Name change after marriage in Nebraska

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Marriage certificate

• The Nebraska DHHS Office of Vital Records keeps marriage records for events in Nebraska and issues them as certified copies on security paper with the state seal.⁵
• A Nebraska marriage certificate ordered by mail costs $16, paid by check or money order to Vital Records.⁵
• Nebraska also takes marriage certificate orders online, payable by Visa or MasterCard.⁵
• A mailed Nebraska request names both spouses as they were at birth, the wedding date and the county that issued the license, with a copy of the requester’s photo ID.⁵
• Nebraska Vital Records keeps the search fee when no certificate is found.⁵

Driver's license

• The Nebraska DMV says state law requires a name change to be made on a license, permit or state ID within 60 days.¹
• Nebraska does not take name changes online; they are done at a driver licensing office.¹
• The Nebraska DMV accepts a certified marriage license, divorce decree or court order, as long as the paper lets licensing staff link the old name to the new one.¹
• To change more than the last name through marriage in Nebraska, the marriage license has to show the full legal name both before and after the marriage.¹
• Nebraska applicants bring their previous license along with the evidence of the name change.²
• A replacement Nebraska Class O license costs $16: an $11 fee plus a $5 security fee.³
• After payment, a Nebraska applicant leaves with a 30-day receipt, and the card is mailed within 14 business days.¹
• The Nebraska DMV tells applicants to expect a new photo at every office visit.¹
• Once Nebraska issues the replacement, the old card stops being valid as identification.⁴

Voter registration

• Nebraska requires a voter who changes names to register again.⁸
• Nebraska’s online voter registration, NEReg2Vote, accepts a new name only after the DMV has recorded it.⁹
• A Nebraska registration sent by mail must be postmarked on or before the third Friday before an election.⁸
• In-person registration at a Nebraska county election office stays open until 6 p.m. on the second Friday before an election.⁸
• Nebraska drivers can also fill out an online voter registration through the DMV when they renew or order a duplicate license.⁸

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.⁷
• 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 Nebraska 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.