How to change your name after marriage in Tennessee
Change your name after marriage in Tennessee: the $8 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
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.
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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 Tennessee
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
Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division (Driver Services Center). You can change it in person.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- License fee
Fee: $8 (Duplicate license).
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Deadline
The official page we read doesn't give a deadline for Tennessee. 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 recorded marriage certificate showing your full name, issued by the county clerk or another authorized government agency after the marriage
- Your current license
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 Tennessee certificate?
No. Tennessee 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 Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records. First copy: $15. Each extra copy: $15.
The county clerk or another authorized government agency can issue the certified copy. The state office takes orders in person, by mail or through VitalChek.
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
Take a copy of your marriage certificate to your local county clerk. Not given on the official page: ask the office.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Good to know
From the same official page.
- That's the first duplicate; later ones cost more.
- For a REAL ID, you need to provide all name-change documents that connect to the original name on your proof of identity, citizenship or legal presence. A marriage certificate is on the accepted list.
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 Tennessee, in order
Order certified copies of your marriage certificate. Order them from the county clerk, or Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records. 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. Tennessee 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. Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Driver Services Division (Driver Services Center). In person. Fee: $8 (Duplicate 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 Tennessee
- How long do I have to change my name on my Tennessee driver's license?
- The official page we read doesn't give a deadline for Tennessee. Check it for the current rule.
- How much does it cost to change my name on my Tennessee driver's license?
- It costs $8 (Duplicate license). That's the fee on the official page.
- What documents do I need at the Driver Services Center?
- Certified copy of your recorded marriage certificate showing your full name, issued by the county clerk or another authorized government agency after the marriage. Your current license. Order your certified copies first, as every office wants one.
- Do I change my name with Social Security before the Driver Services Center in Tennessee?
- 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 Tennessee marriage certificate?
- No. Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
- Order certified copies from the county clerk, or Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records. First copy: $15. Each extra copy: $15. The county clerk or another authorized government agency can issue the certified copy. The state office takes orders in person, by mail or through VitalChek.
- Can I choose my new name on my Tennessee 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)