My Marriage Certificate Is Missing My Married Name. Now What?
So, your marriage certificate is missing your married name, and you're wondering if you can still change your name. Maybe it just has your maiden name or current name.
Did you leave the new name field blank, forget to choose, or miss it entirely? Are you stuck? If so, what's the fix?
Your marriage certificate isn't broken
In most states, you can change your name after marriage even if your marriage certificate doesn't display your new name—this is completely normal.
That's because marriage license applications in 36 states don't ask for a new married name. As a result, marriage certificates in these states only list your current and maiden name.
However, in 14 states, you can specify a new name on the application. If you left that field blank, your certificate won't show a married name—but you may still have options.
Which states ask for your married name?
Here are the 14 states where you can designate your new last name when applying for a marriage license:
- California
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- New York
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- South Dakota
If you got married in one of these states and left the new name choice blank—or want to change your selection—keep reading to learn your options.
Note: Nevada dropped its married name choice option in 2024 (SB 211), repealing a 2017 rule that let couples choose new names on the marriage license application.
So, everyone's good to go?
In the 36 states that don't ask for a new name on the marriage application, your marriage certificate is all you need—it's legal proof of your authorization to change your name.
Quick note: You can change your middle name through marriage in 47 states, including those listed above. In a handful of states, you can even change your first name.
Want to avoid the headache of figuring out all these state rules? Our name change kit does the heavy lifting for you.
Why the split?
So why do those 14 states even bother? Why doesn't every state just omit new name options? Because the states that ask for a new name tend to offer more choices.
In these states, you can opt for more creative name combinations. They provide explicit clarity—everyone knows what they're allowed to change to, including men.
For example, states like California, New York, and Nevada let you mix and match names in multiple ways—it's written right into their statutes.
Not impressed? How about this—in California, a Williamson marrying a Hamilton could legally create up to 1,980 unique hybrid surnames, from Willton to Hamson to Liamil.
That's a level of creativity most states don't allow.
States that don't ask for a new name follow a default system: you can take your spouse's name or hyphenate, but extra options aren't clearly spelled out.
And by default, we don't mean these states have statutes listing approved name changes—most don't mention name changes at all.
It's simply a minimum understanding accepted by federal, state, and private agencies, such as when updating your social security card, driver's license, and passport.
They asked for my new name, but I left it blank
There are many reasons someone might leave the new name field blank: they overlooked it, forgot, or didn't realize it was an option and froze in the moment.
Some may have wanted to preserve the option but feared that listing a new name would make the change mandatory—not true, by the way.
Let's talk solutions…
1. Get a new marriage license
If you haven't gotten married yet, you're in luck. Just apply for a new marriage license and include your preferred new name.
Both your marriage license and certificate will reflect it, and that's it—you're done.
But if you're already married, read on…
2. Accept the defaults
Even in states that let you choose a new name on the marriage application, leaving it blank doesn't mean you're out of options.
Your marriage certificate will simply reflect your existing name, but you can still take your spouse's last name or hyphenate—these default options are widely accepted.
Consider this the Que Sera, Sera, Zen-mode approach:
- Creative name changes? Gone.
- Traditional options? Still there.
Except in California—if you don't select a new name when applying for a marriage license, you lose the ability to change it through marriage. A court petition becomes your only option.
Who would've thought California, the state with the most flexible name change options, would also be the one to slam the door shut—without much explanation? Go figure.
This only applies if you married and live in California:
- If you married there but live elsewhere, no problem.
- If you live in California but married out of state, you're fine.
We've reviewed statutes for every state, and California appears to be the only one with this restriction. For everyone else, default name changes remain an option.
3. Get your marriage certificate amended
If you're already married, you can ask the clerk who recorded your marriage license to amend your certificate with your new name. It'll likely be an attachment to the original.
Marriage record clerks have wide discretion, especially since state statutes are often ambiguous, but amendments are typically for typos, not changes of heart.
That said, clerks are human. Some might be willing to make a slight edit—a quiet nip and tuck—especially if it's a small adjustment. It never hurts to ask.
If a lower-level clerk denies your request, politely escalate to the head clerk—they have more leeway, and how you present your case can make all the difference.
4. Petition the court
If the default options don't work and amending your marriage certificate isn't possible, your only remaining option is to petition the court for a legal name change.
It takes time, money, and effort, but it guarantees you the name you want. Once approved, your court order—not your marriage certificate—becomes your legal proof of name change.
Your name change isn't blocked
If your marriage certificate doesn't show your married name, don't panic—it's usually not a problem and often standard, even if it only lists your current name.
In most states, your certificate serves as legal proof that you're authorized to change your name, no matter what it does—or doesn't—show.
If you married in a state that lets you specify a new name on the marriage application but left it blank, you can still take your spouse's last name or hyphenate.
California is the exception—if you didn't specify a new name when applying, a court order is your only path to change it now.
If you'd rather skip the research, our name change kit makes the process easy.
Hi,
My wife and I got married in New York State. We just received our marriage certificate and the "New Middle and/or Surname" field is blank. She had intended to take my last name.
Is it still possible for her to change her last name with this certificate? If not, would calling the local clerk's office do any good? Failing that, would we have to apply to remarry in New York or a different state?
I'd imagine this issue is not entirely uncommon and I'd like to believe there is a way to resolve this without having to petition the court.
Did she specify this on the marriage license application? If so, she can request a corrected marriage certificate. If not, you both can apply for another marriage license to get married again in NY.
Hello,
Got married a few days ago and I’m a little confused! My marriage license/certificate only shows my maiden name. There was no space that I saw for desired married names, I even double checked with the clerk to Which name to write down for the documents though I wanted a name change after all was said and done. However I want to hyphenate and add my husbands last name to mine! How do I prove my “new legal name”? Can I still do this though I currently have nothing showing my new desired name ? We got married din Wyoming but live in Ohio!!!
Hi Cali. Your marriage certificate will work fine for hyphenating. The various federal and state agencies will piece together your new name by referencing your maiden name and your spouse's current surname.
Hi,
I arrived to the US with a so-called K-1 (fiancé) visa and we got married in Colorado last week. After googling for a while now I know that it’s absolutely OK in Colorado not to have my new name on the Marriage Certificate but my name before marriage only.
I was asked if I want to change my last name later and said yes but didn’t receive any further information how that name change will go. I’m trying to figure that out now but still have zero clue. I only know that I can use the marriage certificate for the change – but where will I have to do it?
At the moment I’m going through the application process for the green card, etc. so I neither have a Green Card, nor a SSN or a drivers license.
Can I still apply for all these documents with my new name – which is shown nowhere?
Thanks in advance for any help in this matter, I never thought my name change will be this difficult. ??
Your new name can be derived from your marriage certificate by referencing your spouse's name.
Hi,
My wife and I got married in Nashville, TN in July. We want to hyphenate our last names. The marriage certificate in TN only has our original last names on it, not our married names.
The Social Security office in CA says we need to go through the courts for a name change decree since our new last name is not listed on our certificate. Is there any way to get around this?
Hi Nathan. It could be mixed signals. Them thinking your marriage took place in California. Tennessee doesn't have a new name spot on their marriage license and certificate like California does. For those certificates, your new name can be derived from the certificate.
