Name change after marriage in Montana

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Marriage certificate

• Montana’s Office of Vital Records does not issue marriage certificates; certified copies come only from the Clerk of District Court in the county where the marriage was filed.⁷
• A Montana marriage is filed in the county where the license was bought, which is not always the county of the ceremony.⁷
• Montana Vital Records keeps a statewide marriage index back to 1943 and can search it to find which county holds a record.⁷
• A search of the Montana marriage index costs $10 for up to five years, plus $1 for every additional year.⁷
• Montana Vital Records usually answers a mailed index search within 7 to 10 business days.⁷

Driver's license

• The Montana Motor Vehicle Division asks for the Social Security name change at least 24 hours before the license change, because MVD first checks the application against Social Security.¹
• The Montana MVD’s FAQ sets a longer wait: the new name should have been on the Social Security record for at least 48 hours.²
• Montana MVD denies the application when the name or date of birth on the Social Security record does not match its own record.¹
• A Montana name change needs an in-person appointment at an MVD driver exam station.¹
• For a Montana name change, MVD takes a certified marriage certificate from the issuing government, a court name-change order or a divorce decree that changes the name, among other documents.¹
• Montana MVD records a full legal name of no more than 28 characters, counting up to three commas.¹
• A Montana license shows a hyphen only if the hyphen appears in the name on the primary identity document, and titles such as Mrs. are not allowed.¹
• The Montana MVD fee table lists $10.30 for a replacement license at any age, the same with or without REAL ID.³
• Section 61-5-114 of the Montana Code sets a $10 fee for a replacement license when the personal information on it changes.⁴
• Under Montana law, a replacement license runs for the same term as the license it replaces.⁵

Voter registration

• A Montana voter records a name change by completing a new voter registration application and returning it to the county election administrator.⁹
• Regular voter registration in Montana closes 30 days before an election.⁹
• Montana voters can still update a registration during the 30-day late registration period, but they then have to pick up their ballot in person.⁹

Social Security

• The Social Security Administration recommends updating your Social Security record before you go to your state motor vehicle office.⁶
• Social Security suggests waiting until the state has recorded the marriage, which takes about 30 days in most cases.⁶
• For proof of identity, Social Security prefers a U.S. driver license and also accepts a state ID card or a U.S. passport.⁶
• Social Security treats a marriage certificate as the ideal proof of both the new legal name and the marriage.⁶
• Social Security accepts only original documents or copies certified by the issuing agency, never photocopies or notarized copies.⁶
• Social Security does not charge for a card with the new name.⁸
• 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 Montana 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.