How much does it cost to change your name?
On the government side, a name change is mostly free. Your Social Security card is $0. A passport correction is free if you're within one year of issuance (Form DS-5504); after that it's a paid renewal. DMV and REAL ID fees vary by state, and certified copies of your marriage certificate or divorce decree cost a small fee from the office that issued them. The forms themselves are always free.
What does each step cost?
Here's the cost of each part, agency by agency. The federal figures below come straight from the official SSA and State Department pages; the parts that vary by state are marked so you know to check your own .gov page.
| Step | Cost | Who charges it |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security card | Free ($0) | Social Security Administration |
| Passport — within 1 year of issuance (DS-5504) | Free — the State Department charges no fee for this correction | U.S. Department of State |
| Passport — more than 1 year (renewal: book / card) | $130 book / $30 card (standard renewal fee) | U.S. Department of State |
| Passport — optional expedited processing | $60 add-on (optional) | U.S. Department of State |
| Driver's license / REAL ID | Varies by state — check your DMV | Your state DMV |
| Certified marriage certificate or divorce decree copies | A small fee, varies by office | County / state vital-records office |
DMV/REAL ID fees and certified-copy fees are set locally and change over time — confirm the current amount on your state DMV and county vital-records pages before you go.
Why the passport timing matters for cost
The single biggest swing in your out-of-pocket cost is your passport. Within one year of issuance, the name change is free with Form DS-5504. Past that one-year window, you change the name through a standard renewal and pay the normal $130 book fee. If you have a recent passport, getting the correction in before the window closes saves you the renewal fee.
What about the cost of a name-change kit?
The government forms are free, and we link every one. A name-change kit isn't a charge for the forms — it's for the order, the state-specific accuracy, the in-person-vs-mail flags, and the notify letters, so one pass gets it done instead of three. You can see your real steps free first, then check every tier on the pricing page.
See pricing — every tier compared →Official sources
Every step is backed by an official government page — confirm the current rules on the source before you act.
- https://www.ssa.gov/life-events/change-name
- https://www.ssa.gov/faqs/en/questions/KA-01981.html
- https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm
- https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf
- https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10513.pdf
- https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/renew-replace/change-correct-passport.html
- https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/change-correct.html
- https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/renew.html
- https://travel.state.gov/en/passports/apply/help/forms.html
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
- How much does it cost to change your name after marriage or divorce?
- On the government side it's mostly free. The Social Security card is $0. A passport name change is free within 1 year of issuance (Form DS-5504); after that it's a paid renewal ($130 for a book). DMV and REAL ID fees vary by state, and certified copies of your marriage certificate or divorce decree cost a small fee from the issuing office. The forms themselves are always free.
- Is the Social Security name change free?
- Yes. SSA states that changing the name on your Social Security card is always free — there is no charge for the replacement card.
- How much does a passport name change cost?
- If your most recent passport was issued less than 1 year ago, the name change is free using Form DS-5504 (you only pay if you want expedited service). If it was issued more than a year ago, you change the name through a standard renewal and pay the normal fee — $130 for a passport book, $30 for a passport card.
- How much are DMV and REAL ID fees?
- Driver's license and REAL ID fees vary by state — there's no single national figure, so check your own state DMV's page for the current amount. DHS sets the REAL ID requirements but does not set the fee.
- Do certified copies of my marriage certificate or divorce decree cost money?
- Yes, but it's a small fee that varies by county or state vital-records office. Order a few certified copies at once — agencies require originals or issuing-agency-certified copies, not photocopies, and you'll likely need them for SSA, the DMV, and your passport.
- Are the name-change forms free?
- Yes — every government form (SS-5, DS-5504, DS-82, DS-11) is free to download from the official .gov site. You never pay for the forms themselves.
Not legal advice · Not a government service · Not affiliated with any government agency.