Hello – I just applied for a marriage license with my future husband in the state of Rhode Island. The application asked for my current name and then also had a place to indicate birth name (if different than current). If I want to change my name, should I have put his last name in the “current” spot?
Additionally, I am still somewhat undecided on if I want to go through with the name change in general. Is there one option that makes it easier for me to make this choice in time rather than right now? I.e. should I put his last name in the current spot and never legally change it if that’s the route I choose to go down?
No, you were right to use your current name.
Not applicable in your case. It's nothing to be concerned about.
You must put your name. If you had put otherwise, the city or town clerk would have alerted you to correct it, as it wouldn't have matched your ID.
My partner and I just got married last week in Tennessee, but the certificate shows no change in married name and I'm not even sure the application asked for the name change. We are trying to figure out if we can change to a completely different name then what we have or if we have to take one or the other, or if it's even possible now that the certificate has been filed.
It shouldn't have.
Not possible through marriage.
This is your remaining choice.
My fiancé and I recently got our marriage license but the officiant actually made a mistake and added my last name to her so now her new surname is her last name +mine. But we don’t want her to change her last name therefore she is not going to change that with the ssn or any official documents.
Is she gonna encounter any problems in New York states if she doesn’t change her social security and ID with that new surname?
Thanks
No, there won't be a problem.
Got married 8 years ago in Milwaukee, Wi, never changed my maiden name, but now I want to do I have to go to court or can I just take my marriage license to Social security?
I meant marriage certificate
Hi Reid. You needn't go to court. Your marriage certificate will still work.
Me and my husband got married last October in Georgia! When filling out our marriage application, I was still stuck on what exactly I wanted my surname to be. I accidentally submitted the application without ever putting a designated surname. Now, almost a year later I am trying to get my name changed on everything but I am scared this is going to prevent me from changing. Please help, any advice?
Hi Ashlyn. Georgia marriage licenses and certificates aren't standardized statewide. Each probate court does it differently. Some will print your new name on your certificate. Some won't. If your certificate references a blank new name block, it could be a problem. Otherwise, you should be fine changing your name.
I got married in Maryland in 2012. Marriage certificate has my maiden name and each of us legally have 2 last names (traditional in latino families). I took my husband’s first last name and dropped all of mine, got my driver’s license, SS card and military ID with this new name. Relocated to Indiana, got an IN Real ID driver’s license using this name.
Now relocated to Ohio and they won’t accept my IN driver’s license as proof of name for my OH drivers license and they’re saying I need to go to court to get it changed before I can get my OH Real ID using this name. Is there really no other option than having to petition a name change to the court?
Hi Jen. The difficulty with DMVs is that they operate on their state's rules, and they needn't recognize the name change rules allowed in other states, or even the federal government. For instance, the SSA would allow you to use a space to join your surname with your spouse's while most DMVs wouldn't.
At best, you can return to the Ohio BMV and bring your marriage certificate as proof of your name change event instead of only your existing IDs. The name change that you achieved in 2012 in Maryland wouldn't have worked in Ohio. So they consider the change invalid then and now.
Hi, I got married in MN years ago and put my full maiden name as my married name on the marriage license. Now I want to change to my husbands last name. Do I need to petition the court or can I go to SS office and change it as well as license etc?
Hi Carrie. If your marriage certificate has a new last name section that lists your maiden name, you'd have to petition. If it's empty or doesn't exist, you may be able to pursue a limited name change, such as taking your spouse's last name as-is.
Hello, I just got married in Arizona, I wanted to start using my husbands last name but they never asked me if I wanted to change and there was no spot on the application to do so. My marriage license and certificate have my maiden name. But I want my future documents to have my husbands last name. Do I need to have my new name on my marriage certificate?
No, your Arizona marriage certificate alone is enough to authorize your name change.
Hi, my wife and I got married November 2020 in California, at the time we were not aware that if we didn’t put a new last name on our marriage certificate it would be harder to change in the future. Clerk never mentioned to us but the section is indeed on our certificate at the bottom and we just left it blank.
I want to change my last name to my wife’s as shown on the marriage certificate, is there any possible way around this or is court our only option? If not, then can we remarry in another state and use that certificate? I want to change my SSN and all my other paperwork to have her last name but losing hope about our options.
No, there's no way around this using your California marriage certificate.
Maybe, but you'll many state marriage license applications ask if you're already married. If so, they won't issue you a new marriage license. New York is one state that does allow this and will issue you a new license and certificate.
Hello I got married 7 years ago in Florida never changed my last name. I want to change it now but not sure how to go about it what should I do go back to court ?
Hi Shelby. You'd still use your marriage certificate. There's no deadline.
I kept my maiden last name but want to change it to my husband name now that I have kids So with the certificate I can just go to social security and use that
Correct. Please consult the social security article that explains the how. But pay special attention to the proof of ID section that explains what ID you must include.
Because your marriage took place over two years ago, you'll have to do a bit more work that others who got married within two years don't have to go through.
Hello, the article states that the Georgia marriage application has a field for the last name after marriage. I am wondering if the marriage certificates from Georgia have the new last name on them or at least mention that one of the parties would like to change their last name to a specific new last name? Thank you!
Hi Grigor. No, not all counties do this. The format isn't normalized statewide. Each county is responsible for designing their own marriage application, license, and certificate.
Hello!
I got legally married in Mexico this past week. Upon looking at our documents to start the name change process we noticed my maiden name is on the marriage certificate. I thought this was correct because I married my husband with my maiden name (if that makes sense). I'm reading the application for SS in Texas and it states the marriage license needs to be given as proof, as well as it being translated… Is our marriage license proof enough or does my married name need to be on that certificate?
Marriage certificate. In some states they're one and the same. Only their status changes after marriage.
The SSA has in-house translators for French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, and Spanish documents. That doesn't necessarily mean they'll get translated at a local field office. They'll get scanned and sent to authorized translators. This adds to the turnaround time: two days to three weeks, depending on workload.
Yes, that's the proof you need. Make sure it's a certified copy.
No, your maiden name alone is fine.
My husband and I got married 6 years ago. At the time he had the last name Moriarty (he only had this name for 3 years thanks to his mom encouraging him at 17 to not have his fathers name anymore) and so we signed the certificate with the name Moriarty.
Since then, he has changed his name back to his birth name (Eagleshield) that he had for most of his life (through a court order from Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Court, the tribe he is enrolled in), so is there any way to "edit/correct" the name that we had used on our marriage certificate in 2015? Or will I just have to go through the courts myself for a name change or do a vow renewal or something to get a new certificate? Thanks for any help!
Hi Mandy. You can try to get the certificate amended and reissued, but it's unlikely to work. Your most likely path is pursing a court order. There are some states where you can pursue a vow renewal by applying for a new marriage license, such as Colorado, New Jersey, New York, and Texas.
I scrolled the comments but didn't see this one come up. I live in Minnesota but just got married 2 months ago in Wisconsin. I just received a denial letter from social security in MN because my marriage certificate doesn't show my "married" or new name. I called Wisconsin and they said it's because they don't add married names to certificates! MN does on their applications. So this is likely why i got denied. Do I just try again and hope for someone new who understands some states don't add this to certificates or do we need to go to court in these situations!
