Name change after marriage in Louisiana

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Marriage certificate

• Among the papers that prove a name change, the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles lists a state-certified marriage license, and it wants original documentation.¹

Driver's license

• The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles verifies names online with the Social Security Administration, so the new name must be on file there before the OMV visit.¹
• A Louisiana name change is done in person at the Office of Motor Vehicles with the current license, proof of residency, proof of insurance for any vehicle owned and a vision test.¹
• Louisiana charges $17.00 for a six-year license with the new name, and a local fee of up to $8 may be added.¹
• Louisiana handles a name change as a duplicate license, so the expiration date on the card stays the same.¹
• Someone holding more than one Louisiana credential, such as an ID card or a mobility-impaired hangtag, must change the name on all of them at the same time.¹

Voter registration

• Louisiana lets a voter change the registered name after a marriage online or in person, on a voter registration application that gives a Louisiana driver license number or Social Security number.⁴
• To submit Louisiana’s GeauxVote application electronically, the voter needs a Louisiana driver license or special ID card in hand to enter its four-digit AUDIT code.⁵
• To count for a given Louisiana election, a GeauxVote registration made with a state license or ID must be in 20 days ahead, and an in-person or mailed one 30 days ahead.⁵
• The Louisiana Secretary of State charges nothing to register to vote.⁵

Social Security

• The Social Security Administration recommends updating your Social Security record before you go to your state motor vehicle office.²
• Social Security suggests waiting until the state has recorded the marriage, which takes about 30 days in most cases.²
• For proof of identity, Social Security prefers a U.S. driver license and also accepts a state ID card or a U.S. passport.²
• Social Security treats a marriage certificate as the ideal proof of both the new legal name and the marriage.²
• Social Security accepts only original documents or copies certified by the issuing agency, never photocopies or notarized copies.²
• Social Security does not charge for a card with the new name.³
• Once Social Security completes the request, the replacement card arrives by mail in 5 to 10 business days.⁶
• People who cannot use Social Security’s online services fill in the paper Form SS-5 and show the required documents.⁷

Passport

• USAGov says to report a name change to the U.S. Department of State as soon as possible to get an updated passport.⁸
• 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.⁹
• 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.⁹
• 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.¹⁰
• 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.¹⁰
• 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.¹⁰
• 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.¹¹

Voter registration

• A voter registration can be updated online through vote.gov or by mail with the National Mail Voter Registration Form.⁸

Agencies

• USAGov advises telling Social Security early because other agencies learn of name changes through the SSA.⁸
• Every name on a federal tax return must match Social Security records.⁸

• 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 Louisiana 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.