We are frequently asked how to change your last name after marriage. When planning our clients entertainment, we believe it’s our duty as a vendor to use our expertise whenever possible to make planning their wedding as easy and fun as possible. As with everything else, we did all the research and created a checklist, so you can spend more time on the important things, like planning your wedding. Please note that these instructions will only work if you plan to hyphenate or take your spouses last name.
Step One. Apply for a Marriage License.
This step is by far the trickiest due to varying procedures office to office. First, find the Office of the Clerk and Recorder in the county that works best for you. If you live here, it’s the one closest to your home. If you don’t, it’ll be the one closest to where you are staying prior to your wedding/elopement. You must have a marriage license issued by the state where you are getting married. Out of state licenses are never acceptable.
Map of Colorado Counties
List of Colorado Clerk Office website’s
Visit the website of the Clerk’s Office that works best for you and find out if you must apply online, schedule an appointment, or simply visit their office. Denver County’s Office of the Clerk and Recorder allows you to do everything online and by mail, which is by far the easiest. When applying for your marriage license:
- have both parties present
- payment of $30 ready
- valid identification in the form of a government issued ID (U.S. Driver’s License, U.S. Passport, or State-issued Identification Card).
Keep in mind that the license must be signed within 35 days of it being issued. Lastly, if you have been married before, you will need additional documentation which can be found under the “More Marriage and Civil Union Information” tab at the Denver County website linked above.
Step Two. Sign and Complete Your Marriage License.
If you have an officiant, they will complete the rest! However, in Colorado it isn’t required to have an officiant, or witnesses, so you can just fill it out yourself. If you’d like, you can have your besties or even your dog be a witness, but it is not necessary. It’s best if you don’t have an officiant, to ask the county clerk how it should be filled out during your initial interview with them.
Step Three. File Your Marriage License and Obtain Certified Copies.
This can be done in-person, or by mail. However, the license must go back to the county office that issued it within 63 days of your marriage without paying a penalty. We recommend ordering three additional certified copies to help with name changes on important documents after the wedding.
Step Four. Change Your Last Name on Social Security Card.
Google your local Social Security Office and schedule an in-person visit. If you have established citizenship with social security, aka have obtained a social security card, all you need to bring is proof of name change and identity. Use a certified copy of your marriage license for proof of name change and a government issued ID for proof of identity. See details here.
Step Five. Change Your Last Name on Driver’s License
After updating your social security card wait 24-48 business hours before changing your name on your driver’s license. That’s the time your change request takes to process in their system. At your required in-person visit, bring:
- a certified copy of your marriage license
- two pieces of mail with either your new or prior name and current address
For acceptable pieces of mail, click here.
Step Six. Change Your Last Name on Passport.
Changing your name on your passport is either done by mail, or in-person. Visit the U.S. Passport website and click on the tab that reads “Already Have a Passport”. Then click “Change or Correct a Passport.” Here’s where things get a little more complicated…
If you are requesting a name change less than one year after your passport was issued, you are required to send them:
- a completed Form DS-5504
- your current passport
- a certified copy of your marriage license
- a color 2″ x 2″ passport photo (Walgreens offers an easy an inexpensive service).
If you are requesting a name change greater than one year after your passport was issued, you will first need to determine of you can file by mail. Form DS-82 starts off with a questionnaire. If you answer “No” to any of the questions, you will have to file in-person. If you are eligible, send:
- Form DS-82
- your current passport
- a certified copy of your marriage certificate
- a color 2″ x 2″ passport photo (Walgreens offers an easy an inexpensive service)
- a check for $110.00 made out to “U.S. Department of State”.
All forms and documents must be mailed via USPS as they are the only carrier that will deliver to their PO Box.
If you are not eligible to renew your passport by mail, you must provide the following:
- a completed Form DS-11
- Evidence of U.S. citizenship (birth certificate) and a photocopy of said document
- a certified copy of your marriage certificate
- Government issued ID and a photocopy of your ID
- a color 2″ x 2″ passport photo (Walgreens offers an easy an inexpensive service)
- a check for $110.00 made out to “U.S. Department of State”
You will then need to visit a Passport Acceptance Facility near you. See details here.
Step Seven. Change Your Last Name on Bank Accounts.
Once you have your name changed on your social security card and driver’s license, bring those updated documents with a certified copy of the marriage certificate to your financial institution. That is all they should need to swap your last name.
Step Eight. Notify Your Employer of Your New Last Name.