You can try again, and you can reference SSA POMS RM 10212.055 and the Wisconsin-specific PR 02712.055.
Did you get it fixed? I'm going through the same thing. We got married in WI but live in IL and my certificate has my old name on both 'born' and 'current'! Ugh!!!
This shouldn't be a problem for you, because unlike Minnesota, neither Wisconsin nor Illinois will print or expect a new name to show on a marriage certificate.
I got married in 2003 NH, but my marriage certificate does not show my married name. I am from Brazil and I can't get my Brazilian documents with my married name because Brazil only accepts the translation of my marriage certificate. I'm not sure how to prove that I changed my name. I have all my American documents with my married name, but because the marriage certificate does not show the name change, they won't accept. So frustrating.
Hi Rivany. It's not uncommon for marriage certificates to not have the new married name spelled out. It seems like there's something missing from the story. They may reject it, but an expanded explanation is called for.
Do they require your foreign marriage certificate to be registered with a Brazilian consulate? Do they need supporting ID in your married name, such as a passport?
I got married in March in AZ
I am trying to get my name changed on my social security card. I was hoping the offices would reopen so I could go in person but so far it looks like I have to mail it in. I called to make sure I have the right documents and the social security rep said my marriage license has to have my married name or they won't change it on my social security card but there was never a place to put my married name on the marriage license so it only has my maiden name.
I even asked before I filled it out to make sure I put the right name. Now I think I was talking to an out of state agent because the local office was closed but I'm not sure. Do I have to petition the court to change my name or will they accept my marriage certificate to change my social since there was no spot to put my married name?
It will have your new name. Just not the way you think. It'll get pieced together from your current name and your spouse's current name as shown on your certificate.
That might be the case if you were talking to an agent from a state where the new name appears on the marriage certificate in isolation.
They'll accept it.
I got married 2 weeks ago in Cumberland County NC, I just put my maiden name will I still be able to take my spouses last name with social security?
Yes, you're good to go.
Does the wrong date on a marriage certificate void it?
Hi Thomas. Your marriage and certificate are still valid with the wrong date. You should still contact the issuing authority and have it fixed.
I want to verify some legal questions regarding the name change before my marriage. I want to eventually take my spouse's name but there are so many costs that go into your name changing with passports and updating my citizenship certificate. I want to wait a few years until we've recovered some money to change my name.
Is it going to be a problem if I fill out my spouse's name as the "Designated surname" on our marriage license but don't change my name for years? My passport expires in 3 years so I want to utilize what I've paid for as well for our honeymoon. Will it be a problem if I don't change my name on any legal documents with DMV, SSA, or USCIS until 2024?
This won't be a problem. This'll keep your options open.
Sensible.
No problem. There's no name change deadline.
Hi! I am from Nevada and have my marriage license. At the time of the application I had chose to leave my new last name Undesignated. I was wondering if I could go into the county clerks and have them change it to the desired last name of my soon to be husbands last name now? or would I just need to apply for a new one over all? Or possibly just renew it since it is expiring in December? Could I renew it before the expiration date? I am in dire need of answers my set wedding date is in 4 weeks. Thank you
They might be willing to do that. That's the clerk's prerogative.
They might require that.
There's no renewal. You'd have to reapply.
I got married in West Bend, WI about two months ago. I was going to work on changing my last name to my husbands and have now realized that I was supposed to write that in on our marriage license under "current name" in order to change my last name to his. It listed "birth name" and "current name" on the application and wrote my maiden name for both because I didn't realize that "current name" meant the name I wanted it to be changed to. It didn't even occur to me that that was the way to legally change my name. What can I do? Thank you!
You filled out the marriage application correctly. You didn't miss anything. Current name is what your legal name is at the time of application. For instance, if your maiden name were Sara Harlow, but your parents later changed it to Sara Williams, your birth name would be "Sara Harlow" and current name "Sara Williams."
If there were a name after marriage block on the form, then that would've been an omission. There wasn't, so you can use your marriage certificate as-is to complete your name change.
Thank you very much for your help. I was starting to panic.
I was married 40+ years ago in Texas which didn't and still doesn't have a place to choose a new name on the marriage license. After our wedding, I took the marriage license to the DMV and SS offices and had my middle name changed to my maiden name and my new, married last name. No problem with either.
Fast forward to this year and I registered for TSA Precheck. They issued a known traveler number with my birth first name, birth middle name, and married last name. That name does not appear on any legal identification, but because the birth middle name was on my marriage license (nowhere on the license is there a place for a new married name), TSA will not change the name in their system.
Now I cannot use the KTN because the name attached to it is different than the name on my Drivers License, which is my official photo id. UGH. I have been round in circles. Any suggestions?
Hi Sandy. Did you start the TSA Pre-Check online? And when they contacted you, did you provide them evidence of your name change, such as your marriage certificate.
No. I went into their office. I took my Drivers license, Birth Certificate and Marriage license.
Hi Sandy. You can try calling the TSA or submit it online to update your information.
Hi, my husband and I got married a few weeks ago in California and I indicated on the marriage license application that I wanted to change my last name to my spouse’s- I even double checked my customer copy. We received our official marriage certificate today, and it only shows my maiden name.
Should the certificate have my new last name? I’ve read conflicting answers about this; some sites say no, others say yes.
Hi LC. Your new married name should be shown. You can contact the county recorder in the county where you got your marriage license to inquire and seek a correction.
I was just recently married in NH. This is my 3rd (no judging). My current last name is a hyphenated of my 1st marriage and 2nd: "Name A-Name B", I kept Name A due to the fact we share a child and I wanted to still share a partial last name with her.
When my 3rd and I went to apply for the marriage license, the clerk either was new and didn't really know her way around filling out forms or didn't try hard enough, but supposedly their system "wouldn't let" her change my last name from Name A-Name B to Name A-Name C, I only wanted to change last last half of my hyphenated last name to my current husbands last name.
She said my only option was to keep my current last name and change it later. We didn't have time to press the matter. I tried to change it with SSA and explained the situation but was still rejected. Now it feels like my only option is to petition the court, pay a bunch of money, and wait over 40 days just to make a simple change.
Is there are way to avoid this? Can I try the city clerk again to see if the marriage certificate can be corrected? I can't imagine I'm the only to have had this issue
Hi Angie. The original city clerk was correct. You can't excise one-half of your existing name and re-hyphenate. Returning to get a correction won't work. You will have to petition.
I got married back in July 2019 but never changed my last name due to military purposes. I am now wanting to take my husbands last name but the social security office in Idaho has told me it has been over two years and my marriage certificate is no longer valid to use as form of changing my name. Do I have to now go through courts to get my last name changed?
You don't have to go to court. The SSA has a two-year rule that says you can use your marriage certificate as your identity document if your marriage (the name change event) took place within the past two years.
If two years have passed, include ID (e.g., driver's license, passport) along with your marriage certificate.
You can read more about the SSA card ID requirements and about mailing ID.
This may be a dumb question about if it’s been more than 2 years after marriage:
Does the secondary ID (drivers license, passport, etc) need to show maiden name and does it need to be current?
