How to change your name after marriage in Alabama
Change your name after marriage in Alabama: the $31.25 license fee, the documents, certified copies and whether Social Security comes first. A free checklist, checked against the official pages.
The two of you
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Your honeymoon
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After the wedding, in order
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Everyone else
Most want a copy of your marriage certificate and your new ID. Add the ones you use.
General information, not legal advice. Rules change, and the official page has the final word.
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Name change facts for Alabama
Everything here comes from official pages, the state's own or Social Security's, and each answer links to the page it came from.
- Who changes your license
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Driver License Division, or your county probate judge / license commissioner office. You can change it in person or by mail.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- License fee
Fee: $31.25 (Duplicate license).
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Deadline
The official page we read doesn't give a deadline for Alabama. Check it for the current rule.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- What to take
Take these to the license office.
- Your marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order or other legal name change document
- Proof that your name has been changed with the Social Security Administration
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Social Security first?
Yes. The ALEA checks your new name with Social Security. Update Social Security first.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Social Security online with a Alabama certificate?
No. Alabama isn't one of the 21 states whose marriage certificates work with Social Security's online route, so book an appointment at a Social Security office.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Certified copies of your marriage certificate
Order certified copies from Alabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics. First copy: $15. Each extra copy: $6.
Any county health department in Alabama can issue a certified copy of an Alabama marriage certificate, most while you wait. For marriages before August 1936, ask the county probate office where the license was issued; errors are corrected through the county probate court.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Your married name on the marriage license
We don't have a confirmed answer. Ask the county clerk when you apply for your license, before the wedding.
- Car title and registration
Apply for a corrected title through your county License Plate Issuing Official (a designated agent). Send your current Alabama title and a copy of your marriage certificate. Agents add a $1.50 commission and some counties add local fees, so check with your county office first. Fee: $15.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Good to know
From the same official page.
- Alabama's REAL ID is called STAR ID. You can only get one at an ALEA Driver License office (not a probate or license commissioner office). If your name differs from your ID or birth document, bring certified proof of the change, such as a marriage certificate.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
General information, not legal advice. Rules change, and the official page has the final word. Checked October 16, 2026.
Your steps in Alabama, in order
Order certified copies of your marriage certificate. Order them from Alabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics. First copy: $15. Every office on the list wants a certified copy, not a photocopy.
Update Social Security. Use form SS-5. It's free and your number stays the same. Alabama isn't one of the 21 states whose marriage certificates work with Social Security's online route, so book an appointment at a Social Security office.
Change your driver's license. Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Driver License Division, or your county probate judge / license commissioner office. In person or by mail. Fee: $31.25 (Duplicate license). Update Social Security first: the ALEA checks your new name with it.
Update your passport after your honeymoon. Once you apply, your current passport goes in with the form, so you can't travel on it until the new one arrives. Book your flights in the name on the passport you'll carry.
Questions about changing your name in Alabama
- How long do I have to change my name on my Alabama driver's license?
- The official page we read doesn't give a deadline for Alabama. Check it for the current rule.
- How much does it cost to change my name on my Alabama driver's license?
- It costs $31.25 (Duplicate license). That's the fee on the official page.
- What documents do I need at the ALEA?
- Your marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order or other legal name change document. Proof that your name has been changed with the Social Security Administration. Order your certified copies first, as every office wants one.
- Do I change my name with Social Security before the ALEA in Alabama?
- Yes. The ALEA checks your new name with Social Security. Update Social Security first.
- Can I use Social Security's online route with a Alabama marriage certificate?
- No. Alabama isn't one of the 21 states whose marriage certificates work with Social Security's online route, so book an appointment at a Social Security office.
- Where do I get certified copies of my marriage certificate in Alabama?
- Order certified copies from Alabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics. First copy: $15. Each extra copy: $6. Any county health department in Alabama can issue a certified copy of an Alabama marriage certificate, most while you wait. For marriages before August 1936, ask the county probate office where the license was issued; errors are corrected through the county probate court.
- Can I choose my new name on my Alabama marriage license?
- We don't have a confirmed answer. Ask the county clerk when you apply for your license, before the wedding.
Name change checklist and every statePassport name change guideSocial Security name change guide (SS-5)