West Virginia · Name change checklist
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.
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 ($0.50–$23.50 (varies; confirm with the agency)).
- 5. Passport: DS-82, DS-11, or DS-5504.
- 6. Voter registration & everyone else: bank, employer, insurers.
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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): $30–$90
- Social Security card (Form SS-5): Free
- Driver's license update (West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles (WV DMV)): $0.50–$23.50 (varies; confirm with the agency)
- Passport (only if you update it): Free–$165
- Voter registration: Free
Most people spend roughly $31–$279 in West Virginia: on the low end if you skip the passport, on the high end with a full passport renewal and extra certificate copies.
West Virginia FAQs
Most people spend roughly $31–$279 in West Virginia: on the low end if you skip the passport, on the high end with a full passport renewal and extra certificate copies. The government forms themselves are free or low-cost; there is no fee to update Social Security.
Most people finish the government steps (Social Security, license, passport) in about 4–6 weeks in West Virginia, then the remaining accounts over 2–3 months.
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