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.
Hey there, my husband and I got married last December in Indiana. We filled our marriage application online and there was no additional field asking what my name would be after marriage, so my marriage certificate is with my MAIDEN NAME. Did we make a mistake? Should I have told the clerk that I wanted to change my last name to my husband's name?
Does anyone know how it is in Indiana?
Thanks
Hi Victoria. You didn't miss anything. You didn't make a mistake. Your marriage certificate is as it should be. You can still use it to change your name to your husband's. They'll deduce your last name from your husband's name.
Hi.
I got married in October of 2019 in NC. There was not a place that I recall to put what I wanted my married last name to be. My marriage certificate has my original last name on it. I am wanting to change my name now.
Will I have to go through the courts to petition a name change since it is not indicated on my marriage certificate? I am extremely confused on this entire process.
Also is there a way to keep my maiden name as a second middle name or will I have to get rid of my first middle name completely?
Thank you!
As it should.
No, you can use your marriage certificate.
You'll have to replace it completely.
Hello,
After I got married, I went through a name change and hyphenated my name due to my profession (my last name-husband's last name). We're going to be moving and I would like to just have just my husband's last name (drop mine in the hyphenation). Can I go through SSA with my marriage certificate or do I have to go through a petition of name change?
Thank you!
Hi LC. If you've only changed your name on your social security card, you can opt for a name correction using your marriage certificate. If you've changed it on other documents (e.g., driver's license, state ID, passport), using your certificate won't work. In those instances, you'll need to petition.
Hello,my name is Helen. Two years ago I got confidential married in CA. Now I change my first name in court. How I can change my first name in married certificate?
Submit an affidavit to amend your marriage record.
I got married about 2 months ago and changed my name through the SS office. I have name change regret. Am I able to change it back? The only place it changed was SS and marriage license has my old last name on it. I may not have access to the marriage license in this marriage though… please help. TX
Yes, by requesting a name correction with the SSA using your marriage certificate.
Hello,
Looking for advice on a specific name situation, please! My husband and I were married in 2020. He has a hyphenated last name (2 last names). We BOTH want to take only 1 of his last names. Unfortunately, we did not have the time to change his last name before getting married, so his hyphenated name is on the marriage license.
Will we have to go through the court to change his last name, then get it changed on the marriage license? Afterwards, then I can change my last name, without a court hearing, by having proof of the marriage license. Is this the correct way to go about this?
You'd both have to go to court. To be certain, could you share the state where you got married?
That's not likely to fly, as most amendments wouldn't outright replace your old certificate. The amendment (which is unlikely to be approved) would be attached to the old record.
See previous answer.
Thanks for your reply! We were married in Milwaukee County, WI
Hello, My name is Mayra. I just got married in Las Vegas this year, and my marriage certificate only has my maiden name. Will I still be able to change my last name to my husbands' using only the certificate? I live in Washington state.
Thank You!
Hi Mayra. Yes, that'll still work.
Hi. My husband legally changed his name (first, middle and last) three years after we got married. Is there a way to have his new name reflect on the marriage certificate? Or do we carry around the court orders forever to show that he's my husband?
Hi Faye. You can try and request an amendment, but it's unlikely to be accepted.
Hello!
So I got married at the end of last year in Savannah, GA. I put my husband's last name on my license application under the designated surname for my name after marriage, but my actual marriage certificate/license has only my first name and maiden name. Was it supposed to have my new name? Can I still change my name with social security with my maiden name on the license? This is such a confusing process. Any help is much appreciated! Thank you!
Hi Sarah. It should have appeared on your certified copy. You'll have to contact the probate court to determine what happened. Since you're just taking your spouse's surname as-is, your certificate should still be fine for use.
Hi! I have been married for over two months and at the time I chose to keep my maiden name. But. I live in Oregon where they actually specify. Do I need to file an actual court change if I have decided to take my husbands name or can I just change my social security and drivers license and go with it? Thanks!
Hi Savannah. Your certificate should still be good for use as-is.
I am a California resident and recently got married in Jamaica. My marriage certificate contains my maiden name but I want to take my husbands name. I was not given the opportunity to indicate my new name on the license or certificate.
Can I use my current certificate from Jamaica to obtain the name change in CA or will I need to do a court petition for a name change?
Hi Kristen. Your Jamaican marriage certificate will work fine.
I was married almost 4 years ago, my marriage license has my first name and married name, but no middle name, I wanted my maiden name as my middle name. I have not taken it to social security or the DMV so everything is in my maiden name still. What do I do? I’d like to get me documents in my new name now.
Hi Cyn. See the end of the maiden name to middle name article for a list of states where doing a middle and maiden name swap would be difficult.
Hi! I recently got married in Georgia. On the marriage license, it asked me what my married name will be. I chose to hyphenate at the time.
We are now married, and we have received our marriage certificate. But it still lists my maiden name and not the married name that I opted for at the time.
Now that it’s time to change my name with SSN, I decided that I would like to have my maiden name as my middle name and have my husband’s last name as my last name.
Am I stuck with hyphenating, or is there hope? Is there a way to amend the marriage license, or could I apply for a name change with SSN using the marriage certificate and hope for the best?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Jackie. You should be able to use your marriage certificate as-is (assuming that's what you were sent) to get your name changed with both the SSA and Georgia DDS.
hello,
after 20 plus years of marriage, I just realized that there is letter mistake on my first name. how can I correct this?
Hi Mossa. A letter mistake in your real name or on your marriage certificate? Or some other document?