Hi KC. Expired ID in your maiden name is fine. ID in your new name must be unexpired.
I, an American, married my Ukrainian husband in NC a decade ago. Our marriage certificate only has my maiden name on it, and I changed my surname to his within a week or so of marriage.
Fast forward to present day- we moved to Ukraine, and he invited me on a family visa. We have a few children together, too. The migration services won't recognize me as the mother of our children or his wife even though I have all the legal and official supporting documents that point to me being, well, me!
All because I guess I wasn't born with my husband's surname (that's weird!) and they want some unicorn of a document that satisfies them. They don't believe the state of NC has no marriage certificate with a married name on it since other states apparently do. Is there a way to prove I am me as a North Carolinian?
For states that don't show your married name alongside your first and middle name, you'll have to derive your new surname. That's the standard across federal and state institutions. The Ukrainian official is requesting a document in a format that doesn't exist.
Are they questioning your residency or relationship to your spouse? If it's the prior, you can ask what documents they'll accept that shows your address. Perhaps a driver's license, bank statement, or utility bill.
If they doubt your identity and relationship to your spouse, the main document that connects you both would be a certified copy of your marriage certificate. Both you and your husband's name will appear on the document, alongside biographical characteristics.
As for your children, your name should appear on their birth certificates. You could supplement this with medical or school records. These documents tie you together.
If they don't accept this, they'll have to provide you guidance (preferably in writing) detailing what they will and won't accept.
Hello! We just recently received our Illinois marriage license. There was no section at all to fill out our new married name, and no box to check about whether or not we would be changing it. I assumed that would all come after we received our marriage certificate. So now we have it, and it lists both of our original names.
We want to change our name to my husband's mother's maiden name, so we would both be using a new last name that isn't listed on the marriage license. Will this be a problem? Can we both submit our marriage license to the social security office and change our names to his mother's maiden name? Thank you!
That won't work using your marriage certificate. You both must file separate name change petitions with the court.
No, they won't accept that.
Hi, I didn't put the new last name during my marriage certificate application, and I've decided to change it couple years later after the wedding. Will I have to file a petition to change my name? or I can still use my marriage certificate for that?
Hi Johanna. Which state did your marriage take place?
Hi,
So I got married in Georgia in July 2021. On the marriage application it asked for my full name and in a different space it ask for my new married name. I wrote my maiden name and my husbands last name hyphenated. When i got the certificate it just had my maiden name on it. Can i used the certificate to do the name change with SSN and DMV?
Hi Ju’Neal. Yes, you can use your marriage certificate. The license to certificate inconsistency of a quirk of Georgia. Each county designs their own license and certificate.
So my husband and I got married this year 2021 in Oregon, our permanent address is in Ohio. My marriage license says my last name as my maiden name and my new last name, however my marriage certificate has my maiden name on it.
I would still like to keep my maiden name, however I was going to instead add it to my middle name. So the outline of my name would look the same as in the marriage license, however my maiden name will just move into my second middle name instead of the first name in my last name.
As I said, my marriage certificate doesn't say my new name at all.
Is this something that I can do legally when filling out all my forms and such for my name change?
Did you specify your new last name on the marriage license application?
Hi. I've read a few of the comments and just wanted a clear answer for my situation.
I got married in June 2020 and I did not choose to change my last name because I still have my license and passport valid for a couple years. I want to change my name when I have to renew all my other documents. I just want to understand the process beforehand.
I've been reading about what I need to renew my passport/license with a new name, and they all require a marriage certificate as proof of a name change. That's where I am stuck, because my marriage certificate doesn't have the new name that I want in 2 years (my first name, my last name as the middle name, and my husband's last name).
Here is a question and theoretical situation based on assumptions, please correct me where I am wrong.
1. Which governing body (court order/social security/other) is legally changing my name? All the places I need to provide documents for require proof of legal name change. Is social security the one actually changing my name? And does the application process need an official document with my new name, if so, what is the document (court order, social security card, other). Do I need to show this documentation of my new legal name alongside the marriage certificate, since it doesn't have the new name? This is probably basic, but I don't really understand who is legally changing my name.
2. Let's say I provide social security with my marriage certificate with my unchanged name, is that proof just to show that I CAN change my name, not WHAT I am changing my name to? When I enter the new name that I want, are they making sure it matches a specific document that shows my new legal name? Or do they just want proof that I CAN change my name, and trust that I am entering my new legal name in the application? I'm wondering if there is a database where they can see my new name and then use that to verify the new name I am putting in the application.
3. For renewing my passport, I'm not sure if I can fill out form DS82 because there is a check box that I am unsure of.
(My name has changed by marriage or court order, and I can submit proper certified documentation to reflect my name change. )
I don't know if I can check this because I don't know what proper certified documentation I'm supposed to have to reflect my name change. This is why I'm wondering who is legally changing my name, and what documentation I'm supposed to have to show the new name.
I apologize if my questions are redundant and all over the place. I hope you understand what I am trying to ask. You would be a lifesaver in answering this because I am very stressed and confused on where to start.
Thank you!
*I got married in California by the way
The Social Security Administration is primary.
Yes.
As you mentioned in your follow-up comment, your marriage took place in California, so your marriage certificate would need to reflect your new name.
Since your California marriage certificate doesn't have your new name, you'll have to pursue a court-ordered name change. Please review the California name change article for what that entails.
There are federal and state layers. Social security is federal, California driver's license, REAL ID, or state-issued ID is state-level government.
The California DMV will query the SSA database to make sure your pursued name change matches. Think of the SSA as a parent resource for the DMV.
No, that won't work. You can't use your marriage certificate for name change purposes, as it omits your new married name.
They'll match against the new name on your marriage certificate. Since it doesn't exist, you'll have to provide another name change document, such as a court order.
Same as above. This won't work in California.
No.
Same as above. You'll need a court order to get your name synced across documents. In the meantime, you can renew your passport in your existing name.
The SSA and U.S. State Department (who issues passports) are federal agencies, but process name changes separately.
We're happy to help.
I got married in ny May 2019. I didn’t put my husbands last name as my surname after marriage. I decided I want to take his last name as mine.
I now live in Florida and am getting a new drivers license – with my maiden name -next week. Once I get my real copy- I was going to see if I can change my name with social security office in Florida using my Ny marriage license —- then once approved and I get new ssc – go back and change my name with dmv here in florida for my drivers license.
Will I have a problem since it is blank under surname after marriage on my marriage certificate/license?
Hi Stephanie. You should be fine running that sequence.
Hi Tyrone – that is interesting. Are you saying of people who got married in NY and did NOT elect to change their names at the time of marriage, they are still able to use their NY issued marriage certificate with their birth name only, as the basis for changing their names with the SSA, DMV, USCIS, and elsewhere?
I ask because I am in a similar boat but when looking around on the NYC City Clerk / Marriage Bureau website, they seem to suggest that people in this situation must "remarry." I'm not wild about that concept – plus we currently live overseas and so that is not possible at this time assuming it would require an in-person visit to City Hall in NYC?
When the new name is missing, the SSA and other agencies will resort to derived defaults: take the spouse's last name or opt for a hyphenated name.
