Name change after marriage in Idaho

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Marriage certificate

• Idaho Vital Records issues certified copies of marriage certificates filed in Idaho from May 1947 to the present.⁶
• In Idaho, the officiant hands the couple one original marriage certificate and files another with the county; the certified copy of the filed record is ordered and paid for separately.⁶
• The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare charges $16 for each certified certificate copy.⁴
• Idaho’s vital records bureau has no public counter, so certified marriage certificates can be ordered only online or by mail.⁸
• Idaho orders placed online go through VitalChek, which adds a nonrefundable $10.50 fee; rush handling costs another $10 per record.⁴
• Idaho Vital Records takes 3 to 5 weeks on a standard certificate order and 2 to 3 weeks with paid express service, not counting mail time.⁴
• Idaho limits certified marriage certificates to the people named on them, their immediate family, their legal representatives or someone who needs the record to claim a property right.⁸

Driver's license

• The Idaho Transportation Department requires a new name to be updated with the Social Security Administration before any name change at the DMV.¹
• An Idaho driver changes the name on a license by applying for a duplicate, or, when eligible, by making the change at renewal.²
• Idaho county driver’s license offices accept a state-certified marriage certificate, a court-certified divorce decree or court documents as proof of a new name.²
• For the Idaho Transportation Department, a certified marriage certificate must carry a seal and a document number showing it was recorded.¹
• Idaho asks for name change papers whenever the citizenship or lawful presence document shows a different name from the one wanted on the license.¹
• The Idaho Transportation Department fee table lists $20.00 for a duplicate license or instruction permit.³

Voter registration

• Idaho voters who change their name must update their registration, and the online portal requires a current Idaho driver license or free ID card.⁹
• An Idaho registration update works like a first registration: online, or on the printed form mailed to the county clerk.⁹
• Idaho’s online registration closes 11 days before an election, but voters can still register in person at early voting or on Election Day.⁹
• Idaho’s election site reminds voters to update the driver license with the Idaho Transportation Department as well.⁹
• Idaho has no provisional ballots; a voter can register at early voting or at the polling place on Election Day with photo ID and proof of residence.¹⁰

Social Security

• The Social Security Administration recommends updating your Social Security record before you go to your state motor vehicle office.⁵
• Social Security suggests waiting until the state has recorded the marriage, which takes about 30 days in most cases.⁵
• For proof of identity, Social Security prefers a U.S. driver license and also accepts a state ID card or a U.S. passport.⁵
• Social Security treats a marriage certificate as the ideal proof of both the new legal name and the marriage.⁵
• Social Security accepts only original documents or copies certified by the issuing agency, never photocopies or notarized copies.⁵
• Social Security does not charge for a card with the new name.⁷
• Once Social Security completes the request, the replacement card arrives by mail in 5 to 10 business days.¹¹
• People who cannot use Social Security’s online services fill in the paper Form SS-5 and show the required documents.¹²

Passport

• USAGov says to report a name change to the U.S. Department of State as soon as possible to get an updated passport.¹³
• Form DS-5504 covers a name change by marriage when the passport was issued less than one year ago and the name changed within that year.¹⁴
• The U.S. Department of State charges no fee for Form DS-5504 unless the applicant asks for expedited service or 1–2 day delivery.¹⁴
• Form DS-82, the mail-in passport renewal, accepts a married name when the applicant sends certified proof such as a certified copy of the marriage certificate.¹⁵
• Renewing with Form DS-82 requires sending the most recent passport, issued when the applicant was at least 16 and less than 15 years ago.¹⁵
• An applicant who cannot document the name change with a certified marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order must apply on Form DS-11 instead.¹⁵
• Form DS-11 is filed in person at a passport acceptance facility, at a passport agency by appointment, or at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.¹⁶

Voter registration

• A voter registration can be updated online through vote.gov or by mail with the National Mail Voter Registration Form.¹³

Agencies

• USAGov advises telling Social Security early because other agencies learn of name changes through the SSA.¹³
• Every name on a federal tax return must match Social Security records.¹³

• Form SS-5 filled in from your answersYou print it, sign it and bring it to Social Security with your documents. The form itself is free on ssa.gov.
• The passport application for your case, filled inPicked from your answers about your current passport; the State Department’s fees are paid to the State Department. The application also needs a recent color photo, which the kit doesn’t include: U.S. passport photo rules, and a photo from a selfie.
• The Idaho checklistThe steps above in order, with the deadline, the fee and the official page for each one.
• Notification lettersFor your bank, employer, insurer and other accounts, with your old and new names.

The kit does not file anything for you and is not legal advice. Government fees, like the license fee and the county copy of your marriage record, are paid directly to each office.