Name change after marriage in Texas
To change your name after marriage in Texas, update Social Security first, then your Texas 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 Texas'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.
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) — Driver License Division
Texas DMV name-change steps
Obtain an original or certified copy of your marriage license/certificate documenting your new name
Texas DPS accepts an 'Original or certified copy of marriage license or divorce decree' as proof of a name change. Documents must be original or certified copy; certified documents should not be laminated and no photocopies are accepted. If the document is not in English, a certified English translation must be provided.
SourceApply in person for a replacement (duplicate) driver license or ID card to change your name
To change the name on your driver license or ID card you must apply for a replacement (also known as a duplicate). A name change requires an in-person visit to a driver license office and presentation of original documentation verifying the name change — it cannot be completed by the online replacement service or during an out-of-state renewal.
SourceVisit a Texas driver license office within 30 days of the change
DPS instructs: 'Visit any driver license office within 30 days of the change' to update your name and provide the verifying documentation.
SourcePay the replacement/duplicate fee
The replacement (duplicate) fee is $11 for a driver license and $11 for an ID card. Changing your name is processed as a replacement; the current expiration date does not change. No separate name-change fee is listed.
Source
What you need to bring
- Original or certified copy of your marriage license/certificate (or divorce decree / annulment / Department of State Health Services marriage verification letter) showing the new name — no photocopies, not laminated
- Certified English translation if the name-change document is not in English
- Proof of identity sufficient to meet Texas DL/ID identification requirements (documents must be original or certified copy)
- Your current Texas driver license or ID card being replaced
Texas fees
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Replacement (duplicate) driver license — used to process a name change | $11 (source-cited) | dps.texas.gov |
| Replacement (duplicate) ID card — used to process a name change | $11 (source-cited) | dps.texas.gov |
Watch out for these in Texas
Order of operations (NOT stated by Texas DPS, but standard federal best practice): change your name with the Social Security Administration FIRST, then update your Texas DL/ID. SSA processing should be complete before applying so your records are consistent. Texas DPS does verify your Social Security Number with SSA in its broader DL/ID process, so a mismatch between your new name and SSA records can cause delays. Verify the current SSA step on ssa.gov before relying on this ordering.
Hard 30-day deadline: Texas DPS instructs you to visit a driver license office within 30 days of the change to update your name.
Must be done in person: a name change CANNOT be completed via the online replacement service or during an out-of-state renewal/replacement — you must visit a Texas driver license office and present original documentation.
Original or certified copy ONLY: marriage license / name-change documents must be original or certified copies. Photocopies are not accepted and certified documents should not be laminated. Order at least one extra certified copy of your marriage certificate, as the agency may retain/inspect it.
REAL ID name-match: ensure the name on your marriage certificate, your DL/ID application, and (recommended) your SSA record all match exactly to avoid REAL ID and identity-verification issues. (REAL ID specifics were not detailed on the name-change page itself — confirm on the DPS REAL ID resource.)
Passport/ID mismatch & travel risk: after a name change your driver license, passport, airline tickets, and other IDs should all match. Update each document and avoid booking travel under a name that doesn't match your current valid ID. (General travel caution — not a Texas DPS statement.)
The federal steps (every state)
Your Texas DMV step sits between Social Security and your passport. The three steps below are the same wherever you live.
Official Texas & federal sources
Every step is backed by an official government page — confirm the current rules on the source before you act.
- https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/how-change-information-your-driver-license-or-id-card
- https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/identification-requirements
- https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/replace-your-driver-license-commercial-driver-license-or-id-card
- https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/driver-license-fees
- https://www.dps.texas.gov/internetforms/Forms/DL-14a.pdf
See your exact steps free
Answer a few quick questions and we'll tell you what to do first, second, and third for your exact situation — each step linked to the real .gov page. No account, no card.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a deadline to update my license name after marriage in Texas?
- Hard 30-day deadline: Texas DPS instructs you to visit a driver license office within 30 days of the change to update your name.
- Do I change my name at the Texas DMV or Social Security first?
- Social Security first. Texas'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 Texas need to change my license name after marriage?
- Original or certified copy of your marriage license/certificate (or divorce decree / annulment / Department of State Health Services marriage verification letter) showing the new name — no photocopies, not laminated See the full .gov-verified list below, each linked to its official Texas page.
- How much does a Texas name change cost?
- Replacement (duplicate) driver license — used to process a name change: $11 (source-cited); Replacement (duplicate) ID card — used to process a name change: $11 (source-cited). The federal Social Security update is always free.
- When was this Texas guidance last checked?
- 2026-06-14. We checked every step against Texas'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.