How to Change Your Last Name After Your Wedding in 14 Steps

Today, changing your last name after your wedding can feel less like a “must-do” and more like a personal choice. There’s no right or wrong way to proceed. However, if you choose to adopt a new last name, there are a few processes you'll need to go through. You're likely wondering: How exactly do you change your last name after marriage?

It's no secret that legally updating your last name isn’t quite as fun as designing your wedding bouquet or deciding on your signature cocktail, but if you go into the process with a clear understanding of what to expect, it will be a lot easier to manage. Before beginning, start a spreadsheet (or use our checklist below!) to ensure you're taking care of each important document in your life. Rather than doing it in bits and pieces, working through each of these steps within a set time period will allow you to use your new last name in all aspects of your life—without any unforeseen complications.

Ahead, we’ve compiled all of the necessary steps to changing your last name, including the important documents you'll need, the order in which to handle things, answers to frequently asked questions, and many expert tips for making this cumbersome process a little more streamlined. 

How to Change Your Last Name in 14 Steps

It's time to officially change your last name. Below, we break down how to complete this important process in just 14 steps.

1. File for Your Marriage Certificate

Amidst all of the chaos (and the magic!) of your wedding day, it can be easy to overlook completing the legal paperwork—especially if a friend is serving as your wedding officiant or if you’re conducting a self-uniting ceremony. But don’t forget to obtain the proper signatures on your marriage license so that you can proceed with the crucial first step of changing your last name: obtaining your marriage certificate. 

“The marriage license is the document that provides the couple with authorization to legally wed, but the marriage certificate is the document certifying that a couple is legally married,” says Jamésa Alexander, a wedding planner and the founder of Jayne Heir Wedding and Events. “It serves as proof of marriage and is obtained after the license has been filed at the local courthouse of the county in which the couple legally wed.”

It's typically the responsibility of your officiant to file for the marriage certificate. While the number of days after the wedding the officiant has to file the certificate varies from state to state, you’ll want to do it as soon as possible. “I recommend the first business day following the ceremony,” says Alexander. That being said, a couple may opt to file for the certificate themselves because it presents a logical opportunity to take on step two in the name-changing process: obtaining certified copies of your marriage certificate.

2. Obtain Certified Copies

On almost every document where you’ll need to officially change your last name, you'll need to show proof of your marriage. That’s why having a certified copy of your marriage certificate is so important. While the original version of your marriage certificate will likely stay on file with the county you married in, the county can provide you with government-issued duplicates that will be accepted by other government entities and financial institutions as official proof of your marriage. These can be purchased through the county clerk’s office where you file your marriage certificate.  

“I recommend obtaining at least three copies of your marriage certificate,” Alexander says. “Keep one copy in a safe place and use two copies for the entities that will need it to update your marital status and name change.” 

3. Update Your Social Security Card

Your Social Security number is a unique nine-digit number used for identification and tax purposes. “Every federal and state entity links your identity to your name on file with the Social Security Administration,” says Colie Christensen, the founder of NewlyNamed. As such, this is the first place you’ll need to update with your new last name. “If the name on your SSA records doesn’t match the name you’d like on your new driver’s license, your new driver’s license will be denied," she says. “The same goes with your passport.” 

You can apply for a new Social Security card by mail or in person. (To find your nearest Social Security office, click here.) If you plan on applying in person, you can expedite the process by filling out the application in advance. While there's no charge for updating your Social Security card, you’ll need to bring the following documents to your appointment:

• Proof of name change: If you’re simply taking your fiancé(e)’s last name, a certified copy of your marriage certificate will do the trick.
• Proof of citizenship: A valid passport, your birth certificate, or a certified copy of your birth certificate can do this.
• Valid photo identification: This can be a driver’s license, unexpired passport, military I.D., or state-issued I.D. card. Even though the I.D. will have your original last name, that's acceptable.
• Your current Social Security card: Note that you'll keep the same number after your card is replaced.

If you are not a U.S. citizen but will become a permanent U.S. resident after your wedding, this link will provide more information about the documents needed for your next steps in the Social Security process.

4. Get a New Driver’s License or I.D.

“In order to update your bank account, credit cards, investment accounts, etc., you will most likely need to show a photo I.D. in your new name,” Christensen says. That’s why, after updating your Social Security card, the next place to change your name is on the form of I.D. you use the most in everyday life. For most people, this is your driver’s license, but a state or military-issued I.D. also works.

Changing your name on your driver’s license must be done in person, so budget time to visit the DMV and, while you’re there, also get a new photo taken. Most states consider a name change to be part of the renewal process, so you’ll want to fill out the license renewal paperwork in advance to save time on your trip. Be sure to bring the following with you to the DMV:

• Your new Social Security card or your receipt from the Social Security office
• Proof of address, such as a bank statement, bill, insurance document, mortgage document, or lease (only if required in your state)
• A certified copy of your marriage certificate, which will be returned to you
• Multiple options for payment, including cash or a checkbook, as some offices don't accept credit cards

5. Update Your Passport

If you’ll be heading out on an international honeymoon shortly after your wedding, it’s best to wait until after you’ve returned home from the trip to change your name on your passport. “The I.D. you’re traveling with has to match your boarding pass,” Christensen says. “If you have any travel booked in your given name, you won’t run into any issues as long as the name on your passport matches the name on your airline ticket.” 

