How to change your name after marriage in North Carolina
Change your name after marriage in North Carolina: the $16.75 license fee, the 60-day deadline, 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 North Carolina
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
North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV), part of NCDOT. You can change it in person.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- License fee
Fee: $16.75 (Name change).
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Deadline
60 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 certified marriage certificate, issued by a government agency (for REAL ID, with a raised seal or ink stamp with the certifier's initials)
- Notarized form DL-101, from a DMV office
- Documents issued by a government agency in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. territories or Canada
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Social Security first?
Yes. The DMV checks your new name with Social Security, and that can take 24 to 36 hours. Update Social Security first.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Social Security online with a North Carolina certificate?
No. North Carolina 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 NC Vital Records. First copy: $24. Each extra copy: $15.
You can also get marriage certificates from the Register of Deeds office in the county where you married. The state office holds marriages from 1962 onward.
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
Complete a Corrected or Substitute Title Application (MVR-5). Submit it with the fee to a local license plate agency, or mail it to NCDMV, Renewal, Title & Plate Unit, 3148 Mail Service Center, Raleigh NC 27697. Fee: $25.50.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Good to know
From the same official page.
- A REAL ID needs one or more name-change documents, such as a certified marriage license or certificate with a raised seal or ink stamp, if your name differs from your birth certificate or passport.
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 North Carolina, in order
Order certified copies of your marriage certificate. Order them from the county clerk, or NC Vital Records. First copy: $24. 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. North Carolina 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. North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV), part of NCDOT. In person. Fee: $16.75 (Name change). You have 60 days from your name change. Update Social Security first: the DMV checks your new name with it, which can take 24 to 36 hours.
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 North Carolina
- How long do I have to change my name on my North Carolina driver's license?
- North Carolina gives you 60 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 North Carolina driver's license?
- It costs $16.75 (Name change). That's the fee on the official page.
- What documents do I need at the DMV?
- Your certified marriage certificate, issued by a government agency (for REAL ID, with a raised seal or ink stamp with the certifier's initials). Notarized form DL-101, from a DMV office. Documents issued by a government agency in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. territories or Canada. Order your certified copies first, as every office wants one.
- Do I change my name with Social Security before the DMV in North Carolina?
- Yes. The DMV checks your new name with Social Security, and that can take 24 to 36 hours. Update Social Security first.
- Can I use Social Security's online route with a North Carolina marriage certificate?
- No. North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
- Order certified copies from the county clerk, or NC Vital Records. First copy: $24. Each extra copy: $15. You can also get marriage certificates from the Register of Deeds office in the county where you married. The state office holds marriages from 1962 onward.
- Can I choose my new name on my North Carolina 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)