I currently live in Rhode Island and was married in Las Vegas, Nevada on September of 2013. I am now trying to get the ball rolling to change my last name but I checked my marriage certificate and it has my maiden name on it. Will I still be able to change my last name in RI
Yes, in 2013 Nevada hadn't yet updated their statutes to specify new name change rules. At that time, the marriage license application only asked for your current name, not what you'll change to. You're good to go changing your name using your certificate as-is. The fact that you live in Rhode Island isn't a factor.
Okay thank you so much
My partner and I were wanting to both change our last name when we get married, in Tennessee. We were told today when we picked up the marriage license that we could only choose either of the last name that we currently have and if we both wanted to change our name that we would have to file a name change with the court after the marriage.
Is this true? Or can we do the name change when we submit the marriage certificate? I could not find anything online that stated this.
(When her and her ex got married, in Iowa, they were able to chose what ever last name they wanted. We assumed it would be the same here.)
Hi Kim. You wouldn't change your name at the point you obtain your marriage license or certificate. You'll use the certificate as proof of your authorized name change event. Then you could independently take each other's names.
Hi! I got married December 21st, 2020 in Jackson Hole Wyoming. When we filled out our paper work, I am almost positive there wasn't a spot to put the "new name" I wanted. However, even though I don't recall seeing a designated spot, at the very end of the paperwork that I had to fill out, the very last spot that it asked for my name, I filled it out with my husbands last name because I thought that would at least let them know that's the name I wanted.
When I got the copy of our marriage license back, it of course to my surprise had my maiden name on it and I am pretty disappointed as I had expected to see my new last name. I do live in Georgia- will I still be able to get my DL, SS, etc changed or will I have to petition this?
There isn't.
You should have filled in your maiden name.
They caught the error and corrected it on your behalf. This can actually be helpful in removing potential confusion regarding your future name change. It's a positive.
Your Wyoming certificate will work fine as-is. No need to petition.
Hi I got Married December 18th 2020 in Louisiana and i wasn't sure if i wanted to change my name so all my paper work on the marriage license are my maiden name and Now i decided i do want to change my last name So would i have any problems at the SS office or Dmv with me changing my last name?
Hi Sujaira. You won't have any problems. The Louisiana marriage license application, license, and certificate should only reflect your legal name at the time of application. It will not display your new name preference. This will not prevent you from changing your last name with federal and state organizations.
Hi –
I live in NJ, but my fiance lives in NC. We are having an Indian wedding in November due to postponement, but decided to get court married in March to capture our original wedding date. Although we will be married legally, I don't consider our official wedding date to be until November and don't want to change my last name with the government until November as well. I don't know how the process works in NC courts – whether they'll ask me to change it on the spot or not.
Can I change my last name on the marriage certificate in March but wait until October/November to change it legally with the SSA?
And also, my driver's license is expiring in April and I was thinking of getting a real ID but it would be in my maiden name and for the state of NJ rather than NC. Should I wait until I'm married to get a Real ID or should I just get a regular license right now then get another license (real ID) after my name change/state change and all that? Also would I get penalized if I changed my name for everything and not my driver's license?
I'm super confused, and would really appreciate any insight!
1) You won't be assigning your new name on the certificate. 2) You can wait until November fine.
It doesn't matter. But you'll have to make sure your SSA card is updated first. Current delays in SSA processing times (sometimes up to 60 days) could push off your driver's license name change.
You can. It's extra work for you, but doable.
No.
My spouse middle name is with her ex on drivers license so on the marriage certificate we have with her ex.
e.g
My Name: John Duval
Spouse Name: Michelle Rodoff Glover on drivers license with her ex.
On marriage certificate now it with her ex as the clerk told me will go with the name on drivers license.
How can I get it fix? If I go and change her drivers license will ask for marriage certificate so not sure from where to start. Please help.
There is no fix, as it's not an error. The clerk would only have accepted the name on the current ID at the time.
This wouldn't prevent your spouse from changing their name. You may be concerned about something that's not an issue from the perspective of the driver's license office.
Hello! I am from the Philippines and I got married recently in PA. Before getting married, I was here with nonimmigrant visa and now in the process of green card application. My marriage certificate shows my maiden name. I do not recall if there was a spot on the form for the new name when my husband and I applied for the marriage license. I would like to update my SSN information soon, will this be an issue?
There wasn't.
It won't be a problem.
My Fiance and I live in CA, we are getting married in WI in April. We are wanting to take his step father's last name, as this is the name he goes by but isn't legally changed too. I tried to contact the local clerks office here in CA but they told me to contact WI, haven't received a response yet.
Are we able to change to his step father's last name with our marriage license in WI or will we need to file with the courts in CA?
Not possible through marriage. You'll have to go to court in your state of residence, which is California.
I changed my name on the marriage certificate to my husband’s last name. But within the last few years I’ve never changed my social or Id last name to his. I never did because I realized I liked my name better. 😂 anyway, would I get in trouble eventually if I don’t change my Driver license and Social to his last name? I still have my maiden name on all my things. How does that work?
Hi Chelsea. You won't get in any trouble. Changing your name is optional, regardless of what's on your marriage certificate.
My wife and I were married in PA in 2020. We are a same sex married couple. On our marriage certificate it says our current last names and we would like to take my maiden name as our married name.
We are the first same sex couple in area and can't seem to get a straight answer for this as our lawyer claims I have to file a precipae to resume maiden name after divorce and say my wife has to file a name change petition. I feel this is over kill when we were just married.
Hi Jaymi. You and your wife wouldn't be able to take your maiden name through marriage. Only our current last name as-is. You'd both have to petition the court to change your names to your maiden name.
