How to change your name after marriage in Maine
Change your name after marriage in Maine: 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
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.
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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 Maine
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
Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (Secretary of State) (BMV). 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
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.
- Your marriage license, divorce decree or court order
- Documents that show a clear trail from the name on your ID document to your current name
- Originals or documents certified by the issuing agency only
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 Maine certificate?
Yes. Maine 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 Maine CDC, Data, Research, and Vital Statistics. First copy: $15. Each extra copy: $6.
The municipal clerk where the license was issued also issues certified copies at the same fees. Maine's vital records are held at the state office (Data, Research, and Vital Statistics) and most municipal offices statewide.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Your married name on the marriage license
If either of you will change your name on marriage, put the proposed new name on the marriage license application (the 'recording of intentions').
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Good to know
From the same official page.
- If your name has legally changed and now differs from your birth certificate or passport, you need to show proof of the name change to get a REAL ID.
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 Maine, in order
Order certified copies of your marriage certificate. Order them from the county clerk, or Maine CDC, Data, Research, and Vital 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. Maine 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.
Change your driver's license. Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (Secretary of State) (BMV). In person. Not given on the official page: ask the office. You have 30 days from your name change. Social Security first is still the usual order, though the official page we read doesn't require 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 Maine
- How long do I have to change my name on my Maine driver's license?
- Maine 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 Maine driver's license?
- Not given on the official page: ask the office.
- What documents do I need at the BMV?
- Your marriage license, divorce decree or court order. Documents that show a clear trail from the name on your ID document to your current name. Originals or documents certified by the issuing agency only. Order your certified copies first, as every office wants one.
- Do I change my name with Social Security before the BMV in Maine?
- 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 Maine marriage certificate?
- Yes. Maine 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 Maine?
- Order certified copies from the county clerk, or Maine CDC, Data, Research, and Vital Statistics. First copy: $15. Each extra copy: $6. The municipal clerk where the license was issued also issues certified copies at the same fees. Maine's vital records are held at the state office (Data, Research, and Vital Statistics) and most municipal offices statewide.
- Can I choose my new name on my Maine marriage license?
- If either of you will change your name on marriage, put the proposed new name on the marriage license application (the 'recording of intentions').
Name change checklist and every statePassport name change guideSocial Security name change guide (SS-5)