How to change your name after marriage in Wisconsin
Change your name after marriage in Wisconsin: the $14 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 Wisconsin
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
Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). You can change it in person.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- License fee
Fee: $14 (Duplicate license).
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Deadline
The official page we read doesn't give a deadline for Wisconsin. Check it for the current rule.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- What to take
Take these to the license office.
- Your certified marriage certificate
- Completed form MV3001 (driver's license) or MV3004 (ID card)
- Proof of identity (you may also need proof of name and date of birth, residency and legal presence)
- Your current license or ID card, to turn in
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Social Security first?
Yes. The DMV checks your new name with Social Security, and that can take 48 hours. Update Social Security first.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Social Security online with a Wisconsin certificate?
Yes. Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Vital Records Office. First copy: $20. Each extra copy: $3.
County Register of Deeds offices also issue marriage records.
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
Changing your name on your driver's license updates your DMV base record. Optionally, mail in or bring in your current title or Confirmation of Ownership to get a title and registration in your new name before renewal, with no charge by mail. If there is a lien, contact your lienholder. Fee: Free.
Official page · Checked October 16, 2026
- Good to know
From the same official page.
- If you have a valid, unexpired U.S. passport in your current name, you need no extra papers for past name changes. Without one, show documents for each name change from birth to now.
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 Wisconsin, in order
Order certified copies of your marriage certificate. Order them from the county clerk, or Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Vital Records Office. First copy: $20. 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. Wisconsin 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. Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). In person. Fee: $14 (Duplicate license). Update Social Security first: the DMV checks your new name with it, which can take 48 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 Wisconsin
- How long do I have to change my name on my Wisconsin driver's license?
- The official page we read doesn't give a deadline for Wisconsin. Check it for the current rule.
- How much does it cost to change my name on my Wisconsin driver's license?
- It costs $14 (Duplicate license). That's the fee on the official page.
- What documents do I need at the DMV?
- Your certified marriage certificate. Completed form MV3001 (driver's license) or MV3004 (ID card). Proof of identity (you may also need proof of name and date of birth, residency and legal presence). Your current license or ID card, to turn in. Order your certified copies first, as every office wants one.
- Do I change my name with Social Security before the DMV in Wisconsin?
- Yes. The DMV checks your new name with Social Security, and that can take 48 hours. Update Social Security first.
- Can I use Social Security's online route with a Wisconsin marriage certificate?
- Yes. Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin?
- Order certified copies from the county clerk, or Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Vital Records Office. First copy: $20. Each extra copy: $3. County Register of Deeds offices also issue marriage records.
- Can I choose my new name on my Wisconsin 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)