Some states are more flexible allowing previous surnames, but in Pennsylvania it's based on what's current at the time of marriage.
Hello! I got married almost five years ago now and at the time I wanted to take his last name and keep mine, so both is what was put on our marriage certificate (with a space in between, no hyphen). I've changed my mind and just want my last name, but I had already had my driver's license changed to include both since I had to change it a few months after marriage when I turned 21, and I used our marriage license to change that.
Should I be able to change my driver's license back to just my family name now using my social security card, or would I need to petition the court for the change?
Hi Leeah. You'll almost certainly have to petition the court. If you tell me which state your name change has taken place in, I can peruse the driver services statutes to determine if there's a carve out available in your case. It's highly unlikely, but worth examining.
Thank you for the information! That sucks, I wish the process was easier.
I am in New York State.
If I don't get it changed but continue to just use my last name, do you think that'll ever be an issue?
NY won't allow a name reversal without a court order.
It can become an issue if you later intend to get a Real ID. In that case, you'll have a mismatch with your social security record. Real ID is optional though.
Okay, thank you!
Would it ever cause issue with renewing my Passport? My passport has only my family name.
Hi Leeah. It's a non-issue with your passport.
Hey there!
My wife and I got married 4 years ago, we both wrote my surname on our marriage certificate but decided to keep our last names. Now I want to take her surname, is there any easier way to go than the whole court path? We're in Michigan. Thanks for your help!
Hi DK. You would have to go to court.
Hey so I just got married in Tennessee last week. The documents me and my husband signed didn’t ask if I wanted to change my name. I realized now that I put down my maiden name and was wondering the easiest route to change my last name.
Any advice will be appreciated! I’m living in Virginia right now moving to fort Campbell, Kentucky in a few weeks since he’s in the army
Hi Kierra. You needn't do anything special. Just use your marriage certificate as-is.
Hi Married in NY a long time ago… Just realized that my marriage certificate show my maiden name as my assumed name that I have been using for over 50 yrs and not my birth name! Is this a problem? if so what do I need to do about it?
I don't know why I did not put my birth name down as my maiden name and used my assumed name… Hopefully this is not a problem when I or my spouse apply for social security or anything else!
The name I assumed was my stepfathers name…
Hi Pam. It's not a problem. The Social Security Administration has operating instructions in place for folks who've been using the "wrong" name for an extended period of time. Your name usage and identity is historically well established and won't be an issue.
So if it says “New name not declared” it’s okay? The registrar had to fix mine and didn’t ask about my new name and put not declared.
Hi Melrose. If the registrar changed your marriage record after the fact, you should be fine. Is there something I'm missing? Is there something left blank? If so, please specify which state your marriage took place in.
Hello,
I got married in Arizona 10 years ago and there, apparently they keep your maiden name too on your marriage certificate. I was able to change my SS and Driver's License in here, but I am originally from Brasil and need to change all my documents there too to my husbands last name.
Unlike USA, Brasil doesn't accept your marriage certificate as proof of your identity if it doesn't state your husband's last name on it. What's your advice on how to change my maiden name to my husbands name on my marriage certificate.
Hi Delizete. I think you're mixing up having your husband's name shown as your new surname instead of your husband's name simply appearing on the certificate in isolation. Most name changes are derived, meaning it's pieced together. You may be concerned about something that's not an issue.
Hello,
We just found out that my husband's middle name actually never really existed. We needed his birth certificate for something and realized that his name is eg. "Mark Smith" instead of "Mark Caro Smith" as he always believed. He always used his middle name and even his parents were surprised when we found out his middle name is not in his birthday certificate. We also noted that none of his legal documents have the middle name in it.
However, in our marriage certificate he has a middle name since he filled up our marriage application with his (not real) complete legal full name. We just got married and now I feel like I am married to someone who probably doesn't even exist and will probably face troubles because of that. Is it a kind of mistake that we can get fixed at the registrar office just by showing his birth certificate and explaining the situation?
Thank you!
Yes, a simple certificate amendment request should suffice.
Hello,
I’m originally from Mexico. My name on my birth certificate is as follows:
First: AAA
Middle: None
Last: BBB CCC, two surnames with a space between them (no hyphen).
I have been living in California for the last 31 years and all my documents, including my marriage certificate (I got married in 2000), and my California IDs are as follows:
First: AAA
Middle: CCC
Last: BBB
Back in 1989, the DMV let me use my second surname as my middle name.
I became a PR last year (yes took me that long!) and I got my PR and SS card couple months ago, both have my full name as is on my birth certificate (AAA BBB CCC). I want to have my SS card with the name I have been using before (AAA CCC BBB). My question is, will my marriage certificate suffice the name change?
Hi Rafa. Your marriage certificate should work fine.
Thank you! :)
My husband and I got our marriage license through our local Town Clerk in NY. While filling out the paperwork I asked the clerk how I go about changing my last name, she said I do it after we get married. I then asked if I should be filling the paperwork out in my maiden name or the name I want to take, she said I had to fill it out in my maiden name.
Fast forward after we got married I return to the Town Clerk and ask to change my last name (as she had led me to believe this is how it was done). The same woman then screamed at me asking “why I changed my mind” and “why did you check the box to keep your maiden name”.
On my certificate I saw a box checked saying I was keeping my maiden name. I never checked the box and was misinformed while filling out the paperwork for the license. After being reduced to tears, another town clerk worker that witnessed the event met me outside and comforted me and told me I should try Social Security and see if they could help.
I went and explained the situation and was given a new Social Security card with my husbands last name. I then went to change my name at the DMV and even though I had the new social security card, they refused because the marriage certificate had the box checked to keep my maiden name.
