Name change after marriage in Minnesota

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Marriage certificate

• The Minnesota Department of Health does not record marriages.⁵
• A certified Minnesota marriage certificate comes from the county office that issued the marriage license, and the price varies by county.⁵
• Most Minnesota marriage records can be looked up in the Minnesota Official Marriage System (MOMS).⁵

Driver's license

• Minnesota law gives a driver whose name changes by marriage 30 days to apply for a duplicate license and pay the fee.¹
• Section 171.06 of the Minnesota Statutes sets the duplicate license fee at $12.75.²
• Minnesota adds a $2.25 surcharge for the driver and vehicle services technology account to each license fee.²
• A Minnesota driver license agent may also charge and keep a filing fee on top of the state fee.²
• Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services requires the name change to be processed by Social Security first, and the full legal name, suffixes included, must match the Social Security card.³
• Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services cannot update a license when the Social Security card does not match the applicant’s legal name.³
• In Minnesota the name change can be made at any office that offers license or ID renewals, with the current card and a certified marriage certificate.³
• Minnesota asks for name change papers that show a clear link to the name going on the card; without them, a variance may be needed.³

Voter registration

• Minnesota voters have to re-register when their name changes.⁷
• Registering online in Minnesota takes a state driver license or ID number, or the last four digits of the Social Security number, plus an email address.⁷
• Minnesota’s advance registration closes 21 days before Election Day: at 11:59 p.m. online and at 5 p.m. on paper.⁸
• Minnesota voters who miss the advance deadline can still register when they vote, at the polling place or when voting absentee.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.⁹
• People who cannot use Social Security’s online services fill in the paper Form SS-5 and show the required documents.¹⁰

Passport

• USAGov says to report a name change to the U.S. Department of State as soon as possible to get an updated passport.¹¹
• 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.¹²
• 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.¹²
• 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.¹³
• 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.¹³
• 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.¹³
• 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.¹⁴

Voter registration

• A voter registration can be updated online through vote.gov or by mail with the National Mail Voter Registration Form.¹¹

Agencies

• USAGov advises telling Social Security early because other agencies learn of name changes through the SSA.¹¹
• Every name on a federal tax return must match Social Security records.¹¹

• 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 Minnesota 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.