also available from the County Clerk in the county where the marriage license was issued

Voter deadline

West Virginia requires voter registration (including updates such as a legal name change) to be submitted at least 21 days before an election.

To see how West Virginia's license fee compares with every other state, use our name change fee table.

Instructions verified August 2026 against official West Virginia government sites. How we verify

DMV appointment options

What West Virginia asks you to bring

Documents for the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles (WV DMV)

Certified marriage certificate showing the new legal name
Original or certified copy of birth certificate (or valid U.S. passport)
Current/updated Social Security card reflecting the new name
Current WV driver's license or ID card to be replaced
Two documents proving current WV residency (utility bill, voter registration card, rental agreement, etc.)

Online or in person

West Virginia does not accept the license name change online. A visit to West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles (WV DMV) is required.

REAL ID in West Virginia

WV DMV requires in-person application for any legal name change on a license/ID (no mail or online option). Bring proof of name change plus standard identity/residency documents; REAL ID upgrades need additional proof-of-residency documents per the DMV's Acceptable Documents list.

Updating your West Virginia voter registration

West Virginia lets you update your registration online. West Virginia requires voter registration (including updates such as a legal name change) to be submitted at least 21 days before an election.

Update your registration

West Virginia step-by-step guides

Name change after marriage Social Security card Driver's license / DMV Voter registration Name change checklist Forms & where to file

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 agencyWest Virginia: ordering a certified marriage certificate
State agencyWest Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles (WV DMV): name change on a license or ID
State agencyWest Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles (WV DMV): appointments
State agencyWest Virginia official voter registration page
The lawW. Va. Code § 3-2-6Registration closes on the 21st day 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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