My license is expiring next year and I don’t know what to do because now I have a new social security card that doesn’t match my marriage certificate or birth certificate. This was not my fault, all I wanted was to take my husbands name. Is there anything I can do or am I completely screwed for the rest of my life?
Hi Alyssa. You can apply for a remarriage license, then using the subsequent marriage certificate to change your name with the DMV. The remarriage license is the same as a regular marriage license. Think of it like renewing your vows and remarrying your spouse, but with official paperwork. You also needn't apply at the same town clerk's office. The alternative to that is pursuing a court-petitioned name change.
I am in NY and will be marrying my fiance in two weeks. I am also pregnant and the baby will have his last name. On my marriage application I checked that I would keep my maiden name.
I planned on keeping my maiden name for legal/professional reasons and use my married name informally amongst friends and family. I have family that lives abroad and I plan on taking the baby with me.
Will me not having the same last name as my child affect going through customs and immigration in other countries? Also if I change my mind and want my name changed to his later on, even though the license says I'm keeping my maiden name, is the marriage event itself make me eligible for a name change later on?
No. You can bring your marriage certificate with you to link the names, but that shouldn't be necessary.
That could be a problem when you need to renew your driver's license. If you feel this may be a possibility, you can request your marriage license be amended and reissued under the most likely married name variation you'd seek.
You're not obligated to go through with it, but this leaves your options open. Of course, you'll want to do this before you get married.
I received my certified marriage certificate in 2019 in Savannah, GA. On the license application, I elected to hyphenate my name with my husband's name. Our marriage certificate only shows my first and maiden name because that's the way they do it here.
I never officially went to SSA or DDS to change my name to my husband's. Now that I'm receiving different accolades, my husband questions why I hadn't changed my name yet. When we were married, he added me on his insurance with the hyphenated name. Since he is now realizing that I never changed my name with SSA or DDS, I want to do it now to put him at ease. Will this be an issue with it being years later?
No, there's no time limit with name change. The procedure doesn't change.
Just recently got married in the state of Florida having read the column its understood, i hope I'm correct that my marriage certificate is a legal document which allows me to change my name. So when filing for my adjustment of status i can legally file using my married name
Hi Samantha. You're understanding is correct.
Hi there,
I recently got married, but my Texas marriage license only has my maiden last name (I live in California). Is that normal/common for someone who wants to change their last name?
Can I still use my marriage license to change my last name to my husband’s for my drivers license and social security card? If so, will this then be considered my new legal name?
Thanks,
Nicole
Yes, it's standard in most states.
Yes.
Your marriage "certificate" is the authorizing name change document. Your chosen name will be your new legal name.
I just got married last week in TN and we live in Florida. We did a pre-application and I remember it not giving us an option on a new name. We went and got our license and yet again, we were not asked and the papers we signed showed us nothing of a new name. We just got our certificate and it still shows my maiden name.
I did go back and look at the form again. The only thing it listed was surname (optional). I’m wondering if I need to file in court for a name change or can I just update with my new name using the marriage license as proof of marriage?
Hi Vy. You don't need to go to court. Your certificate is usable as-is.
Hi- I got married in January in Las Vegas. I have my maiden last name on the marriage certificate. I live in NY and I would like to change my last name to my husbands. At this point do I have to file a petition at the court or at social security?
Hi Marta. You can use your marriage certificate.
I was married in Tennessee in 1998 and my marriage certificate shows my maiden name, not the hyphenated name I took when we married. I remember at the time I was able to update my social security and drivers license with my hyphenated name which is a combination of my last name then his last name.
We now live in CA and I need to get a Real ID and to show proof of name change it doesn't look like they are accepting the marriage certificate as proof of name change. I had uploaded the document and was planning on taking it in person with the other required documents to the DMV. So, I don't know the reason for rejecting the marriage certificate.
I am trying to anticipate and correct the problem before going there since I live in the mountains nowhere near the DMV and it takes forever just to get there in addition to long lines. I don't want a wasted trip if I can figure this out before going. I hope you can tell me if there's something else I can do or if in person the DMV will accept my TN marriage certificate as proof of name change.
Hi Tina. If you have an expired passport book or card with your married name, you can use that as your identity documents. Then you're done. If you don't have that, you can provide a certified copy of your birth certificate and another document containing your married name: social security card, W-2 form, or pay stub with social security number.
Hi, I got married in MA two years ago and used my maiden name + my husband's last name as my new last name on my marriage certificate. I haven't gone to SS, DMV, etc to inform them of the change the past couple years. I ultimately decided to just keep my maiden name on my official documents. Is there anything that I need to do on my end to keep my current name (i.e. get a new marriage doc, go to court, etc) ?
There's nothing you need to do.
Hi there,
Hoping to get some help as my name change situation has really been stressing me out.
I got married in Washington, D.C. in Oct 2020.
My legal name is Alexandra Nicole. I am known by, and go by Nicky. On the D.C. marriage application, due to being so frazzled, I put Nicky.
I want to change my name to Nicole. Have I shot myself in the foot by putting the wrong name on the marriage license/certificate? Do I need to file to change the name on the marriage certificate to be my legal name? Would love some insight before I move forward. Thank you!
It cut out additional information but my middle name is my mother's maiden name and I have my father's last name. On the license/certificate I put Nicky + last name. I want to change my name is Nicole + mother's maiden name + husband's last name.
Same situation. You'll want to request an amendment for missing information.
Thanks very much for your help. Just so that I have all the answers I am seeking: Social Security would not accept my marriage certificate as it currently is for name change?
