How to change your name after marriage in New York
Change your name after marriage in New York: the $12.50 license fee, the documents, certified copies and whether Social Security comes first. A free checklist, checked against the official pages.
The two of you
Whose list is this?
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.
0 of 0 done
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.
Saved in this browser only.
We never ask for a Social Security, passport or account number, and never charge for a form.
Sign in to keep it, share it with your partner and get the reminders
Name change facts for New York
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 York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). You can change it in person or by mail.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- License fee
Fee: $12.50 (Amended license).
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Deadline
The official page we read doesn't give a deadline for New York. Check it for the current rule.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- What to take
Take these to the license office.
- Your government-issued marriage certificate (by mail, for a standard license)
- Original or certified copy of your U.S. marriage certificate (in person, for REAL ID or Enhanced)
- Completed form MV-44NC (by mail, standard only) or MV-44 (in person)
- Your current license, or at least 6 points of proof of identity and date of birth (in person)
- A copy of your new Social Security card (mail route 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 New York certificate?
No. New York 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 York State Department of Health, Vital Records. First copy: $30.
Copies are also available from the town or city clerk where you bought the license, but New York City licenses come from the NYC City Clerk, not the state. The state fee is $30 by mail, or $45 online or by phone plus a vendor fee.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Your married name on the marriage license
Write your new surname (and middle name) in the space on the marriage license application; one or both of you can do this, and the marriage certificate then proves the name is lawful. The license cannot be changed later to record a surname you adopt after the marriage.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Car title and registration
In person at your local DMV office. Bring form MV-82, your current title or proof of ownership, your license (or 6 points of ID) and an original or certified copy of your U.S. marriage certificate. Fee: Free.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Good to know
From the same official page.
- On a REAL ID or Enhanced document, a name change has to be done in person with a new photo. If your name changed through marriage, bring proof of each change, such as a marriage certificate. REAL ID has no extra fee, but normal transaction fees apply.
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 York, in order
Order certified copies of your marriage certificate. Order them from the county clerk, or New York State Department of Health, Vital Records. First copy: $30. 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 York 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 York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). In person or by mail. Fee: $12.50 (Amended license). 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 York
- How long do I have to change my name on my New York driver's license?
- The official page we read doesn't give a deadline for New York. Check it for the current rule.
- How much does it cost to change my name on my New York driver's license?
- It costs $12.50 (Amended license). That's the fee on the official page.
- What documents do I need at the DMV?
- Your government-issued marriage certificate (by mail, for a standard license). Original or certified copy of your U.S. marriage certificate (in person, for REAL ID or Enhanced). Completed form MV-44NC (by mail, standard only) or MV-44 (in person). Your current license, or at least 6 points of proof of identity and date of birth (in person). A copy of your new Social Security card (mail route only). Order your certified copies first, as every office wants one.
- Do I change my name with Social Security before the DMV in New York?
- 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 York marriage certificate?
- No. New York 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 York?
- Order certified copies from the county clerk, or New York State Department of Health, Vital Records. First copy: $30. Copies are also available from the town or city clerk where you bought the license, but New York City licenses come from the NYC City Clerk, not the state. The state fee is $30 by mail, or $45 online or by phone plus a vendor fee.
- Can I choose my new name on my New York marriage license?
- Write your new surname (and middle name) in the space on the marriage license application; one or both of you can do this, and the marriage certificate then proves the name is lawful. The license cannot be changed later to record a surname you adopt after the marriage.
Name change checklist and every statePassport name change guideSocial Security name change guide (SS-5)