How to change your name after marriage in Delaware
Change your name after marriage in Delaware: the $10 license fee, the 30-day deadline, 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 Delaware
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
Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). You can change it in person.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- License fee
Fee: $10 (Name change).
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Deadline
30 days from your name change. Order your certified copies first, so you have them in time.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- What to take
Take these to the license office.
- A valid marriage license or civil union certificate issued by a government entity with a raised seal (certificates signed by clergy are not accepted)
- Your old driver's license or ID card
- Proof from the Social Security Administration of the name change
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Social Security first?
Yes. The DMV checks your new name with Social Security, and that can take 48 to 72 hours. Update Social Security first.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Social Security online with a Delaware certificate?
Yes. Delaware 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. Delaware gives you 30 days for your license and wants Social Security first, so use the paper form and go in person rather than wait 30 days to apply online.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Certified copies of your marriage certificate
Order certified copies from the county clerk, or Delaware Division of Public Health, Office of Vital Statistics. First copy: $25.
State law says the fee is collected by the Bureau of Vital Statistics or the Clerk of the Peace, whichever agency issues your certified copy. Active military members and their spouses are exempt on showing a military ID.
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 DMV office. Bring your current title, registration card, proof of Delaware insurance and your license showing your new name (or a marriage certificate or court document). If a lender holds the title, you need form MV35 first, and the fee is $55 with a lien. Fee: $35.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Good to know
From the same official page.
- For a federally compliant ID, you need proof of every legal name change, such as a marriage license issued by a government entity with a raised seal.
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 Delaware, in order
Order certified copies of your marriage certificate. Order them from the county clerk, or Delaware Division of Public Health, Office of Vital Statistics. First copy: $25. 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. Delaware 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. Delaware gives you 30 days for your license and wants Social Security first, so use the paper form and go in person rather than wait 30 days to apply online.
Change your driver's license. Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). In person. Fee: $10 (Name change). You have 30 days from your name change. Update Social Security first: the DMV checks your new name with it, which can take 48 to 72 hours.
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 Delaware
- How long do I have to change my name on my Delaware driver's license?
- Delaware gives you 30 days from your name change to update your driver's license. Order your certified copies first, so you have them in time.
- How much does it cost to change my name on my Delaware driver's license?
- It costs $10 (Name change). That's the fee on the official page.
- What documents do I need at the DMV?
- A valid marriage license or civil union certificate issued by a government entity with a raised seal (certificates signed by clergy are not accepted). Your old driver's license or ID card. Proof from the Social Security Administration of the name change. Order your certified copies first, as every office wants one.
- Do I change my name with Social Security before the DMV in Delaware?
- Yes. The DMV checks your new name with Social Security, and that can take 48 to 72 hours. Update Social Security first.
- Can I use Social Security's online route with a Delaware marriage certificate?
- Yes. Delaware 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. Delaware gives you 30 days for your license and wants Social Security first, so use the paper form and go in person rather than wait 30 days to apply online.
- Where do I get certified copies of my marriage certificate in Delaware?
- Order certified copies from the county clerk, or Delaware Division of Public Health, Office of Vital Statistics. First copy: $25. State law says the fee is collected by the Bureau of Vital Statistics or the Clerk of the Peace, whichever agency issues your certified copy. Active military members and their spouses are exempt on showing a military ID.
- Can I choose my new name on my Delaware 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)