When requesting an amendment for the marriage certificate, would it be in my best interest to put my legal name or my desired name? I imagine my legal name so that it matches my SSA and then I have proof of identity?
Thank you!
They might not, as it wouldn't match your legal name on file. Also think beyond social security. You'll have other credentials you'll want to update as well.
Only your legal name is allowed.
You can contact the DC Marriage Bureau about amending your marriage record.
I married in Nevada and live in CA. In the application I chose to add my husbands' paternal last name. The clerk added both of his last names to my name and I want to change it. Having both of his last names makes me feel like one of his sisters. I haven't gone to the Social Security office to legally change my name yet because of this. What can I do?
Hi Sayali. You can submit a correction request form with the county clerk's office. They'll have them available. It's not guaranteed it'll be accepted though.
I have been married twice. I kept my first marriage name and once I got married the second time I wanted to hyphenate my two last names. (I have one kid from first marriage and two from second marriage. I went to dmv and put my married name and explained that I didn’t change my social. They produced me a license. I never changed my name but now I can’t renew my license, what do I do. Help
Hi Sondra. You can update your social security card then try again with the DMV. When they check the SSA database, your name will match.
I got married in March in Las Vegas and I change my last name to my husband name but now I want to add my last name back
What’s the steps I have to take to change it ?
Hi Ms. Douglas. To be clear, are you asking to undo your name change entirely? Or are you trying to append your prior last name to your spouse's last name? Did you change it on any document other than your marriage license/certificate, such as your social security card or driver's license?
If I can get a sense of how far down the name change path you've gone, I can suggest ways to come back from the brink.
I got married in February 2018 in Nevada I live in Oregon I’m in the process of changing my last name and Was told what I needed to provide the social security administration with I supplied all the documents but today when I called to ask how long it typically takes to get my new social security card with my new last name they told me I can’t get one because it’s been over two years since I got married and that I would have to get my driver’s license changed with DMV first with my new last name before getting a new social.
DMV told me that isn’t true and I need a new social with updated name first. Social security office said it was a law that Oregon passed over ten years ago saying I had to change my name within 2 years of getting married I NEED HELP! Not sure what to do about this.
Hi Tia. I don't know what two-year rule that agent was referring to. SSA has an internal two-year standard for whether or not you can use your marriage certificate for ID-purposes. That still wouldn't preclude you from changing your name.
Since it's been two years since you've changed your name, you'll have to mail out your social security form, marriage certificate, and ID. Had you changed it within two years, you wouldn't need to include ID.
Please review the social security name change article which goes into greater depth what you'll need to do.
Hi,
We got married in Hawaii and I put my maiden name on the marriage license/Certificate instead of changing it to my husband's. Now, I am living in Texas and would like to change my last name to my husband's. Do I need to amend the marriage certificate in order to change my name in Texas? Not too sure how to move forward in my situation. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Hi Desiree. You should be able to use it as-is.
Hello,
I am recently married in TX and my marriage certificate has my full birth name. I would like to take my husband’s last name and change my middle name to my maiden name. Will the marriage certificate be acceptable for this name change or will a court petition be required? Thank you!
Your marriage certificate would work great. No need for a court petition.
Hi there! I've been married four 4 1/2 years and changed my name with the SSA (a few years ago) but never on my passport. I was married in the state of Florida and my marriage certificate has my maiden name, not my new last name.
In order to update my name on my passport, they ask for your marriage certificate as proof of name change. Can I still submit this even if my new last name isn't on my marriage certificate? Is this still valid proof?
Hi Vanessa. Your marriage certificate will work fine to change the name on your passport. When you think of "proof of name change" it may be more understandable to think of it as "proof of authorization to change your name."
I live in Virginia. We filled out the marriage license on a computer in the circuit court and then talked to the clerk. There is a spot for (maiden surname) on the certificate but the clerk never mentioned it or asked if I wanted to change my last name and I didn’t realize that’s where my husbands last name should have gone.
We got married April 10th. That spot is blank on are certified copy and only my maiden name is on the certificate. Do I have to petition the court to change my last name to my husbands? Or will I be able to change my SS, Birth Cert, DMV, bank, etc without doing all that?
You filled out the application correctly. The "maiden surname" block is for your last name at birth, but it only only needs to be filled in if it differs from your current name. If they're the same, you'd leave it blank and it'll appear blank on the certificate.
As it should be.
No need to petition. Use your Virginia marriage certificate as-is.
Thank you for the helpful article.
I got married last year in Kansas, and so my marriage license and certificate are from Kansas. At that time I did not fill out the name change section as I was unsure. Now I currently live in New York. I wanted to ask:
1) Do I need a court order or can I use my marriage certificate I want to change my name as: first name: same first name; middle name: maiden surname; last name: husband's last name.
2) Do I need a court order or can I use my marriage certificate I want to change my name as: first name: same first name; middle name: same middle name; last name: husband's last name.
Thank you
Hi Keda. Either would work. No need to petition.
Thank you for the reply.
In the case of a name change, if I use my marriage certificate (which does not have my new name stated) if asked to present an Official document as proof of my new name, what document can I use?
Thank you
Hi Keda. You'd still use your marriage certificate.
Thank you for your reply.
Please just to be clear, I could still use my marriage certificate as the official document of proof of my name change, even though my marriage certificate does not carry my new/changed name?
Thank you
Hi Keda. That's correct. The certificate proves that a name change event occurred.
Thank you, Valera and the marriage certificate team.
Please I wanted to ask: Is there any implication in me and my husband having different last names; and also the event that our kids have his last name (which might be different from mine).
