Social Security name change after marriage
Start here. Change your name with the Social Security Administration first, before your driver's license, REAL ID, or passport. Updating your SSN card is always free: you show a certified marriage certificate and proof of identity, and the new card comes by mail (SSA cites 5–10 business days on one page and up to 14 on another). Doing Social Security first is what keeps the DMV and REAL ID from turning you away on a name mismatch.
Social Security Administration (SSA)
How to change your name with Social Security after marriage
Get your marriage certificate as an original or a copy certified by the issuing agency (county/state vital records). SSA cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies.
SSA: 'All documents submitted must be either originals or certified copies by the issuing agency; photocopies or notarized copies cannot be accepted.' To prove a legal name change you must show a marriage document (a marriage certificate).
SourceCheck the best way to apply for your situation on SSA's Change Name page / SSN and Card webpage.
Depending on your situation and state, you may be able to request the change online (in some states via your personal my Social Security account, or by starting the application online); otherwise you make an appointment at a local Social Security office or card center.
SourceIf eligible, complete the name change online without visiting an office (currently available for marriages in 21 participating states).
SSA: if you got married in one of 21 participating states you may be able to complete the process online without visiting an office, but you must have a valid driver's license or state-issued ID card and a marriage certificate from a participating state. Participating states listed by SSA: Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. List of participating states changes over time — confirm on the live SSA page.
SourceIf not eligible for the fully-online path, start the application online and then bring/show your required documents at your local Social Security office or card center to complete it.
You provide evidence of identity, your new legal name and the name change event (marriage certificate), and — if needed — proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful noncitizen status. Acceptable proof of identity includes a U.S. driver's license, state-issued non-driver ID card, or U.S. passport.
SourceReceive your replacement Social Security card with your new name by mail. There is no charge.
SSA states changing your name on the card is always free. SSA's FAQ states the updated card is usually mailed within 14 business days after the application is complete; SSA's Change Name life-events page states a replacement card arrives by mail in 5 to 10 business days. (Two official SSA pages cite different windows — see warnings.)
Source
What documents do I need?
- Proof of the name-change event: a marriage document (marriage certificate) — original or a copy certified by the issuing agency (no photocopies, no notarized copies)
- Proof of identity: a U.S. driver's license, a state-issued non-driver identification card, or a U.S. passport (original or certified copy; SSA advises not to mail original driver's licenses/passports)
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful noncitizen status, if SSA does not already have it on record
- Completed Application for a Social Security Card (Form SS-5) when applying in person (the online flow generates the application for you)
How much does it cost?
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Replacement Social Security card with corrected/changed name | free | .gov |
Which forms apply?
Watch out for these
ORDER OF OPERATIONS: Change your name with the Social Security Administration FIRST, before updating your driver's license/REAL ID. State DMVs are required to collect your SSN and verify your name/number with SSA's records; if your DMV name does not match SSA's records, the verification can fail and your license/REAL ID application can be delayed or rejected. (Source: TSA/DHS REAL ID guidance — https://www.tsa.gov/realid/realid-faqs)
PASSPORT TIMING — <1-YEAR FREE-CORRECTION WINDOW: If you change your name within 1 year of your passport's issuance date, the U.S. State Department lets you correct it using Form DS-5504 with NO passport fee (you only pay extra if you want expedited service). After that 1-year window you must use the standard renewal forms and pay the normal fee. (Source: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/change-correct.html)
ID-MISMATCH / TRAVEL RISK: For air travel, the name on your ticket should match the name on the government ID you present at the airport. While your name change propagates across SSA, DMV, and your passport, avoid booking tickets in a name that won't match your current ID, and carry your marriage certificate if names are in transition.
DOCUMENT FORMAT: SSA accepts ONLY originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. Notarized copies and plain photocopies are NOT accepted. Order an extra certified copy of your marriage certificate from vital records — you will likely need certified copies for the passport and other agencies too.
CONFLICTING SSA TIMELINES: SSA's FAQ page says the new card is usually mailed within 14 business days, while SSA's Change Name life-events page says 5–10 business days. Treat these as estimates, not guarantees.
30-DAY WAIT (informational, from SSA news/blog guidance): SSA advises waiting at least 30 days after the marriage date before requesting the replacement card so the state has time to update its records and the marriage record can be verified. This appears on SSA news/blog pages rather than the core FAQ — see notes.
Official sources
Every step is backed by an official government page — confirm the current rules on the source before you act.
See your exact steps free
Answer a few quick questions and we'll show you the steps in order, each linked to the real .gov page. No account, no card.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I change my name with Social Security or the DMV first?
- Social Security first. State DMVs check your name and SSN against SSA's records, so if your DMV name doesn't match SSA yet, your REAL ID or license can be delayed or rejected. Update Social Security, then go to the DMV.
- How much does an SSA name change cost?
- Nothing. SSA says changing the name on your Social Security card is always free. If someone charges you for the SSA form itself, they're charging you for free government paper.
- How long does the SSA name change take?
- SSA's life-events page cites 5–10 business days for the replacement card, and its FAQ cites up to 14 business days. Treat those as estimates, not promises, and don't book anything tight around them.
- Can I do the SSA name change online?
- Maybe. If you married in one of the 21 participating states and have a valid license or state ID plus a marriage certificate from a participating state, you may be able to finish online. Otherwise you start online and wrap up at a local SSA office. Check the current participating-states list on the live SSA page before you count on it.
- What documents does SSA require?
- A certified marriage certificate (original or issuing-agency certified, not a photocopy or a notarized copy), proof of identity (a U.S. driver's license, state ID, or passport), and proof of citizenship or lawful status if SSA doesn't already have it on file.
- Does this work the same after a divorce?
- Yes — the SSA process is the same. The one thing that changes is the document that traces your old name to your new one: a certified divorce decree instead of a marriage certificate.
Not legal advice · Not a government service · Not affiliated with any government agency.