Name change after marriage in Massachusetts
To change your name after marriage in Massachusetts, update Social Security first, then your Massachusetts driver's license / REAL ID, then your passport. Do it in that order and you won't get turned away at the counter on a name mismatch. Below are Massachusetts's exact DMV steps and fees, each linked to the real .gov page it came from, then the federal steps that apply in every state.
In Massachusetts, the name change runs through the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV): the Massachusetts driver's-license update is listed at $25.00 (source-cited), it must be done in person, not online, and you'll bring 4 documents (full list below). Every step below is linked to the official Massachusetts page it came from (last checked 2026-06-20).
Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV)
What's specific to Massachusetts
- Agency
- Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV)
- Duplicate driver's license or ID card to reflect the new name
- $25.00 (source-cited) mass.gov
- In person or by mail
- IN-PERSON ONLY: A name change cannot be done online or by mail; you must make an appointment and appear at an RMV Service Center so your new signature and photo can be captured.
Don't want to fill the SS-5 and passport form yourself? The Filled Packet ($59) fills them with your details and gives you a per-field answer key for your state's form. We never store your SSN.
See what's includedMassachusetts DMV name-change steps
Obtain a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the municipality (city/town) where the marriage was recorded.
After the wedding, get a copy of your marriage certificate. For a REAL ID, marriage certificates must be issued from the municipality and must be an original or certified version (not laminated).
SourceUpdate your name with the Social Security Administration (SSA) FIRST and get a corrected Social Security card.
Mass.gov states: 'You should get your Social Security card first, because the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) will check your Social Security number when you apply for a new license.'
SourceComplete the RMV Class D, M, or D/M License and ID Card Application, marking the name-change box and listing your new and previous name.
On the application, check the box indicating your name has changed, print your new name in the General Information section, and print your previous name below. You must produce an SSN the RMV can verify with the SSA as having been issued to you.
SourceSchedule an appointment and visit an RMV Service Center in person to complete the name change.
Name change requests must be completed at an RMV Service Center. A name change CANNOT be done online; an in-person visit is required to capture your new signature, take your photo, and issue the new license/ID. Bring your completed application and required documents.
SourcePresent documentation proving the legal name change (marriage certificate) if your name doesn't match your lawful presence document — required for a REAL ID.
For a REAL ID, if your current name doesn't match the name on your lawful presence document(s), you must prove the legal name change with an acceptable document — a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court document all qualify; documents must be original or certified and not laminated. For a Standard (non-REAL ID) license/ID, you may change your name with no documentation as long as there is no attempt to defraud.
SourcePay the $25 RMV fee for the new driver's license or ID card reflecting your name change.
The change-information page states you 'can have a driver's license/ID issued for $25.' The official RMV Schedule of Fees (Revised May 2025) lists 'Duplicate License $25.00' and 'Duplicate ID $25.00' (and 'Amend License' / 'Amend ID' at $25.00 each) — the duplicate license/ID is the line item that issues a new card reflecting the changed name.
Source
What you need to bring
- Certified or original marriage certificate (issued from the municipality; not laminated) — required for a REAL ID name change when the name does not match your lawful presence document; not required for a Standard license/ID absent fraud
- Completed Class D, M, or D/M License and ID Card Application with the name-change box marked (new and previous name)
- Social Security number that the RMV can verify with the SSA (corrected Social Security card recommended to be obtained first)
- Standard REAL ID document set (proof of lawful presence, Massachusetts residency, and SSN) if applying for/holding a REAL ID — see the REAL ID documents checklist
Massachusetts fees
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate driver's license or ID card to reflect the new name | $25.00 (source-cited) | mass.gov |
Watch out for these in Massachusetts
SSA FIRST: Update your name with the Social Security Administration and get a corrected Social Security card before the RMV visit — the RMV verifies your SSN with the SSA when you apply.
IN-PERSON ONLY: A name change cannot be done online or by mail; you must make an appointment and appear at an RMV Service Center so your new signature and photo can be captured.
REAL ID NAME-MATCH: For a REAL ID, if your name doesn't match your lawful presence document, you must present an acceptable legal name-change document (marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court document).
DOCUMENTS MUST BE ORIGINAL/CERTIFIED AND NOT LAMINATED: Photocopies are not accepted; marriage certificates must be issued from the municipality.
STANDARD vs REAL ID: For a Standard (non-REAL ID) license/ID, a name change may be made with no documentation as long as there is no attempt to defraud — but REAL ID requires the supporting document.
HONEYMOON/TRAVEL TIMING: Mass.gov advises that if traveling soon after the wedding, you may want to wait until after you return to change all IDs, since names on documents (including plane tickets) must match.
After getting the new license, also update your voter registration with your new name.
The federal steps (every state)
Your Massachusetts DMV step sits between Social Security and your passport. The three steps below are the same wherever you live.
Official Massachusetts & federal sources
Every step is backed by an official government page — confirm the current rules on the source before you act.
- https://www.mass.gov/how-to/change-information-on-your-drivers-license-or-id-card
- https://www.mass.gov/info-details/real-id-in-massachusetts
- https://www.mass.gov/guides/getting-married-in-massachusetts-after-the-wedding
- https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-identification-id-requirements
- https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-registry-of-motor-vehicles-fees
- https://www.mass.gov/doc/rmv-schedule-of-fees/download
- https://www.mass.gov/files/RMV-License-ID-form_0.pdf
See your exact steps free
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Frequently asked questions
- Can I change my license name online in Massachusetts, or must it be in person?
- IN-PERSON ONLY: A name change cannot be done online or by mail; you must make an appointment and appear at an RMV Service Center so your new signature and photo can be captured.
- Do I change my name at the Massachusetts DMV or Social Security first?
- Social Security first. Massachusetts's DMV verifies your name and SSN against SSA's records, so updating SSA before the DMV prevents your license or REAL ID from being rejected on a mismatch.
- What documents does Massachusetts need to change my license name after marriage?
- Certified or original marriage certificate (issued from the municipality; not laminated) — required for a REAL ID name change when the name does not match your lawful presence document; not required for a Standard license/ID absent fraud See the full .gov-verified list below, each linked to its official Massachusetts page.
- How much does a Massachusetts name change cost?
- Duplicate driver's license or ID card to reflect the new name: $25.00 (source-cited). The federal Social Security update is always free.
- When was this Massachusetts guidance last checked?
- 2026-06-20. We checked every step against Massachusetts's official pages and show you the date so you know it's current — and we link every step to the real .gov page it came from.
Not legal advice · Not a government service · Not affiliated with any government agency.