A name change on a passport is considered a correction, and the change needs to be applied for by mail. Use the U.S. Department of State’s interactive tool to help you select the proper form for your circumstances, then mail the below to the National Passport Processing Center:

• Completed DS-5504 or DS-82 form
• A certified copy of your marriage certificate
• Your current passport
• A check for the fees, if necessary. Make the check payable to “The U.S. Department of State,” and include your full name and date of birth in the memo line on the front of your check.

“If your most recent passport was issued less than 12 months [prior to the requested change], you will be able to update your passport to your new name for free,” Christensen says. “If your passport was issued more than 12 months ago, it will cost you $130.” You can also pay an additional $60 for an expedited service.

6. Update Global Entry and TSA PreCheck

Your new passport will come with a new number. You’ll need to provide that number to the Global Entry offices in order for your account to stay valid. Unfortunately, this update cannot be done online, and you will need to visit a local Global Entry Enrollment Center in order to make the change. 

After your in-person visit, you will retain your same Global Entry number, which will now be linked to your new passport. If you’d like to receive a new Global Entry card with your new last name, you can order one online through your account, but it's not necessary. (What matters most is the digital data linking your passport number to your Global Entry number.) 

“If you receive TSA PreCheck through your Global Entry membership, your TSA PreCheck membership will be updated automatically after you update your name with Global Entry,” Christensen says. If you have TSA PreCheck but not Global Entry, call 855-347-8371 to begin the name change process.

7. Change Your Name on Your Bank Account

Each bank will handle this process differently. Some will ask for an in-person appointment, while others may allow you to mail in or upload documents, but they will all require legal proof of your name change. Thankfully, the required supporting documents will be things you’ve already obtained: a certified copy of your marriage certificate, your new Social Security card, your new driver’s license or state-issued I.D., etc. Once the update is complete, be sure to order a new debit card and checkbook bearing your new last name. 

8. Change Your Name on Your Credit Cards

As with banks, different credit card companies will have different processes for updating your new last name, and most will likely request supporting documentation confirming the legal name change. Call the customer-service phone number listed on the back of each of your credit cards to determine next steps. 

9. Update Your Insurance

To avoid any unintentional lapses in coverage, update all of your insurance policies (home, health, auto, etc.) with your new last name as soon as possible. Different providers will have different procedures, but count on them asking to see your updated I.D. and/or a certified copy of your marriage certificate to validate the claim. 

Because marriage is considered a “major life event,” you can be placed on your spouse’s health insurance, or vice versa, without having to wait for an open enrollment period. To avoid any headaches, be sure your name has been legally changed with Social Security and on your driver’s license or state-issued I.D. before combining coverage.

10. Update Major Independent Payments

This includes your mortgage, utility companies (gas, electric, water), car payments, student loans, etc. Most of these updates can be made under your account information in an online portal.

11. Update Your Work HR

“Notify your human resources department of your name change, so they can update your payroll and employer-sponsored benefits programs, such as health insurance and 401(k),” Christensen says. This may also include updating your email address to reflect your new last name.

12. Make the Announcement Professionally 

If email is your main source of communication at work, send an email from your updated address to all of your regular contacts to alert them to the change. (And make sure to have any messages from your old email account set to automatically forward to your new email account for six months to one year.)

Adjusting your email signature for a period of time can also help your contacts grow accustomed to using your new last name. Christensen recommends signing your name with your first name, new last name, and your old last name in parentheses for at least six months after you marry. For example, your name is Jazelle Williams, and you marry Erik Ford, you’ll change your email signature to “Jazelle Ford (Williams).”

13. Update Social Media Channels 

Take the same approach to the name line on your Facebook, Instagram, and other social media accounts, and leave it up for about six months. If you’re turning your original last name into your new middle name, you may also opt to permanently adjust the name line to “FirstName OldLastName NewLastName.” Either approach will give your followers ample time to adjust to your new last name.

14. Update Loyalty Programs and Autopay Accounts 

This includes streaming services, such as Spotify and Netflix, as well as rewards accounts with grocery stores and chains, such as Sephora or Ulta. Updates to these accounts can typically be handled online and will not likely require a certified copy of your marriage certificate to validate the change.

Services That Help You Change Your Last Name

Instead of doing the heavy lifting yourself, you also turn to a service to help you change your last name on all official documents. Here, we list out a few different companies to consider. Each of these companies offers multiple packages designed to easily change your last name. The more affordable packages tend to be around $40, while more expensive (and comprehensive) packages may go up to $120.

When evaluating the right fit for you, think about what you're looking to solve for. Which tasks may be the hardest for you to complete? Do you need support throughout the process—or just a few forms to print at home? Are add-ons, such as pre-stamped envelopes or passport photos, important to you? Answering these questions will help you figure out the right fit for you. HitchSwitch, NewlyNamed, and Update My Name are some companies you may want to consider using.