How to change your name after marriage in Michigan
Change your name after marriage in Michigan: the $9 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 Michigan
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
Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State). You can change it in person. Book an appointment first.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- License fee
Fee: $9 (Name change).
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Deadline
The official page we read doesn't give a deadline for Michigan. Check it for the current rule.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- What to take
Take these to the license office.
- Your current license or ID
- Official proof of your name change from the Social Security Administration
- A court order, marriage certificate or U.S. divorce decree showing your previous and current name
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Social Security first?
Yes. The Secretary of State checks your new name with Social Security. Update Social Security first.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Social Security online with a Michigan certificate?
Yes. Michigan 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 Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics. First copy: $34. Each extra copy: $16.
Your county clerk (and city clerks in Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties) can also issue certified copies of marriage records. Additional certified copies ordered from the state cost $16 each.
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 Secretary of State office. Every owner on the title needs to attend (or sign an Appointment of Agent form). Bring the title, the registration and your corrected license or other proof of the name change. Fee: $15.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Good to know
From the same official page.
- If you are also applying for a REAL ID and have changed your name more than once, you may need several documents, unless the latest one links your current name to your birth 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 Michigan, in order
Order certified copies of your marriage certificate. Order them from the county clerk, or Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics. First copy: $34. 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. Michigan 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. Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State). In person. Fee: $9 (Name change). Update Social Security first: the Secretary of State 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 Michigan
- How long do I have to change my name on my Michigan driver's license?
- The official page we read doesn't give a deadline for Michigan. Check it for the current rule.
- How much does it cost to change my name on my Michigan driver's license?
- It costs $9 (Name change). That's the fee on the official page.
- What documents do I need at the Secretary of State?
- Your current license or ID. Official proof of your name change from the Social Security Administration. A court order, marriage certificate or U.S. divorce decree showing your previous and current name. Order your certified copies first, as every office wants one.
- Do I change my name with Social Security before the Secretary of State in Michigan?
- Yes. The Secretary of State checks your new name with Social Security. Update Social Security first.
- Can I use Social Security's online route with a Michigan marriage certificate?
- Yes. Michigan 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 Michigan?
- Order certified copies from the county clerk, or Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics. First copy: $34. Each extra copy: $16. Your county clerk (and city clerks in Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties) can also issue certified copies of marriage records. Additional certified copies ordered from the state cost $16 each.
- Can I choose my new name on my Michigan 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)