How to change your name after marriage in New Jersey
Change your name after marriage in New Jersey: the $11 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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Pick once. You can look at your partner's list any time.
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.
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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 New Jersey
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
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). You can change it in person.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- License fee
Fee: $11 (Name change).
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Deadline
The official page we read doesn't give a deadline for New Jersey. Check it for the current rule.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- What to take
Take these to the license office.
- Your certified marriage or civil union certificate (original or certified copy with the municipal and/or State seal) linking your new name to your previous name
- Your '6 points' of ID documents
- Approved translation, if any document is not in English
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 New Jersey certificate?
No. New Jersey 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 the county clerk, or New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry. First copy: $25. Each extra copy: $2.
Local registrars (municipalities) also issue copies, and their fees vary by municipality. Contact the municipality that issued the document and/or the State Office of Vital Statistics and Registry.
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.
- Good to know
From the same official page.
- REAL ID is by appointment. A marriage certificate alone may not be enough, because the name needs to match your Social Security proof.
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 New Jersey, in order
Order certified copies of your marriage certificate. Order them from the county clerk, or New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry. 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. New Jersey 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. New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). In person. Fee: $11 (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 New Jersey
- How long do I have to change my name on my New Jersey driver's license?
- The official page we read doesn't give a deadline for New Jersey. Check it for the current rule.
- How much does it cost to change my name on my New Jersey driver's license?
- It costs $11 (Name change). That's the fee on the official page.
- What documents do I need at the MVC?
- Your certified marriage or civil union certificate (original or certified copy with the municipal and/or State seal) linking your new name to your previous name. Your '6 points' of ID documents. Approved translation, if any document is not in English. Order your certified copies first, as every office wants one.
- Do I change my name with Social Security before the MVC in New Jersey?
- 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 New Jersey marriage certificate?
- No. New Jersey 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 New Jersey?
- Order certified copies from the county clerk, or New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry. First copy: $25. Each extra copy: $2. Local registrars (municipalities) also issue copies, and their fees vary by municipality. Contact the municipality that issued the document and/or the State Office of Vital Statistics and Registry.
- Can I choose my new name on my New Jersey 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)