I had read other blog posts, which were helpful, but I'm still trying to understand if there is more of an advantage of us having the same last name, especially when planning to have a family.
Thank you
No. Others might assume you're Mrs. X, when you're Mrs. Maiden. But that's their problem.
No implications there either. Your children's last name will default to yours, unless you specify otherwise. Mother's prerogative.
Hello. Hope you're having a good day. I tried to look through the comments to find a similar situation but wanted a more solid answer. My spouse and I got married recently in Florida, and we never recalled the clerk mentioning anything about a name change. Therefore, my marriage certificate has my maiden name instead of my husband's.
If I wanted to change my maiden name as my middle name (currently don't have a middle name) and would like to take my husband's last name, would I be able to do so with my marriage certificate? Thank you.
Hi Hannah. Your preferred name change (middle and surname) would work using your marriage certificate.
Hola me casé hace 1 mes en Misouri pero la sectretaria del condado de Jackson NO me preguntò que si deseaba tener el apellido de mi esposo y en el momento de casarnos tampoco me preguntaron y cuando llené la licencia no vi Casillas que indicaran Nuevo apellido…
Realmente quiero tener el apellido de mi esposo. Es necesario solicitar una orden judicial? O es suficiente presentar el cerificado de matrimonio que solo aparece con mis apellidos de soltera cuando ya pueda sacar mi social security y mi licencia de manejar????…gracias
Hi Luz. So, the question is you've gotten married in Missouri and wasn't presented with the option to choose a new name through marriage during the application process. And do you have to get a court order for name change?
The answer is no. You don't need a court order. Missouri's marriage license application only asks for your current name. Your marriage certificate as-is may be used for a marriage-related name change.
Hi. I got married on February on a trip to Colorado but we live in Connecticut, I wasn't offered to change my name in that moment. Now I want to change it to my husband's name. Do I need a new marriage certificate or can I just change my name at the DMV and SSA?
Thanks
You can use your existing marriage certificate.
Hello, I got married in September 2017 in Rhode Island. At that time, I kept my maiden name, and I do not remember if there was a spot on the marriage license application for me to provide what I wanted my married name to be. Thus, my Rhode Island marriage certificate lists my maiden name as my last name, and it has a spot for "Birth last name (if different)" that is blank.
I now live in Texas and want to change my last name to my husband's last name or hyphenate both his last name and my maiden name. Will the current marriage certificate suffice for changing my social security, driver's license, and passport? Or will I need to get a court order in Texas for a name change? Thank you!
Hi Marie. Your out-of-state marriage certificate will work fine in Texas.
Hi Valera. Thank you so much for your reply! You have been so helpful.
My husband just told me he doesn't like the look of the hyphen between our two last names, so if I instead just use my maiden name and his last name as my new last name without the hyphen (just separated with a space), will that cause me any issues in Texas with the DPS, passport, etc? Thank you so much in advance for your help!
Hi Marie. I don't believe the space is a supported option through marriage.
Hi! Thanks for this article- super helpful. I got married in April in Massachusetts but left my maiden name on the marriage certificate (I didn't realize you were supposed to write down the new married name in that spot).
At this point, can I go ahead and change my name at Social Security still? or will I have to petition the court? The MA website made it sound like I'd need to go to the court for a name change, but I wanted to double check before spending all that $$ and time! THANK YOU!
Hi Lauren. Unfortunately, you'll have to go to court.
Hello! I live in WA and got married in CA.
When we got our CA marriage license, I planned to leave the "New Surname" section blank and not change my name. I submitted it to the clerk blank, and she pressured me to add my husband's last name by repeating that if I EVER wanted to change it to his last name, even in 20 years, I needed to include his name now or I'd have to go to court.
I was extremely upset and resisted at first, but I ultimately caved and added it. She said a lot of people change their minds over time. So at the bottom of my marriage certificate, it has First + Middle + Husband's Last as my new name.
I took no steps to change my name, and I still do not want to take his last name, but I have been considering doing a double barrel and adding his last name after my current last name.
Would I have to go to court in WA to make that happen? Thanks!
You can't go double barrel through marriage. Hyphenating is the closest you can get.
I got married in California and it’s a confidential marriage. I was too young to know any better about adding a new last name. I’ve been wanting my husbands name for years but I can’t since I left that part blank. Can I get married in another state and use that license to change my name?
Hi Jax. That may work, but you'd have to get your marriage license from a state that willingly allows remarriage, such as New York. In that state, the application will ask if you're currently married and planning to remarry your current spouse, and they'll still issue you the marriage license and certificate.
I live in and got married in New York in 2018. At the time, I opted not to change my last name. It is now 2021, and we are having our first child and I would like to change my last name to my husbands last name, and change my middle name to my maiden name. Can I use my current marriage certificate (which shows my maiden name) to apply for a name change with Social Security and DMV?
Hi Joanna. Your omission could be a problem. You can obtain a new marriage license and remarry your spouse.
What does "remarrying" entail? If I had a church ceremony the first time around can I have a courthouse one for the second? I don't need all the hooplah, as this is strictly a means to change my name. Is there a problem with having 2 marriage certificates on file?
I also saw an option of petitioning the courts for a name change. Do you know how easy / difficult this would be in NY State?
Yes.
No. You're not pulling a fast one on the clerks. They know this is a permitted by law.
It's more involved. You can reference the NY name change article for court petition details.
Hi Valera,
I have a similar situation to Joanna. I got married in 2018 in New York and I left the new surname part blank on my marriage certificate. I currently live in California and I'm now ready to change my name to my husband's surname. What are my options? Thanks.
