How to begin?

You and your beloved have exchanged vows and are ready to begin your happily ever after, but first - paperwork!

Changing your name is an important decision, and a serious undertaking! Hyphenating? Taking your partner's name? Whichever route you decide to go, there's a lot of ins and outs to be aware of.

Hopefully, we can take some of the mystery out of the process.

Step 1: Marriage License vs. Marriage Certificate

These terms are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing.

A marriage license is what you apply for before the wedding. A certified marriage certificate is the official document you receive after the wedding has been legally filed with the county.

For almost every name-change step below, you’ll need certified copies of your marriage certificate.

We highly recommend ordering multiple certified copies so you don’t have to wait for documents to be mailed back and forth between agencies.

Store those certified copies somewhere safe, because you'll need them to...

Step 2: Update your Social Security Card

Once you've received your marriage certificate and certified copies in the mail, you'll need to let the government know which name you would prefer to go by. You can either apply for a new social security card by mail (click HERE for the form) or in person at your local Social Security office. Find your local SSA Office by clicking here!

If you plan on going to the Social Security office in person, save some time by filling out the application for a social security card in advance. Along with the completed form, you will need to provide the following additional documentation:

Proof of Citizenship: This can be either an original birth certificate or current U.S. passport
Proof of Name Change: A Certified copy of your Marriage Certificate
Proof of Identity: An acceptable document must be current (not expired) and show your name, date of birth or age, and preferably include a recent photograph. For example, as proof of identity Social Security must see your:
- U.S. driver's license;
- State-issued non-driver identification card; or
- U.S. passport.
If you do not have one of these specific documents you will be asked to see other documents. Any documents submitted must be current and show your name, date of birth or age, and preferably a recent photograph:
- Employee identification card;
- School identification card;
- Health insurance card (not a Medicare card); or
- U.S. military identification card.
Your current Social Security card. You will keep the same number when your card is replaced

So after the awesome trip to the Social Security Office, you get to...

Step 3: Visit the DMV for a New License & to Change your Vehicle Records!

What's more fun than a trip to your local SSA office? A trip to the DMV! There's no way to avoid this one - name changes need to be made in person. NCDMV will confirm the name change with the Social Security Online Verification System, so an individual changing their name must wait at least 24-36 hours before changing their name with NCDMV. But don't wait too long - North Carolina law requires that you notify the DMV within 60 days of your name change, which is the date of your marriage. Before you visit your local NC DMV office, you will need to gather the following:

Your current NC driver's license or ID card.
Your Certified Marriage Certificate
A Notarized DL-101 form - you can get the form online by clicking here
Cash, check, or money order for the duplicate license fee

Also, if you own a vehicle, you'll also need to change your name on your vehicle records, too - follow the steps below:

You can change your name either in person or by mail. You cannot change your name online.

You'll need:

Your updated NC driver's license showing your new name.
Your Marriage certificate.
The original vehicle title.
A completed and notarized Corrected or Substituted Title Application (MVR-5). Please note: If your vehicle is under 10 years old, you must also provide the odometer reading on the form.
A lien release, if there are any liens on your vehicle.
Cash, check, or money order for the fee.

Either take the above documents to your local North Carolina DMV office, or mail them to:

N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles
3148 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27697

You will receive an updated NC title and registration in the mail. For more information, please contact your local NC DMV.

Step 4: Get a New Passport!

Your passport update process depends on:
• How recently your passport was issued
• Whether your name change happened within one year of issuance
• Whether you’re eligible for renewal by mail

The correct form may be:
• DS-5504
• DS-82
• DS-11

Because requirements and fees change periodically, it’s best to use the U.S. Department of State’s online passport tool to determine exactly which form you need.

Traveling Soon After the Wedding?

If you’re taking a honeymoon immediately after the wedding, book travel in the name that matches your current passport.

Many couples wait until after international travel to officially change their passport and airline profiles.

Step 5: Update your Banking Info!

Visit your bank to update your name on all of your accounts or set up joint accounts. Be sure to bring your new drivers license, social security card, and marriage certificate. Although you may incur some fees (depending on your bank's rules), you should request new checks, debit and credit cards reflecting your new name!

Step 6: All the other stuff...

Once you have an updated license and social security card, other changes should be fairly straightforward. Some places will only require a call, while others may require forms and certified copies of your marriage license, so it's best to phone ahead to determine what's required of you. Here's a few more people you may want to notify of your new name:

Your Employer
Post Office
Utility Companies
Insurance Companies (Health, Life, Auto, Home...)
Doctor's Offices
Landlord or Mortgage Company
Credit cards
Student loans
Mortgage or lease documents
Airline loyalty accounts
TSA PreCheck and Global Entry
Professional licenses
Voter registration
Email signatures and social profiles

Start with the accounts you use most frequently and work from there.

Do You Have to Change Your Name After Marriage?

Not at all.

There’s no legal requirement to change your last name after getting married. Some people take their spouse’s name, hyphenate, keep their original last name, or use different names professionally and socially.

There’s no right choice. It’s entirely personal.

Can Your Create a Completely New Last Name?

Sometimes, but not automatically through marriage.

In most cases, a marriage certificate only supports taking a spouse’s surname, hyphenating, or certain combinations of existing surnames.

If you want to create a completely new shared last name unrelated to either spouse’s current surname, you may need a separate court-ordered legal name change.

The Other Option...

Skip the paperwork and use a service like Hitchswitch! They offer a couple of different plans to make the process as streamlined and painless as possible, and save you the time and stress of tracking down every form you will need.

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Changing Your Name After the Wedding: Updated in 2026