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Name change after marriage in Michigan: checklist and DMV steps
The order to change your name after marriage in Michigan, and what the Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State) asks for, from its own pages. Each step links its source.
How to change your name after marriage in Michigan
Get certified copies of your marriage certificate first. Then change your name with Social Security, then at the Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State) for your license or ID, then on your passport, then with your bank, employer and everything else.
The steps, in order
- Certified copies of your marriage certificate. Wayne County charges $24 for the first certified copy and $7 for each additional copy bought at the same time. (Source: waynecountymi.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
- Social Security. You change your name with Social Security by requesting a replacement card. Depending on your situation you may be able to request it online; if not, you make an appointment at a local office. (Source: ssa.gov, checked October 26, 2026)
- Your Michigan driver's license or ID. The Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State): what its pages say is below.
- Your passport. The U.S. Department of State handles passports. Its site did not let us read it automatically when we checked, so open its passport pages for the form that fits your passport.
- Everything else. Bank and credit accounts, your employer, insurance, voter registration and the rest: the name change after marriage checklist lists them in order.
USAGov lists the agencies to tell after a name change, including Social Security, your state driver license office and the U.S. passport office, and says to use certified copies of documents such as a marriage certificate as proof. (Source: usa.gov, checked October 26, 2026)
Changing your name at the Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State)
From the agency’s own pages, last checked October 30, 2026. Open the Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State) page. Fees and rules change: confirm on that page before you go.
- What to do
- Visit a Secretary of State office with your current license or ID, proof of your name change from SSA, and a court order, marriage certificate or U.S. divorce decree. (Source: michigan.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
- Documents accepted as proof of the new name
- Court order, marriage certificate, or U.S. divorce decree showing the change from your previous legal name; certified divorce decrees only. Multiple documents if the name changed more than once. (Source: michigan.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
- Fee
- Driver's license: $9. State ID: $10. (Source: michigan.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
- In person or online
- Office visit only. Online, mail and self-service station are listed as unavailable for this transaction. (Source: michigan.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
- Social Security first
- You need official proof of the legal name change from SSA; the office cannot process a name change if SSA has not been informed. (Source: michigan.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
- Deadline
- No deadline for a name change is stated on the pages we read. Official page
Common questions
How do I change my name on my Michigan driver's license after marriage?
Visit a Secretary of State office with your current license or ID, proof of your name change from SSA, and a court order, marriage certificate or U.S. divorce decree.
How much does it cost to change the name on a Michigan license?
Driver's license: $9. State ID: $10.
What documents do I need to change my name at the Michigan DMV?
Court order, marriage certificate, or U.S. divorce decree showing the change from your previous legal name; certified divorce decrees only. Multiple documents if the name changed more than once.
Do I need to update Social Security before the Michigan DMV?
You need official proof of the legal name change from SSA; the office cannot process a name change if SSA has not been informed.
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