Name change after marriage in New York

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Marriage certificate

• In New York either spouse can choose a new surname by writing it in the space provided on the marriage license itself.³
• The New York State Department of Health says a last name does not change automatically at marriage and that neither spouse has to change it.³
• A New York marriage license cannot be amended later to record a surname chosen after the wedding.³
• Outside New York City, the town or city clerk that issued the license mails a Certificate of Marriage Registration within 15 calendar days after the officiant returns the completed license.³
• For a license issued outside the five boroughs, a certified copy costs $10 from the issuing town or city clerk and $30 from the New York State Department of Health.³
• New York State Vital Records keeps marriage records since 1881 for licenses bought anywhere in the state except New York City.⁴
• The New York State Department of Health charges $30 per certified marriage certificate by mail and $45 per copy, plus a vendor fee, for online or phone orders.⁴
• The New York State Department of Health warns of significant delays in processing certificate orders.⁴
• For licenses issued in New York City, the Office of the City Clerk charges $15 for a domestic short-form marriage record and $10 for each additional copy.⁶
• In-person marriage record requests at a New York City Clerk borough office need an appointment booked first on nyc.gov/cupid.⁶
• At an in-person visit, the New York City Clerk issues the marriage record the same day when all documents are presented.⁶
• Marriage records requested by mail from the New York City Clerk take 4 to 6 weeks to arrive.⁶

Driver's license

• The New York DMV lets a driver with a Standard license change a legal name by mail when a Social Security number is on file with the DMV and Social Security already shows the new name.¹
• The name requested on a New York DMV document has to match the name on the Social Security card exactly.¹
• A mailed New York name change includes Form MV-44NC with copies of the new Social Security card, the current Standard license and a government-issued marriage certificate.¹
• The New York DMV rejects a Form MV-44NC whose signature touches or crosses the edge of the signature box, because that signature is printed on the new card.¹
• Mailed name changes go to the New York DMV Utica Processing Center with a check or money order payable to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.¹
• The New York DMV fee for an amended driver license or permit is $12.50, and $5 for an amended non-driver ID card.¹
• The New York mail-in route is closed to holders of a commercial license or permit and to anyone changing other details, such as address or height, at the same time.¹
• Changing the name on a New York REAL ID or Enhanced license also requires a new photo.¹
• At a New York DMV office, a name change requires the original or a certified copy of a U.S. marriage certificate, divorce documents or court order.¹
• A New York name change at a DMV office also needs the current license, permit or non-driver ID, or else at least 6 points of proof of identity and date of birth.¹
• The New York DMV hands out a temporary non-photo license at the office and mails the new document in about 2 weeks.¹

Voter registration

• The New York State Board of Elections’ online portal accepts a new name as a voter registration update and sends it to the county board of elections.⁷
• Registering or updating online in New York requires a NY.gov ID account.⁷
• A paper New York voter registration form needs a handwritten signature; the Board of Elections rejects digital signatures.⁷
• New York Election Law lets a voter who claims a changed name vote like any other voter unless challenged on other grounds.⁸
• At a New York poll site, a voter with a changed name signs the registered name and then the new name above it, and the board of elections updates the record afterward.⁸

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.⁵
• 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 New York 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.