West Virginia Name Change Checklist After Marriage
Everything you need to change your name in West Virginia, in the exact order that keeps you from getting turned away. Build your personalized version free.
Checked against official West Virginia and federal sources in August 2026. Sources are listed at the bottom of this page.
The correct order in West Virginia
Follow this sequence in West Virginia:
- 1. Certified marriage certificate: order copies from the 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.
- 2. Social Security (SS-5): free, and always first.
- 3. Wait 24–48 hours for the SSA record to sync.
- 4. West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles (WV DMV): update your license (an amount that depends on your situation (confirm with the agency)).
- 5. Passport: DS-82, DS-11, or DS-5504.
- 6. Voter registration & everyone else: bank, employer, insurers.
Every West Virginia step, in the right order
This page covers name change checklist. Your free checklist puts it with the other agencies, sequenced for West Virginia, so nothing gets done out of order.
West Virginia documents to gather
- 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.)
What a name change costs in West Virginia
- Certified marriage certificate (3 copies, at typical prices): $30–$90
- Social Security card (Form SS-5): Free
- Driver's license update (West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles (WV DMV)): Varies, see the West Virginia license page
- Passport (only if you update it): Free–$165
- Voter registration: Free
The West Virginia DMV fee depends on your situation, so it isn't included here. Not counting it, most people spend roughly $30 to $255, depending on certificate copies and whether they renew a passport.
West Virginia 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 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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