Is There a Deadline for Name Change After Marriage?

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How much time do you have to change your name after getting married? And how might you avoid getting consumed by the consequences of waiting too long to meet your deadlines?

Today you'll learn to schedule and order your name change chronology, from your social security card and passport, to your driver's license or REAL ID.

Is there an actual name change deadline?

No, there's no hard deadline to change your name after marriage. You don't have to immediately update your social security card or driver's license after your wedding. You'll never be barred from changing your name for waiting too long.

However, once you start the name change process, you'll activate deadlines and time limits that affect the duration, expense, and effort involved in completing your name change.

Your name change is like a jar of honey

Think of your name change like a sealed jar of honey. As long as you keep it unopened and don't initiate the process of updating the name on your social security card, there's no expiration date—you can wait as long as you'd like.

Honey jar proudly showcasing 'Your Name' embossing, sitting on a rustic wooden table
Like honey's everlasting shelf life, your name change options won't fade over time.

Your marriage certificate doesn't expire, so you can change your name any time after getting married without rushing, whether right after your honeymoon, or even many years later.

However, the moment you crack open that jar and file your paperwork, various state-level DMV deadlines commence, akin to the crystallization process in honey.

But keep in mind that the longer you wait to change your name, the more it may cost you in terms of time, money, and energy spent due to shifting requirements.

When does your name change begin?

Suppose you've completed a name change event:

  • Marriage
  • Divorce or annulment
  • Court-petitioned name change

And you have a name change document proving said event:

  • Marriage certificate
  • Divorce decree
  • Court order

Your name doesn't automatically change the moment you get married, divorced, or secure a judge-approved court order, even with a certified document proving it took place.

By and large, the name change process actually begins once the Social Security Administration (SSA) updates your name in their records, upon your request.

The SSA plays a key role, serving as a root authority. Other agencies, such as the IRS and DMVs, rely on the SSA, while the SSA operates independently without dependencies.

Social security notification deadline

The Social Security Administration has a two-year rule for social security card name changes. Their identity verification standards are stricter after two years.

Woman immersed in an enchanting antique shop, facing a captivating display of old-world wall clocks
The SSA's ID requirements toughen two years after your name change event.

Meaning, your name change document may serve as primary ID—in place of photo ID—if your name change event took place within two years. This simplifies name change by mail.

For instance, if you got married 23 months ago, you have one month left to change the name on your social security card by mail using just your marriage certificate; no need to include your driver's license, passport, or other photo ID.

There's no penalty beyond the added inconvenience of including ID in your mailed paperwork. (You could always change your name in person instead of mail to escape this burden.)

Driver's license notification deadline

Most U.S. states have laws that dictate when you must notify the driver's license authority—e.g., DMV, DOT, DPS, BMV, MVA—that you have changed your name or address.

Woman driving car on a rainy day glimpses an ominous sight in the rearview mirror
The DMV's daunting deadlines advance like an 18-wheeler barreling down your rearview mirror.

Note: We'll use DMV as shorthand for your state's Department of Motor Vehicles.

What do your state's laws require?

The most common name change notification intervals are 10, 30, and 60 days, as shown in the following table. This data is sourced from state government statutes, with linked citations for accuracy and transparency.

StateDeadline
AlabamaNone1
Alaska30 days2
Arizona10 days3
Arkansas30 days4
CaliforniaNone5
Colorado30 days6
ConnecticutNone: 48 hours notice only applies to change of address7 with $92 infraction fee (fine and surcharge)8
Delaware30 days9
District of ColumbiaNone: 60 days notice only applies to change of address10
Florida30 days11 with $30 violation fine12
Georgia60 days13
Hawaii30 days with maximum $25 violation fine14
IdahoNone15
Illinois10 days16
Indiana30 days17
IowaNone: 30 days notice only applies to change of address18
Kansas10 days19
Kentucky10 days20
Louisiana10 days21
Maine30 days22
Maryland30 days23
Massachusetts30 days24
MichiganNone: Requirement to "immediately" notify only applies to change of address25 with maximum $93 to $111 civil infraction fine26
Minnesota30 days27
Mississippi30 days28
MissouriNone29
MontanaNone: 10 days notice only applies to change of address30
Nebraska60 days31
NevadaNone: 30 day provision32 repealed in 201733
New Hampshire30 days34
New Jersey14 days35
New Mexico10 days3637 with $25 penalty assessment misdemeanor38
New YorkNone: 10 days notice only applies to change of address39 with $75 to $300 violation fine40
North Carolina60 days41
North Dakota10 days42
OhioNone: 10 days notice only applies to change of address4344
Oklahoma10 days45
Oregon30 days46 with $115 Class D traffic violation fine47
Pennsylvania15 days48
Rhode Island10 days49 with $85 violation fine50 specific to vehicle registration51 (not license)
South Carolina10 days52
South DakotaNone53
Tennessee10 days54
Texas30 days55 with maximum $20 violation fine56
UtahNone: 10 days notice only applies to change of address57 with $50 infraction fine58
Vermont30 days59
VirginiaNone: 30 days notice only applies to change of address for license60 and registration61 with $5 violation fine
Washington10 days62
West Virginia20 days63 with maximum $500 misdemeanor violation fine64, but exempt from six-month imprisonment clause
Wisconsin30 days with maximum $50 violation fine65
Wyoming10 days66

These timeframes are trivial if you were only changing your address; many DMVs offer change of address online or by mail. But name change requires two extra components:

  1. Changing your name in person
  2. Updating your social security record beforehand

Explaining what it means to notify

What does it mean when your state driver's license office says you must notify them of your address or name change within a specific number of days—10, 30, 60, or whatnot?

