Name change after marriage in Kansas

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Marriage certificate

• Kansas regulation K.A.R. 28-17-6 sets the fee for a certified copy of a marriage certificate at $20, and $20 again for each extra copy of the same record ordered together.⁵
• The Kansas Office of Vital Statistics raised certified copies from $15 to $20 on July 1, 2022.⁷
• Walk-in customers at the Kansas Office of Vital Statistics can pay the $20 per copy by cash, check, money order or credit card.⁷
• The Kansas Office of Vital Statistics serves walk-in customers from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.⁷
• Kansas vital records staff ask walk-in customers for a government-issued photo ID before releasing a certificate.⁷

Driver's license

• Under K.S.A. 8-248, a Kansas driver whose name changes by marriage must notify the Division of Vehicles in writing within 10 days, giving the former and new names and the license number.¹
• To change the name on a Kansas credential, the Division of Vehicles asks for the current credential, proof of the legal name change and proof of residential address.²
• The Kansas Division of Vehicles requires the new name to reach the Social Security Administration at least 24 hours before the credential is updated.²
• The Kansas Division of Vehicles charges $16.00 to change the name on a driver license and $12.00 on an ID card.²
• Kansas driver license offices do not accept duplicate Kansas marriage licenses as proof of a new name.²
• K.S.A. 8-246 lets a driver who acquires a new name get a replacement license after proving the change with an affidavit and paying the $8 fee set in the statute.³

Voter registration

• The Kansas Secretary of State says voters must re-register every time they change their name.⁸
• A Kansas voter records a name change by filling out a new voter registration form.⁹
• Online voter registration in Kansas requires a valid Kansas driver license or non-driver ID card; everyone else uses the paper application.⁸
• Kansas closes its voter registration books 21 days before an election, and forms received after that wait until the election is over.⁹
• Kansas driver license offices offer to register voters or update their registration, including a new name, while the credential is being issued.²
• Kansas law requires photo identification to vote in person.⁸

Social Security

• The Social Security Administration recommends updating your Social Security record before you go to your state motor vehicle office.⁴
• Social Security suggests waiting until the state has recorded the marriage, which takes about 30 days in most cases.⁴
• For proof of identity, Social Security prefers a U.S. driver license and also accepts a state ID card or a U.S. passport.⁴
• Social Security treats a marriage certificate as the ideal proof of both the new legal name and the marriage.⁴
• Social Security accepts only original documents or copies certified by the issuing agency, never photocopies or notarized copies.⁴
• Social Security does not charge for a card with the new name.⁶
• Once Social Security completes the request, the replacement card arrives by mail in 5 to 10 business days.¹⁰
• People who cannot use Social Security’s online services fill in the paper Form SS-5 and show the required documents.¹¹

Passport

• USAGov says to report a name change to the U.S. Department of State as soon as possible to get an updated passport.¹²
• 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.¹³
• 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.¹³
• 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.¹⁴
• 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.¹⁴
• 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.¹⁴
• 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.¹⁵

Voter registration

• A voter registration can be updated online through vote.gov or by mail with the National Mail Voter Registration Form.¹²

Agencies

• USAGov advises telling Social Security early because other agencies learn of name changes through the SSA.¹²
• Every name on a federal tax return must match Social Security records.¹²

• 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 Kansas 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.