Remarriage is an option when someone wants a specific new name shown on their marriage certificate instead of a blank space. New York's new name options (when designated on the marriage license and certificate) are more generous than SSA defaults, such as the ability to choose a segmented name.
Hi there, I married my husband in August 2021 in Florida, we live in Illinois.
I accidentally left the surname blank as I was nervous filling out the form and already had some troubles with it on the computer at the courthouse. My question is can I take my marriage license which says my current name and have it changed to my husbands last name? Is it too late to do anything?
Hi Melissa. Florida marriage license applications don't have a new surname block. You didn't omit anything. Your marriage certificate is good for use as-is.
Is this the same for a passport name change? I was married in FL years ago. I changed my DL name and name w/ SSA, but never did my passport (trying to do that now). Is my FL marriage license valid to submit as my proof of name change even though it only has maiden name on it? Thank you!
Yes, you're good to go when it comes to updating your passport.
Hi, I got married in Wisconsin in December 2021. At the courthouse I was asked if I wanted to change my name and I said yes, but when I came back to pick up my marriage certificate it had my maiden name on both birth and current name.
I want to know how do I fix this since I have to apply for residence and also have a ssn with my maiden name. Not sure how this would affect me.
Wisconsin's marriage license applications do not ask for your new name. The clerk might have asked you to provide you information about the name change process.
As it should.
There's nothing to fix.
It won't affect you in any problematic way.
Hi i got married in October 2020 in India and done our marriage certificate in 2021 January. My surname was entered by My husbands surname in the marriage certificate. So there is no indication of my previous surname (surname before marriage) in the marriage certificate.
I have applied for passport. There they asked a proof for marriage. The marriage certificate is not valid since it doesn't have the surname of mine which was on all my academic certificates. They asked us to show another proof (we are on it). We are planning to go abroad.
So my question is in all my academic certificates my name was with my parents surname. But in marriage certificate it's my husband surname. So is there any problem with that and if I have to correct that surname what's the process?
If I change my surname to husbands surname. It will effect. Academic certificate is referred as name identity. And we want to continue my parents surname as my surname.
The new name on your marriage certificate won't affect your academic certificates. You don't have to update them.
You don't have to update your name on other documents. You can keep your marriage certificate as the only document showing your new name.
Does your Indian marriage certificate at least say something such as "daughter of X"? This would list your previous surname indirectly. If so, this shouldn't be a problem as all variations are visible and can be pieced together from your certificate.
If you didn't encounter an agent who was mistaken, you might have a faulty marriage record that's missing information, needing correction.
That shouldn't pose a problem. When someone changes their name, academic papers instantly fall out of sync. It's up to you to update them to match, but it's not required.
I got married on July 3rd, 2021 in Pierce County, Washington. I signed the certificate with my maiden name, not realizing that in order to change my last name to be the same as my husband's I needed to sign the certificate with the new name. Can a correction be made to my marriage certificate or do I have to petition for a separate name change?
Are you certain about this? I believe Washington State only allows your current legal name to appear on your marriage certificate.
We recently got married in the state of Wisconsin, and I think it didn't ask my wife to sign with her new name. So when we went to get our Marriage Certificate it didn't have my last name it still had her full birth name. Do we need to get a petition to change her last name?
Hi Jason. No need to petition. Your marriage certificate is fine to use as-is.
Hello we recently got married in NY, this is my 2nd marriage and on my marriage license, I requested that my new surname be changed to my current spouse's last name.
We received our certificate and it had his name and my name with my former spouse's name (I had retained my married name after my 1st dissolution of marriage) Shouldn't my current certificate have my new surname? I'm thinking this is likely due to clerk error, what can be done?
Hi Cori. That might be a clerk's error. They can cross-reference your marriage application, license, and certificate to undercover a discrepancy. If found, they should issue you a corrected marriage certificate.
Thank you so much, I think I accidentally reposted this question on this forum by accident. I have no idea how I can go about contacting the clerks office! Here in the city, due to Covid, you can only arrange to be seen for licenses & ceremonies by appointment. There are no other options. I have sent an email and hope that they reply but from what I've gathered, they are poor at answering the phones & emails. Sigh
Hi Cori. Which city or town clerk's office is it? NYC?
Hi Valera, 👋🏾
Yes, NYC. I was fortunate enough to receive a reply to my email (albeit, several weeks later) Today we were reissued a new certificate! It was in fact a Clerk error.
I'm glad it worked out.
I got married back in 2018 and on my NY marriage license I picked my last name-husbands last name. I now want to change my name finally and I now just want to have my husbands last name and drop mine completely.
The town said we can get remarried for a new license since going to court is long and pricey. How does remarriage work? Do we have 2 marriage licenses or one with two marriage dates.
We have been married for almost 4 years I don’t want to make it seem void those years with the law.
Hi Kole. A remarriage license is the same as a regular marriage license. Same fees, application, etc. Think of it like renewing your vows on government-issued documents.
It wouldn't invalidate your marriage from several years ago, but it would provide you with a new marriage certificate with your new preferred name.
Hello,
I got married thru civil august 2019 I received my marriage license, I took of my last name and added only my husbands. For example my name was Ana Smith my husband John Williams. Marriage license says Ana Williams. We got married thru church November 2019 then covid happened so I never changed the rest of my documents ( social security, banks, IDs etc )
Now I want to do my name change but I want to add my maiden name. Ana Smith Williams.
How can I do this change?
Hi Ana. Since your marriage certificate shows a new name, you'll only be able to change to that.
We were married in 2010 in California (we live in TX now). My marriage certificate shows my new name as my husband’s last name. I never changed it with SSA.
Fast forward 12 years, I want to officially take my husband’s name especially since we have a child together. I called SSA and they told me that since it’s been greater than 2 years, they cannot use my marriage certificate as ID and that I’d have to submit a secondary ID showing my husband’s name.
If I don’t have those things, I would need a to petition the court for a name change. Is this correct especially since my marriage certificate actually does have my husband’s last name as my new name?
Hi KC. The two-year rule is a thing. But your secondary ID options are vast.
Hello, I got married in San Francisco February 2022. On the marriage application decided to use my maiden name for my middle name and my husband's surname as my new last name. Fast forward, a month later and have decided I do not want to change my name at all and keep it as is.
I learned there is no penalty to moving forward with changing my name as mentioned in this article. However, is there any way to reverse these changes on the marriage certificate to include my original name?
No, it is not possible to reverse or modify your marriage certificate to change your designated new name. Such amendments are reserved for typos and clerical errors.
I'm getting married in Utah. I want to change my maiden name to my middle name and take my fiance's last name. We'll then be moving immediately to New York. What should I put on the Utah marriage license to make this process as easy as possible in New York?
I've read in your blog that Utah doesn't ask for a new name. Will the Utah marriage license be enough to change my name in New York without having to go to court?
Your Utah certificate will be sufficient to change your name in New York.
I got married in California. I took my husband’s last name. Are there any legality issues if I never report my married name on our marriage certificate to SSA? Will there be any issues later relating to our finance/benefits as a married couple if I never change my name with SSA?