Hi Christina. This might work as your marriage certificate isn't from the California. California statutes are clear that your name change would get denied if the omission was on a California license/certificate, but is vague on another state's marriage record.
I live in Las Vegas and got married beginning of May 2021. I didn’t realize I had to put my new name after marriage when doing the application and completely missed it! So now my marriage certificate has my birth name on it. Can I still use it to change my surname to my husbands surname with SS and DMV? I don’t know how I missed it and the clerk never asked when I went to complete the application filing.
Hi Vernicia. You should still be fine for name change. Nevada is odd in that it'll allow a basic name change when the new name choice is omitted. However, if a name is specified you're locked into that choice. So say county clerks who's job it is to process marriage applications. Nevada statutes doesn't explicitly touch on this, which leaves this sliver of opportunity alive.
How would she go about changing her name? Through ssa?
Hi Julieta. Correct, the SSA is the starting point.
I got married June of 1973, I was pretty naive. I ask my husband to be if he got the license. He said yes, we married be the Church. That was 48 yrs ago.
The DMV Ask me for all my marriage licenses. I just found out I was never married. Legally by the eye of GOD yes. But not legally. We were suppose to go together and get blood test. That's what you did In San Francisco, CA.
How can I prove to the the DMV, I even Got Church Certificate they said no. What do I do?
Hi Elizabeth. You can pursue a delayed marriage certificate to retroactively establish your marriage.
I got marry in May 2021, with a tourist visa in Florida, it didn't have a spot to write the new name, to get my naturalization here the form asked me to have a document showing the name change such as a wedding certificate but mine doesn't show that what can I do😭
Hi Estefani. Florida doesn't list your new name on the certificate. However, it can be derived from your spouse's name. This alone should be sufficient.
Hi Valera,
Thank you for the detailed article, I hope you could also help me understand my situation.
I got married during Covid in Maryland, and didn't think of to change my maiden name to hypen with my husband's last name during application – I couldn't recall whether the clerk asked to change my last name either, we did everything virtually – so on my marriage certificate it has my maiden name. Nevertheless, I was able to elect to change my last name to hypen with my husband last name on my permanent resident card.
Since SSA opens up now, I'd like to update my SSN and DL, could I go ahead directly to the SSA and the DMV in Maryland with the marriage certificate and my permanent resident card, or do I need to petition to change my last name officially through court first?
Thank you very much in advance of your advice!
As discussed in our Maryland name change, the application process doesn't ask for your new name. It's a nonissue.
Yes, that's your next step.
Hello Valera, I hope you can assist me. I married in 1978 in NJ, their form did not have a line for legal name. At social security I changed my middle initial to first letter of my maiden surname and changed my last name to my husbands surname. Over the years I used my birth middle initial and new middle initial.
For my birth middle initial, it is used on my passport, drivers license, and state fingerprint card. For my new middle initial is has been used for employment (now retired), pension and of course social security.
I would like to change my middle initial back to my birth middle initial with social security so I can have the documents agree. We currently live in AZ. On my trip to social security they needed my marriage license and it must match the legal name listed on it. I did not have the license with me and checking, the license does not contain a line for a legal name.
Am I able to change my middle initial back?
Hi Beverly. You'd have to petition the court. At best, you could revert to your old name with social security using your marriage certificate. But even if that worked with the SSA, it's unlikely to work with your driver's license and passport.
Hi, so me and my husband just got married on June 25th 2021 in Las Vegas and I changed my name to his last name. But on my marriage license, it says my birth name. I don’t understand why it didn’t change. Would I have to go back to them and say you made a mistake of changing my name? I’m a little confused. When we signed the papers I double checked on everything and she even asked me if I was changing my name. Help please.
Hi Valincea. It appears to be an omission on their part. Since you pursued a basic name change taking only your spouse's surname, it's not problematic. You can contact the clerk and ask them to pull your application to confirm if you did specify a new name and why it wasn't reflected on your certificate.
Hi there,
I got married in Florida and it did not ask me for my new married name. I live in Colorado and am looking to change my last name to my husband’s name. Will I face any problems?
Thank you!
Hi Ashley. Florida's marriage application doesn't ask you to cite a new name. Your marriage certificate will still work without a problem.
My husband and I married in Dec 2019 in Georgia, the license application asked for new name after marriage (in which I put my husbands last name,) but the marriage certificate only shows my maiden name. I am trying to change my name in NC, the first step (I think) is to change my name with Social Security; it asks for proof of new name. Will this be an issue? Can I get a copy of my license application to show the proof of new name?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Mandy. Your marriage certificate should work fine as-is. Georgia's marriage licenses and certificates aren't standardized on the state-level. Apparently, some choose not to reflect the new name on the certificate, even if asked on the license. That's their prerogative and doesn't hinder name change. Since you're in NC, you're not bound by Georgia's laws anyway. You're good to go.
Just an update incase anyone is in a similar situation and looking for help here. I was able to change my name with Social Security by sending them my license and a certified copy of my marriage certificate. Offices are currently not in person, so I was able to print off the application online, include my documents in an envelope and drop it off at my local SS office. It only took a couple of weeks to get my documents back in the mail and then another week or so to get my updated SS card. Next step for me is to get my license changed, then updating banks, credit cards, utilities, etc. Thanks for you help!
Hi there. My husband and I got married in 2018 in California, where we reside. Finally ready to mail the paperwork to the social security office and I realized that our marriage certificate says my maiden name. I’m not sure how this happened, we filled out the paperwork for our license correctly. Am I now out of luck and have to petition the court? How long does that process usually take?
