How to change your name after marriage in South Dakota
Change your name after marriage in South Dakota: the $20 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 South 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
South Dakota Department of Public Safety, Driver Licensing Program (DPS). You can change it in person.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- License fee
Fee: $20 (Name change).
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Deadline
The official page we read doesn't give a deadline for South Dakota. Check it for the current rule.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- What to take
Take these to the license office.
- Certified copy of your marriage certificate from a government entity, not the church (original, no photocopies)
- Completed driver's license / ID card application form
- Two documents showing your name and physical address
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 South Dakota certificate?
Yes. South 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, or South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office; any county Register of Deeds also takes requests. First copy: $15. Each extra copy: $15.
Mail or in-person requests can go to the State Office in Pierre or to any South Dakota Register of Deeds. Online and phone orders add an expedite fee.
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
At your county treasurer's office, as a title transfer to your married name. A title fee applies. Fee: $10.
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 South Dakota, in order
Order certified copies of your marriage certificate. Order them from the county clerk, or South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office; any county Register of Deeds also takes requests. First copy: $15. 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. South 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. South Dakota Department of Public Safety, Driver Licensing Program (DPS). In person. Fee: $20 (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 South Dakota
- How long do I have to change my name on my South Dakota driver's license?
- The official page we read doesn't give a deadline for South Dakota. Check it for the current rule.
- How much does it cost to change my name on my South Dakota driver's license?
- It costs $20 (Name change). That's the fee on the official page.
- What documents do I need at the DPS?
- Certified copy of your marriage certificate from a government entity, not the church (original, no photocopies). Completed driver's license / ID card application form. Two documents showing your name and physical address. Order your certified copies first, as every office wants one.
- Do I change my name with Social Security before the DPS in South 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 South Dakota marriage certificate?
- Yes. South 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 South Dakota?
- Order certified copies from the county clerk, or South Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office; any county Register of Deeds also takes requests. First copy: $15. Each extra copy: $15. Mail or in-person requests can go to the State Office in Pierre or to any South Dakota Register of Deeds. Online and phone orders add an expedite fee.
- Can I choose my new name on my South Dakota 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)