Hi Jay. No to both questions. name change is not mandatory.
I'm a guy and I'd like to finally change my last name to a hyphenation of my wife and my name. Come this May we will be married for 5 years.
My wife and I married in France and have a French marriage certificate. There were no options to put a "married name" for either of us. So, the names on the certificate are only our birth names.
We also both live in California.
The only document that has the hyphenated name is my wife's green card.
I can't find enough information pertaining to my situation. How would I go about changing my last name? Do I have the option to use my marriage certificate to change my name considering that the name I'd like to change to isn't on the marriage certificate?
Is it too late for me to use my marriage cert to change my name? Is there a time limit to where the more expensive court order route becomes the only option?
You can use your foreign marriage certificate to change your name if your hyphenated name can be derived from your last names.
For instance, if you're Bob Livingston and your wife is Jane Doe, and your marriage certificate shows both surnames, then you can hyphenate to Livingston-Doe or Doe-Livingston.
It's not too late. Your marriage certificate can still be used.
Thank you so much!!
Hello, I got married a month ago in CA and I did not add my husbands last name to mine. I want to hyphen my last name with his last name. My marriage license/certificate has only my maiden name. If I go to social security will they make the name change or do I have to go to court and petition a name change?
Hi Teresa. You must present a court order, as documented in PR 02712.006 California:
Hi, when I applied marriage license in Georgia I was told by Clark that I can’t have my husband partial last name (he has hyphenated Last name like A-B and I wanted only B) so filled designated name as A-B, but my marriage certificate shows only maiden name. Can I change SS and DL name to only B without any problem later? Or marriage license filed as A-B so need court order to change just B? Thanks!
This won't work in Georgia when changing your name through marriage.
Correct, you need a court order.
Hi, I live in New York and I’m about to file for a marriage license. I am considering adding my fiancés name as a second last name (no hyphen). Due to professional reasons, I am still not sure if I want to change my name on any other documents, but would like to keep the option open.
If I add his name as a second last name on our marriage certificate, but never change it on any other documents will that be a problem? Would we run into problems later on with this version of the certificate if it doesn’t match any of my other legal documents? Could someone challenge the validity of our marriage (license) later on?
No, it's not a problem to only change your name on your certificate.
No. Your marriage will remain valid whether or not you change your name beyond your certificate.
Hi, we live in New Jersey, I'm planning to marry a divorced woman. She's still using her ex-husband family name in US passport, driving license, citizenship certificate, bank etc. and all of her records here in US are signature with her ex-husband family name as she entered in US as married.
We applied for marriage license, registrar office used the family name in her birth certificate (clerk asked her complete info and entered also her previous marriage record for their file).
What last name does she must sign on marriage certificate? The signature using her family name in our marriage license (birth certificate name) or her official signature in US govt (ex-husband name)?
The standard in New Jersey is to sign your current legal name.
Thank you so much for providing all of this information! I read the entire article and all of the comments with your replies but I didn't see anyone asking about this specific combo of states so I hope you can help me!
I married in October 2019 in Pennsylvania however at the time, and still currently, I live in Delaware.
I don't remember a place to put down a new married name on the marriage license application or the clerk asking me directly but I could definitely be forgetting (it felt like a whirlwind).
Anyway – I'm finally ready to change my name to my husband's but not sure how to begin.
My PA Marriage Certificate has my maiden name. Am I able to go to the SSN office in DE with my PA Marriage Certificate and request a name change?
You're not forgetting. There was no such spot.
As it should.
Yes, that would work.
THANK YOU FOR THE PROMPT RESPONSE!! This thread has literally been THE ONLY clear and helpful guide I have found on this topic and I will forever tell anyone who needs this information to read your article!! <3
You're welcome. I'm glad this was helpful for you.
Hi Valera,
This article has been helpful and I read most of the comments but can’t seem to find one in my situation. I married in 2020 at the Arlington, VA courthouse and the certificate did not have a spot for name change so a few months later I filed a name change with the circuit court to have my last name hyphenated with my husbands.
Due to Covid it took over a year to process and I got my approved application back in April 2021. Honestly I had forgotten I had done it and here I am a year later and I have not taken the next steps to change it with SSA or the DMV.
If I’d rather just keep my maiden name as is, does it matter if I changed it with the state of VA? Will it mess anything up if I continue to keep my last name?
Thank you so much
You didn't have to go to court. You could have hyphenated using your marriage certificate.
No, it doesn't matter. You can skip your name change, even through court order.
No, you're fine.
Hello, I married my husband almost 20 years ago in Michigan. He got his U.S citizenship 5 years ago and chose to restore his family last name. We both went to court to legally change our last names and have our names changed in all our legal documents except our marriage license. Do we need to apply for an updated marriage certificate?
No, you don't need to update the names on your marriage certificate. You couldn't even if you wanted to.
Hi Valera,
I tried to read through all of your comments beforehand. I got married about a year ago in New York and checked the box that said “checkbox if same as premarriage middle and surname” and left the new middle and new surname line blank. My husband and I now live in Massachusetts and I would like to change my middle and surname. Can I do this without petitioning the court for a name change?
Thank you!
Hi Ashley. That could be problem using your marriage certificate since you were given the option to designate a new name when you applied to get married. Your marriage certificate reflects this non-choice.
The SSA is aware of which states do and don't provide this option. Both New York and Massachusetts provide this choice to men and women. The SSA and DMV/RMV in both states would look for this on your certificate.
Hello, my husband and I got married March 21 2022
In NC, when the clerk showed us our names my husbands name was correct but we just looked over the paper work and it has his first name twice as his last name… Jonatan Jonatan.. not sure how we can fix that looked up Info and haven’t found the right answer
In North Carolina, you can contact the register of deeds office to correct and reissue your marriage certificate.
I recently just got married to my husband who's incarcerated. He failed to inform me that he had a middle name until after the ceremony. Is there a way I can add in his middle name with barely any cost?
That might be possible by contacting the clerk who recorded your marriage license to seek a records amendment.
Hello,
I was married 1/12/22 in Florida but live in Minnesota. Where it says Name of spouse, I wrote my name at the time/maiden name and not the new last name. There is a spot for "maiden surname", but I left it blank.
I should have asked more questions, but it was a destination wedding and we were in a bit of a rush. Can I get a SSN and Drivers license with the new last name or do I have to petition to change my name before doing so?
This was proper.
If your maiden name was the same as your current name at the time, it wouldn't be a big deal to leave it blank.
You can change your name fine. No need to petition.
Hi, my wife and I reside in Minnesota but got married in September of 2021 in Wisconsin. Our marriage certificate only states her birth name (as we believe it should). She wanted to take my last name, but was told that she would have to petition in court to do so since we got married in Wisconsin and not Minnesota.
We recently completed the petition, but after reading the comments here and PR 02712.055-Wisconsin, we are thinking we didn’t need to do the petition after all. All that said, did we mess something up by doing the petition and being granted the court name change?
Is there any legal difference by changing your name through marriage versus changing via the court petition?
Thank you!!
Correct, it should.
Incorrect, unless she's attempting a change of name outside of the norm, such as a blended surname or first name change. But since she's just taking your last name as-is, your Wisconsin marriage cert would work fine.
