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How to change your name after marriage in Arkansas

Change your name after marriage in Arkansas: the documents, certified copies and whether Social Security comes first. A free checklist, checked against the official pages.

The two of you

Sets the before-the-wedding steps and any legal deadline.

Your certified copies come from here. Leave it blank if it's where you live.

Whose list is this?

Pick once. You can look at your partner's list any time.

Your driver's license and car papers follow the state you live in.

Your honeymoon

So the passport step waits until you're home, and your flights are booked in the right name. Leave it blank if you haven't booked yet.

Say what you're doing with your name to see your steps.

0 of 0 done

After the wedding, in order

No steps to show yet for this choice.

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 Arkansas

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

Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), Office of Driver Services, at your local state Revenue Office. You can change it in person.

Official page · Checked October 16, 2026

License fee

Not given on the official page: ask the office.

Official page · Checked October 16, 2026

Deadline

The official page we read doesn't give a deadline for Arkansas. Check it for the current rule.

Official page · Checked October 16, 2026

What to take

Take these to the license office.

  • Your name change documents
  • Affidavit of Legal Name Change (only if the documents linking your names are missing)

Official page · Checked October 16, 2026

Social Security first?

It isn't required on the official page we read, but it is still the usual order: other agencies check your name with Social Security, and your tax return must match it.

Official page · Checked October 16, 2026

Social Security online with a Arkansas certificate?

Yes. Arkansas is one of the 21 states whose marriage certificates work online, at least 30 days after the wedding, if you're a U.S. citizen, 18 or over, with a my Social Security account and a driver's license or state ID.

Official page · Checked October 16, 2026

Certified copies of your marriage certificate

Order certified copies from the county clerk, or Arkansas Department of Health, Vital Records. First copy: $10.

Your county clerk also issues copies of the marriage license, and fees vary by county. Online orders from the state add a $5.00 processing fee and a $1.85 identity verification fee.

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

In person at a state Revenue Office. Bring a legal document that supports your name change. Not given on the official page: ask the office.

Official page · Checked October 16, 2026

Good to know

From the same official page.

  • You can get a REAL ID at any Arkansas state Revenue Office. A marriage certificate is an example of proof of identity, and you also need to show your Social Security card.

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 Arkansas, in order

  1. Order certified copies of your marriage certificate. Order them from the county clerk, or Arkansas Department of Health, Vital Records. First copy: $10. Every office on the list wants a certified copy, not a photocopy.

  2. Update Social Security. Use form SS-5. It's free and your number stays the same. Arkansas is one of the 21 states whose marriage certificates work online, at least 30 days after the wedding, if you're a U.S. citizen, 18 or over, with a my Social Security account and a driver's license or state ID.

  3. Change your driver's license. Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), Office of Driver Services, at your local state Revenue Office. In person. Not given on the official page: ask the office. Social Security first is still the usual order, though the official page we read doesn't require it.

  4. 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 Arkansas

How long do I have to change my name on my Arkansas driver's license?
The official page we read doesn't give a deadline for Arkansas. Check it for the current rule.
How much does it cost to change my name on my Arkansas driver's license?
Not given on the official page: ask the office.
What documents do I need at the Revenue Office?
Your name change documents. Affidavit of Legal Name Change (only if the documents linking your names are missing). Order your certified copies first, as every office wants one.
Do I change my name with Social Security before the Revenue Office in Arkansas?
It isn't required on the official page we read, but it is still the usual order: other agencies check your name with Social Security, and your tax return must match it.
Can I use Social Security's online route with a Arkansas marriage certificate?
Yes. Arkansas is one of the 21 states whose marriage certificates work online, at least 30 days after the wedding, if you're a U.S. citizen, 18 or over, with a my Social Security account and a driver's license or state ID.
Where do I get certified copies of my marriage certificate in Arkansas?
Order certified copies from the county clerk, or Arkansas Department of Health, Vital Records. First copy: $10. Your county clerk also issues copies of the marriage license, and fees vary by county. Online orders from the state add a $5.00 processing fee and a $1.85 identity verification fee.
Can I choose my new name on my Arkansas 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)