Name change after marriage in Texas

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Marriage certificate

• The Texas Department of State Health Services does not issue certified copies of marriage licenses; the county clerk in the county that issued the license does.³
• Texas DSHS charges $20 for a marriage verification letter.⁵
• Texas DSHS says its marriage verification letters are not certified and are not meant to serve as proof of a marriage.³
• The Harris County Clerk issues certified copies of marriage licenses for a $5.00 certification fee plus $1.00 per page.⁶
• The Dallas County Clerk charges $10.00 to search for a marriage license or issue a certified copy of one.⁷
• The Tarrant County Clerk charges $21 for the first certified copy of a marriage license and $11 for each additional copy.⁸
• The Bexar County Clerk sells certified copies of marriage licenses for $8 each and suggests buying two when changing your name.⁹
• The Travis County Clerk charges $6.00 for a certified copy of a marriage license: $1.00 for the copy plus a $5.00 certification fee.¹⁰

Driver's license

• Texas law requires a driver whose name changes by marriage to notify the Department of Public Safety within 30 days and apply for a duplicate license.¹
• When a Texas driver reports a name change, state law asks for the former name, the new name and the license number.¹
• Section 521.424 of the Texas Transportation Code sets the fee for a duplicate driver license at $10.¹
• A Texas county or city that offers license services under an agreement with the state may charge an extra fee of up to $5 per transaction.¹
• A Texas court may dismiss a charge for a late name-change notice if the driver fixes it within 20 working days and pays a reimbursement fee of up to $20.¹

Passport

• 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.¹¹
• The State Department fee for renewing a passport book on Form DS-82 is $130.¹²

Voter registration

• Registered Texas voters can send a name change through the Secretary of State’s free online voter service.¹³
• A new Texas voter certificate arrives by mail within 30 days of an online name change.¹³
• The Texas online voter service asks for a current driver license or ID card, a Social Security number and the voter unique identifier (VUID).¹³
• Changing a name on the Texas voter roll does not change the name on a Texas driver license.¹³

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.⁴
• Once Social Security completes the request, the replacement card arrives by mail in 5 to 10 business days.¹⁴
• People who cannot use Social Security’s online services fill in the paper Form SS-5 and show the required documents.¹⁵

Passport

• USAGov says to report a name change to the U.S. Department of State as soon as possible to get an updated passport.¹⁶
• 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.¹¹
• 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.¹¹
• 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.¹⁷
• 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.¹⁷
• 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.¹⁷
• 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.¹⁸

Voter registration

• A voter registration can be updated online through vote.gov or by mail with the National Mail Voter Registration Form.¹⁶

Agencies

• USAGov advises telling Social Security early because other agencies learn of name changes through the SSA.¹⁶
• Every name on a federal tax return must match Social Security records.¹⁶

• 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 Texas 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.