No, it's harmless. Your wife could use either the marriage certificate or court order to complete her name change.
No, both facilitate legal name changes.
Hi, I got married and live in NJ and am wondering if I can make my maiden name my middle name (drop my current middle name) and take my husband’s last name or would this require a court petition in NJ?
Or one step further- I currently have two first names, a middle name, and my last (maiden) name (First First Middle Last). Would I be able to change my name to just one first name, move second name to middle name, add maiden name as second middle name, and take my husband’s last name (First Middle Middle Last)?? I know I’m reaching for the stars with that one but if it’s possible I would ideally want to do that.
Also when I change my name at the DMV, should I first change it with SS and passport so that those would serve as proof of name change?? Real ID is causing me some anxiety because it says documents need to match but if there’s a name change then obviously my SS and passport will no longer match the drivers license that I’m trying to change.
New Jersey is one of a few states that requires petitioning the court to execute a maiden to middle name change.
Each of these would require a court petition.
Yes, social security first.
You don't need to update the name on your passport before your driver's license or Real ID.
Just bring your marriage certificate, proof of social security number, and the necessary points of ID.
Hello, I got married in Vegas back on 9/25/2004, I am from and live in California. I do not remember there being an option of adding my new name on the marriage license. However my marriage certificate has my maiden name, and I would like to finally change my last name to my husband's last name. Am I going to have a problem when I go to the SSA office, to do a name change?
Hi Ashley. You should be fine, since it's a Nevada marriage certificate. Were it a California marriage certificate, you'd have to go to court.
I just got married in Florida for the 2nd time and when I filled out the marriage application I signed it with my previous name (the last name of my ex-husband). There wasn't a spot to put my new last name.
I'm going to have to petition the court, right? Or is there another way around petitioning the court? The social security administration state on the application to change my name that I have to have my old name and new name on the marriage certificate.
No, your marriage certificate will work fine.
Not quite. Your marriage certificate must have sufficient information to identify your old and new name. Your old name is your current name at the time. Your new name could be derived from your spouse's surname.
Hello! I got married in NY and did not change my name but I would like to now. We are actually getting married again in MN (first was just a court house wedding) and wondering if we can get re-married in a different state?
Hi Marie. I'm fairly certain Minnesota doesn't have a remarriage option.
Hi there,
I got married in Texas in 2015 and it did not add my husbands last name (because of the green card, passports etc). I live in Arizona and am looking to change my last name to my husband’s name. How works?
Thank you!
You'll undergo a standard name change using a certified copy of your marriage certificate. Nothing more elaborate than that.
Hi,
My husband change his name Joao to John after he got his citizenship. Last year, we got married and he signed the marriage certificate with his old name: Joao, but he supposed to signed with his new name: John. He didn’t know that. Now, I want to travel outside the USA and I want to know if this could be a problem for me, when I will show my marriage certificate with his old name there.
Hi Karollina. For travel purposes, it shouldn't affect you since the name discrepancy doesn't apply to you. Is there some other entity you plan to show it to that might raise the issue? If so, you could provide documentation showing your husband's name change.
My husband and I have been married 36 years. When I tried to get an enhanced license because the deadline to get one is in 2023, they would not issue it to me because my marriage certificate did not have my married name next to my maiden name. I did not know I was supposed to put it on, was not told to do so back then.
The DMV clerk said I have to remarry my husband and get a new certificate. Is this the only way? All my paperwork including my driver's licenses, SS card, deeds, bank, employment, etc, have my married name on them. I been using it for 36 years. What are my options, how can I get the DMV to align with everything else.
Hi Fiorentina. Where did your marriage take place and what state are you living in now?
Hi! I will be marrying my fiancé this September in New York and while I am not sure I want to change my name to his right away, I want to make it as easy for myself as possible to do it later. I see in your answer to a previous question that I can change to his name on the marriage license and then wait however long I want to change it on other legal documents like SS, driver's license, passport, etc. This is my ideal option.
However, my fiancé is not a US citizen and we will be applying for his green card shortly after getting married. Do you know if it will cause trouble on our green card application if my name as his sponsor is First Name + Original Middle Name + Spouse's Last Name on our marriage certificate, but First Name + Original Middle Name + Maiden Name on all my other identification documents? Would a fix be to do First Name + Maiden Name as Middle Name + Spouse's Last Name on the marriage certificate?
Apologies because this question may be better directed at USCIS, but they are certifiably impossible to get on the phone, so I figured I'd see if you had any experience with this first! Thank you!
No, this won't be a problem since your marriage certificate will show both your old and new name.
That's not necessary. The USCIS is well-versed in marriage certificate formatting and the appearance of current and married names.
Excellent! I didn't realize the marriage certificate would have my maiden name too. That seems to solve the problem. Thank you.
Just got married in Nevada on 6/2022 but live in Arizona. On my marriage license I kept my name but have since decided I would like to hyphenate my last name with my husband's.
Since it doesn't state a new name on the license will I need to amend it or can I just use it and take it to social security and they will change it to hyphenate my last name? Please help I'm so confused on how this works.
My husband is military and so they call me by his last name all the time. so I figured it would be best to hyphenate that way when they call me by his last name it would be correct instead of me having to correct people.
Hi Julia. You should be fine to use your marriage certificate since you live in another state from the one you married in.
Hi, my husband I got married last month in Alabama, but I didn't change my last name at the time because I thought it was a separate process, and they never asked if I wanted to. Will the marriage certificate be enough to request the name change now?
Your marriage certificate will be enough.
Hi,
My wife (American) and I (not American) married in Copenhagen, Denmark and the marriage license and certificate didn't have any provision for her to take my last name. So the marriage certificate contains her current legal first name and last name, and not my last name.
Will this pose any challenges for her when she tries to change to my last name in her SSN, drivers license and other documents in America?
P.S: The marriage certificate have an apostille stamp already (certified?).
Your foreign marriage certificate will work fine for your wife's name change.
Oh great.
But on the website where she tries to change her name on her SSN, only asks for: Amended Birth Certificate, Court Order, Divorce Decree, or US Marriage Certificate.
What should we do as we have foreign marriage certificate?
The Social Security Administration will recognize your Denmark marriage certificate as it would a U.S. marriage certificate.
We got married 2012 in CA. We were not aware until recently that the clerk entered my husbands last name in the NEW NAME section.
I never changed the name with SS or on the DL and never intended to have a name change.
Basically I never changed my name legally. Is this correct?
Could you guide me to the legal section that states ones name is only legally changed once it is initiated with the SS office.
The problem we are having now that we have a child and need to get him a German passport as well I needed to show the marriage certificate which has the wrong information. New name section filled out.
They state legally changed my name which is not correct I would like to guide them to a section that states that section gives one the option but is not legally binding to change it or is in immediate effect.
Can I have the certificate which we just ordered amended?
Even if I petition in court it would be pointless since I never changed my name it was a clerical error – but the clerk will not change it now.
Btw they also do not seem to find the marriage license which was filled out back then how would I do about receiving that.
Your name has not changed as far as federal and state governments are concerned.
You will have to piece it together from POMS RM 10212.000 (Legal Names and Changes to the Numident).