If you're certain you've filled out your paperwork correctly, don't hesitate to contact the county clerk to confirm. They can cross-reference your marriage license application, license, and certificate.
If the error is theirs, they'll reissue a corrected certificate. However, if the omission is your fault, you've got to petition.
Hi there…my fiancée and I live in NY but planned on getting married in CT.
We sent the marriage license application and they didn’t have the possibility to change my surname on the form. I asked the lady at the City Town Hall and she stated that I can change my name only after the marriage certification at the NYC DMV.
I’m confused, and I’m not sure that is how it’s supposed to be. What should I do? HELP! I’m getting married next week !!
That's standard in Connecticut.
She's right.
Your marriage certificate doesn't have to show your married name. Your maiden name alone will suffice. The NY DMV will accept it.
Hello! I have read a few situations but just want to be sure of my own. I am getting married shortly in California. I figure eventually I will want to have the same name as my husband and plan to put my original first and middle name on the marriage license and new last name. However, I am not in any rush to go to the social security office or DMV and want to be known as my maiden name for now and possibly years from now.
If I never go to the social security office or do other type of change, will I still legally be my maiden name? I figure whenever I am ready (5, 10, 20 years from now) I will have my new last name on my marriage license and will not have any problems changing it with the other places. Just want to ensure that’s correct? Thank you!
Yes, your legal name remains the same until you complete the necessary steps to change it.
Correct. You'll keep that Ace up your sleeve until you're ready to use it. Maybe later. Maybe never.
I was married in Utah in 2019. I don't remember being asked about a new married name, but I could be mistaken. Do you know if Utah provides a place for a new name? My certificate has my maiden name only but I'm not sure if that's how they all are or if I made a mistake. Will the UT DMV accept a marriage certificate with only my maiden name?
No, it doesn't. It asks for your current name and your maiden name.
Yes, the DMV will accept your certificate without a problem.
Hi,
Married in California about 15 years ago, didn’t change my name at the time I now want to take my husbands last name but I see only my maiden name listed on the marriage license can I use only the license to change my name or will I have to file a partition with the court to do so?
Hi Ili. Since your marriage predates California's Name Equality Act, your marriage certificate will work fine for name change purposes. No need to go to court.
I got married back back in 2018, after the wedding I changed my name with Social Security, DPS, and recieved a passport.
I recently have had a change of heart, and want just my husband's surname. Do I need to petition or could I use my marriage certificate again to have them amended to just his surname rather than a hyphenated name? I assume I would need a petition, but I might as well ask, we live and married in TX.
Hi Emily. An amendment would work using your marriage certificate for the Social Security Administration, but not for TX DPS and your passport. Had you only changed it with social security, you'd be in good shape. At this point, you're looking at petitioning.
My husband and I were just married this summer 2021 in Wisconsin, but we live in Minnesota.
We filed our marriage license in the Wisconsin county we were married and there wasn’t a section that asked for my married name. so the marriage certificate shows “current” and “maiden”- during the process, the government employee said to put my current legal name at that time (prior to the marriage ceremony), not my married name.
When I go to change my name at the DMV, SS, passport, etc. will I be able to change my last name to my husbands last name when the marriage certificate doesn’t show my last name as his?
Hi Alex. You'll be able to change your name without a problem.
Hi there. My wife and I were recently married, and neither of us intends to keep our original last names and instead choose a new family name to start our lives together. The marriage certificate only required a name before marriage but has no places for the married names. We live in Washington state. Will we be able to continue with contacting agencies or will we need to go through the courts?
Hi Benji. You both must file separate court petitions.
My husband and I were married in 1985 in Ohio. Since I was changing my last name to his, I decided to change my first name from the formal birth name that I was never called to the nickname that I had always been called, with my maiden name as my middle name.
I simply filled out the marriage license forms in that way. No one advised me to do a formal name change. I then registered my new name with social security, my passport and my driver's license. This has been fine for 36 years.
I was unable to obtain a compliant id card this month, because the first name on my birth certificate does not match my other documents. Is it necessary to formally change my name through the courts after all this time? Thank you.
Hi Molly. You can use your passport to prove your legal name instead of your birth certificate.
I got married 2 weeks ago in Nevada. We are residents from California. Our marriage certificate reflects my maiden name. We left the "new designated name" area blank. I want to change my driver's license and SSN card to reflect my NEW last name (husband's last name), will I still be able to change driver's license and SSN card? Or will this be an issue? HELP PLEASE
Hi Jessica. Your name change should work fine.
Hi my husband and I were married in July 2021 in Illinois. We just received our marriage licence in the mail and I noticed that I misspelled my middle name. I was off by one letter. Do I need to have it corrected? Is our marriage still legal if I don't?
That would be a good idea. Contact the county clerk's office where you applied for your marriage license.
Yes, your marriage is still valid and legal even though your marriage certificate has typographical errors.
Hi,
I got married a few years ago in NY. I kept my maiden name. Since then we have had two kids and I would like to hyphenate my last name with my husband's. Do I have to petition the court for this or can I ask for a revision on my original marriage certificate?
Hi Nette. They won't allow such a revision. You can opt to get married again by applying for another marriage license and using the subsequent certificate to change your name. New York State does allow you to remarry your current spouse. Barring that, you're looking at court.
Hello,
I got married August 2020 in Mexico to my now husband but on the marriage license/certificate it never gave me the option to add my husband’s last name to mine. So now on the marriage certificate it has only my last name as it appears on my birth certificate. Will I have trouble adding my husband’s last name to mine through SSA, DMV, Passport, etc.?
Also, I live in California.
No difference.
No, your new last name will be derived from your marriage certificate.