Name change after marriage in Oregon

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Marriage certificate

• Oregon law keeps marriage records restricted for 50 years after the wedding, so the Oregon Health Authority makes every requester apply and prove eligibility.⁶
• A spouse ordering an Oregon marriage certificate needs nothing extra when the name on the ID matches a name on the record; if not, OHA asks for legal name-change papers.⁶
• By mail or drop box, Oregon Vital Records charges $25 for the record search and first certificate, and $25 for each extra copy.⁴
• An in-person appointment at Oregon Vital Records costs $28 for the first certificate, including a $3 identity authentication fee.⁴
• An Oregon certificate ordered online through VitalChek costs $47.50 for the first copy: $25 for the record, a $7 expedite fee and $15.50 for the vendor.⁴
• Online orders for Oregon certificates default to UPS Next Day Air, which adds $20 unless regular mail is chosen.⁶
• Oregon Vital Records typically processes online orders within three workdays.⁶
• Oregon’s Center for Health Statistics warns about third-party sellers and points customers to its own office, a county health department or VitalChek.⁶

Driver's license

• Oregon DMV verifies Social Security numbers with the Social Security Administration, so the name has to be changed with SSA before it can change on the license.¹
• An Oregon REAL ID must carry exactly the name that the Social Security Administration has on file.¹
• On a standard Oregon card the name may differ from Social Security records, as long as the driver brings proof of the name used.¹
• Oregon DMV changes a name at an office, by appointment or standby, after seeing proof of the legal name change, proof of identity and address, and the fee.¹
• Oregon DMV treats a new name as a replacement license and asks for acceptable proof of the legal name change.²
• The Oregon DMV fee table lists $30.00 to replace a Class C (non-commercial) driver license.³
• A replacement REAL ID driver license costs $60 at Oregon DMV, against $30 for a standard one.²
• Oregon DMV takes a government-issued marriage certificate or license as proof of a new name, in the original or a copy certified by the agency that issued it.²
• Oregon DMV hands out an interim card at the office and mails the permanent one from a central location.²
• Most Oregon drivers receive the permanent card five to ten days after the visit.²
• A new name on an Oregon driver license does not carry over to existing vehicle documents such as the title.¹

Voter registration

• The Oregon Secretary of State requires a new paper registration form to change a name, although other updates can be made online.⁸
• Oregon voter registration cards are stocked at post offices, libraries and county elections offices, and a county or the state Elections Division will mail one on request.⁸
• The Oregon card has a registration updates section at the bottom, and the finished card goes back to the county elections office.⁸
• Oregon voters can update a registration until 8 p.m. on Election Day, but a late change may mean collecting the ballot at the county elections office.⁸

Social Security

• The Social Security Administration recommends updating your Social Security record before you go to your state motor vehicle office.⁵
• Social Security suggests waiting until the state has recorded the marriage, which takes about 30 days in most cases.⁵
• For proof of identity, Social Security prefers a U.S. driver license and also accepts a state ID card or a U.S. passport.⁵
• Social Security treats a marriage certificate as the ideal proof of both the new legal name and the marriage.⁵
• Social Security accepts only original documents or copies certified by the issuing agency, never photocopies or notarized copies.⁵
• 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.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 Oregon 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.