Your marriage certificate also shows your old/current name.
You may want to download and review the CA name equality act (PDF). It does state: "Parties to the marriage are not required to change their
name."
The document I just cited states: "Parties to the marriage may not add or amend this information after the marriage license has been issued. Clerical errors in the new name fields may only be amended if the amendment is signed by the county clerk and one of the parties to the marriage."
You may have to consult an attorney to argue that the mistake was made on the part of the clerk.
The county clerk should have archived your marriage application. The marriage license is recorded by the county recorder, not the county clerk. But if you had a confidential marriage license, it would be housed by the county clerk. Whichever version you have, I cannot speak to why it's missing.
Hi, I have a weird situation that I hope I can get some help with. I'm thinking either my husband or myself will have to go to court (or both of us).
My husband has a hyphenated last name "Name1-Name2" he hates the hyphen and never uses it for anything unless he has to for legal reasons.
We got married in Arkansas and Arkansas didn't care that I only took the Name1 part of his name (there wasn't even anywhere to put if anyone's last name was changing on the certificate).
We lived in Missouri and they didn't care either when I went to legally change my name to "Tam Name1." However, I recently moved to Kansas and in Kansas, the DMV forced me to put my name on my driver's license as "Tam Name1-Name2" although that is NOT MY LEGAL NAME.
I argued with them for quite a while about it but they insisted that since my husband's name on the marriage certificate says "Husband Name1-Name2" that's what my last name has to be.
What can I do to remedy this? It has been a nightmare since moving to Kansas and it causes issues when I try to open bank accounts, etc. Would he have to get his last name legally changed and then we get a new marriage certificate? Hopefully we could just go to court and get both fixed?
No, you (not your husband) would have to legally change your name by petitioning your district court in Kansas. Then use the court order to make the change with the DMV. Your marriage certificate would not play any part. You would not need to amend your certificate.
Your husband could change his name in court too, but it would require a separate petition and filing fees.
I'm getting married in NY soon.
I don't want to change my name legally right now but want the option to in the future.
I was thinking I could put a new surname on the marriage certificate and change my documents if I want to in the future. My question is, if a new surname is on the marriage certificate, am I legally required to change everything else (SS card, license, etc)? Is it obligatory? Could I just have it on the marriage license and not change anything else ever? Are there issues/consequences down the road?
The other thing I thought was keeping my current name on the certificate and remarrying if I want to change my name in the future. I believe NY allows this. Is this right?
No, changing is optional. It does preserve the option to change though.
Yes, that option does exist.
My wife and I were married in Nevada but we live in California. She kept her last name as her maiden name on the marriage certificate but wants to change her last name to my last name.
She already got a new Social Security card that reflects her middle name as her maiden last name and her last name as my last name.
She is now trying to go get a driver's license to reflect her new name.
Will the California DMV accept the marriage certificate even though it has her maiden name as her last name?
She also has to submit proof of residency documents. Can these be documents that show her maiden name as her last name? She doesn't have any proof of residency documents that reflect my last name as her last name.
Will the California DMV allow her to change her middle name to her maiden name? I read that California is one of the few states that doesn't allow that, but her Social Security card now reflects her middle name as being her maiden name. I read that the DMV will verify her information electronically with the Social Security Administration.
Yes, it's fine.
Yes, as the marriage certificate will link her old name and her new name as derived from your name.
Yes, maiden to middle is fine in California.
California does allow maiden to middle name changes.
Yes, they will.
Hi! I got married in 2021 in Georgia and intended to keep my last name and add on my husband’s last name, but not hyphenate them. When I filled out the marriage license application, I was told to put just my husband’s last name as my designated surname if I wasn’t hyphenating our last names and that my maiden last name could only become my middle name.
My marriage certificate only shows my maiden last name. When I apply to change my name with SSA and DMV, can I put both last names (not hyphenated) as my legal surname so that my maiden last name is still part of my legal name, or am I stuck with my maiden name being my middle name?
Also, do I just show the SSA my marriage certificate since it only shows my maiden name, or do they need both the marriage certificate and the marriage license application?
Yes, with SSA, but I don't believe GA DMV will allow a space-separated surname without a court order.
Georgia marriage certificates aren't standardized across counties (actually probate courts). If the certificate makes no mention of a new name post marriage, then you're fine to use it as-is with the SSA. But if it shows both your maiden name and a blank or incorrect new name section, the SSA will only accept the name designated as the new name.
Certificate only.
Hello! I am a Michigan resident and just had my ceremony this past weekend. At the ceremony, I was told to sign the document with my married name, so I did. I sent it in to the county and am now freaking out because everything I am seeing says that I should have signed with my maiden (current name). I do in fact plan to change my last name to my husbands.
Will this be okay and should I still expect to get our certified marriage license back from the county without any issues or is it possible that we will have apply for a new marriage license and re-perform our ceremony?
Thank you
That's not true for Michigan. You're fine.
You'll get your certified certificate if you prepaid for it. Otherwise, you'll have to purchase it separately.
When you get your certificate, you're fine to change your name using that document. No need for another marriage license or ceremony.
Married in CA –
There is a new name entered in the NEW Name section but it should be empty.
How can I have the certificate amended to show just dashes (NO entry at all)
The new name section should be empty we never entered a new name in the application section.
You must contact the county clerk who issued your marriage license for a correction or amendment.
Thank you for replying – it is much appreciated:
I looked over the link you attached.
Would I need a court order since this is not a name change but rather a correction where dashes should have been entered in the New Name section:
I contacted the county clerk and they stated to initiate a name change but no name change ever took place:
The courthouse can't perform a name change since current name will be the same as future name.
I am a little lost – would you be able to shed some light for me to understand.
Do I fill out VS 24C and put current info in and then as a correction dashes?
Thank you for all you do on this page it is such a blessing.
Hi Asana. You don't need a court order to remove a field that you didn't specify. But there's the rub. Are you certain the error by addition was on the part of the county recorder (or county clerk for confidential marriage licenses)?
When you filled out the marriage license application you had an opportunity to specify a new name after marriage. If you left it empty, a new name shouldn't appear on the marriage certificate. If you left it blank and a new name shows, then someone on the county government side made a mistake. They can confirm this by cross-referencing your marriage application, license, and certificate.
But if you were the one who entered something that was later reflected on your certificate, they won't allow the amendment.
If you're certain the mistake was on their part, you can submit the amendment paperwork.
And you shouldn't have to enter dashes to signify a non-name, as the form provides a "reason for correction" field to explain what you're doing.
You can also contact CDPH Vital Records by phone or email.
Hi, i got married about four years ago in Georgia. I did not change my last name at the time. I kept my maiden name on the marriage certificate as my married name.
Do I have to go through the petition process to change it now that I would like to have his last name? If not, what would be the next step? I know you have probably answered this 100 times, but I am just lost. There seems to be a lot of nuances with this topic.
Hi Stephanie. You can use your Georgia marriage certificate as-is. Georgia's marriage license and certificate configuration varies per county and probate court. The inconsistency has been the source of great confusion, but hasn't shown to inhibit the most generic of name changes: taking your spouse's name or hyphenating.