The DMV doesn't receive automated alerts about your name change intentions from other institutions at the federal, state, county, city, or court level. You must do the notifying.

Woman boldly announcing into a megaphone amidst falling snow in winter weather
You must explicitly request a new driver's license after changing your name.

For example, here's Texas' notification statute (the language is similar across states):

[You] shall notify the department of the change not later than the 30th day after the date on which the change takes effect and apply for a duplicate license

Example name change statute.

But what does "notify" mean?

  • Sending an email
  • Making a phone call, or
  • Submitting a form online or by mail

And what does "of the change" and "change takes effect" represent?

  • The day you get married
  • The day your marriage license is recorded, or
  • The moment you receive your marriage certificate

Here's the real-world translation:

You must apply for a new driver's license, REAL ID, or state-issued ID card—in person—within 30 days of changing the name on your social security record.

Clarified rewording of the prior example name change statute.

Not 30 days from your marriage, divorce, or other name change event, but counting from when the Social Security Administration updates your record.

Driver's license and social security names must match

You may have noticed throughout this page references to your social security record, not your social security card. Your "record" is what's used by your driver's license office.

First, the DMV will use your marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order to validate both your name change event and requested new name. But that alone isn't enough.

Woman looking through a large magnifying glass, with eyes magnified, creating a unique perspective
With forensic-like precision, DMVs cross-reference applications, certificates, and SSA data.

DMVs in every U.S. state and territory (excluding the Virgin Islands)67 perform real-time name and SSN verifications through the Social Security Online Verification (SSOLV) system68.

Woman holding two mirrored puzzle pieces in front of her face, illustrating their lack of unity and connection
The DMV will deny name change requests that don't match SSA response output.

Your driver's license name change depends on your social security name change finishing first. Your name change will get rejected if they discover an identity mismatch.

Caution: Space out your social security and driver's license name changes by 24 to 48 hours to allow time for the SSA's database to refresh before it gets queried.

Penalties for not reporting

You may incur a penalty for failing to report your address or name change to the DMV within the allotted time frame. For instance, Florida imposes a $30 fine, while Oregon's is $115.

Woman with a somber, downcast gaze, holding an open brown envelope with the word 'PENALTY' stamped across
In some states, failure to notify can result in notable fines.

A failure to notify penalty is most often applied when a police officer pulls you over for an unrelated traffic violation, and not upon renewing your driver's license.

At worst, failing to report your address or name change will result in a monetary penalty. You won't face criminal charges or get your license suspended.

Complying with the law when time is limited

Abiding by narrow time constraints may be challenging, even if you're intent on following the spirit and letter of the law by expediting your name change.

Woman engaged in a heartfelt conversation with a police officer at night in a dark urban cityscape
Unconnected traffic violations frequently bring failure to notify scenarios to light.

Your DMV's name change deadlines may appear difficult or impossible to honor, given their expectation that your social security name change gets finished first.

Waiting for your new social security card to arrive by mail—which takes 7 to 14 calendar days—may conflict with or exceed tight state notification deadlines.

In such cases, you can verify your social security name change status over the phone with the local SSA office that processed your paperwork, whether submitted in person or by mail.

Woman sitting in the dark, deep in contemplation, hands clenched in nervous anticipation, awaiting news
You may ease anticipation by calling the SSA 24 hours later to check if your name change is done.

So you can update your driver's license name before your new social security card arrives; just wait at least 24 to 48 hours after filing with the SSA for the SSA's system to refresh.

Passport notification deadline

The U.S. State Department doesn't exact penalties for failure to change the name or address associated with your passport. You could even renew your passport in your old name.

If your honeymoon is imminent and you don't have time to update your passport, you may travel under your maiden name as long as your airline tickets match.

Woman embarking on a global journey, holding suitcases in front of a world map
For international travel, the name on your passport and airline tickets must match.

Your passport's age affects renewal fees, forms, and steps. Waiting too long risks increased fees and rules out the convenience of mailing your paperwork.

Worn passport resting beside vintage books and a classic bell alarm clock
Passport reissuance becomes more complex and costly after the first and 15th year.

If your passport is less than one year old, you can renew it by mail for free using Form DS-5504. This is when good timing and expeditiousness can save you money.

Between one and 15 years, fees above $100 kick in via Form DS-82. Mail renewal is still an option. Beyond 15 years, higher fees and in-person filing are required via Form DS-11.

IRS notification deadline

When you change the name on your social security card, the SSA will automatically alert the IRS that your name has changed.

Overhead shot of a woman working at a desk by candlelight, looking over papers and using a calculator
The name on your 1099s, W-2s, and tax returns must match SSA records.

The name on your tax returns, W-2s, 1099s, and employee records must agree with the SSA's records. This can push against federal tax filing deadlines, resulting in tax return delays69.

Review our IRS name change guide for guidance on how and when to start your name change so that it doesn't disrupt your tax filings, now or in the future.

Deadline to final destination

There's no cut-off-point deadline for changing your name after marriage, divorce, or court order. But target dates in between may make your life harder when they're past due.

Two key takeaways:

  1. Don't procrastinate.
  2. Don't start what you can't finish.

And a third takeaway: get started. Our online name change kit can help guide you through your new name journey, specific to your timetable.

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