How to change your name after marriage in North Dakota
Change your name after marriage in North Dakota: the $3 license fee, the 10-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
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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 North Dakota
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 Dakota Department of Transportation, Driver License Division (NDDOT). You can change it in person. Book an appointment first.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- License fee
Fee: $3 (Name change).
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Deadline
10 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 government-issued marriage certificate, certified with a seal, that states your current legal name
- Or a certified court order or certified divorce decree with a seal
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 North Dakota certificate?
Yes. North Dakota 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 where you got your license. Set by the county: see your county's page.
Certified copies of marriage records come only from the county where the license was originally purchased and filed. Fees vary by county.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Your married name on the marriage license
Under North Dakota law, one or both of you can enter a new surname in the space on the marriage license application. It can be the other spouse's surname, a former surname of either of you, a single combined surname, or a hyphenated or spaced combination of the two.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Car title and registration
In person at an NDDOT Motor Vehicle appointment. Bring your North Dakota title, current mileage, a photo ID showing your new legal name, and payment. Not given on the official page: ask the office.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Good to know
From the same official page.
- A REAL ID needs proof of your name change (a certified, government-issued marriage certificate) and an in-person appointment.
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 Dakota, in order
Order certified copies of your marriage certificate. Order them from the county clerk where you got your license. 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 Dakota 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. North Dakota Department of Transportation, Driver License Division (NDDOT). In person. Fee: $3 (Name change). You have 10 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 North Dakota
- How long do I have to change my name on my North Dakota driver's license?
- North Dakota gives you 10 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 Dakota driver's license?
- It costs $3 (Name change). That's the fee on the official page.
- What documents do I need at the NDDOT?
- Your government-issued marriage certificate, certified with a seal, that states your current legal name. Or a certified court order or certified divorce decree with a seal. Order your certified copies first, as every office wants one.
- Do I change my name with Social Security before the NDDOT in North Dakota?
- 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 North Dakota marriage certificate?
- Yes. North Dakota 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 North Dakota?
- Order certified copies from the county clerk where you got your license. Set by the county: see your county's page. Certified copies of marriage records come only from the county where the license was originally purchased and filed. Fees vary by county.
- Can I choose my new name on my North Dakota marriage license?
- Under North Dakota law, one or both of you can enter a new surname in the space on the marriage license application. It can be the other spouse's surname, a former surname of either of you, a single combined surname, or a hyphenated or spaced combination of the two.
Name change checklist and every statePassport name change guideSocial Security name change guide (SS-5)