How to change your name after marriage in District of Columbia
Change your name after marriage in the District of Columbia: the $20 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 the District of Columbia
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
District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV). You can change it in person.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- License fee
Fee: $20 (Name change).
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Deadline
The official page we read doesn't give a deadline for the District of Columbia. Check it for the current rule.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- What to take
Take these to the license office.
- Your certified marriage certificate (original; photocopies and scans are not accepted)
- Your current DC driver's license, learner permit or non-driver ID
- If you do not already have a REAL ID: original proof of identity, Social Security number and two proofs of DC residency
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Social Security first?
Yes. The DC DMV checks your new name with Social Security. Update Social Security first.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Social Security online with a DC certificate?
No. the District of Columbia 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 Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Family Court Operations Division, Marriage Bureau. First copy: $10.
The District has no counties. Certified marriage copies come from the DC Superior Court Marriage Bureau, not from DC Health. A triple-sealed copy is $20.00 each, and personal checks are not accepted on the order form.
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 DC DMV service center with your supporting documents. A duplicate title is $30.00, and no separate fee is listed for a 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.
- If you do not already have a REAL ID (a star in the upper right corner), you also need to bring original documents proving your identity, Social Security number and DC residency when you change your name.
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 the District of Columbia, in order
Order certified copies of your marriage certificate. Order them from Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Family Court Operations Division, Marriage Bureau. First copy: $10. 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. the District of Columbia 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. District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV). In person. Fee: $20 (Name change). Update Social Security first: the DC DMV 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 the District of Columbia
- How long do I have to change my name on my DC driver's license?
- The official page we read doesn't give a deadline for the District of Columbia. Check it for the current rule.
- How much does it cost to change my name on my DC driver's license?
- It costs $20 (Name change). That's the fee on the official page.
- What documents do I need at the DC DMV?
- Your certified marriage certificate (original; photocopies and scans are not accepted). Your current DC driver's license, learner permit or non-driver ID. If you do not already have a REAL ID: original proof of identity, Social Security number and two proofs of DC residency. Order your certified copies first, as every office wants one.
- Do I change my name with Social Security before the DC DMV in the District of Columbia?
- Yes. The DC DMV checks your new name with Social Security. Update Social Security first.
- Can I use Social Security's online route with a DC marriage certificate?
- No. the District of Columbia 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 the District of Columbia?
- Order certified copies from Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Family Court Operations Division, Marriage Bureau. First copy: $10. The District has no counties. Certified marriage copies come from the DC Superior Court Marriage Bureau, not from DC Health. A triple-sealed copy is $20.00 each, and personal checks are not accepted on the order form.
- Can I choose my new name on my DC 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)