Name Change After Marriage in Texas
If you are in Texas and seeking a legal name change, there are a number of things you need to keep in mind. It is important to know what the Lonestar State's name change laws allows. Here are a number of things you might want to know.
Marriage name change options
Your marriage certificate is the main legal document you need to change your name after getting married. Once your ceremony is over, file your marriage license pronto with the office that issued it. This results in a certified copy of your marriage certificate that will get mailed to you around 14 days later.
To save yourself time, you can use an online service providing name change forms that work in Texas and other states. This self-help tool works whether you are recently married or tied the knot many years ago.
Your marriage certificate is the right legal document to effect a name change. Alert the right government agencies afterward, as name change is not automatic. This includes the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), the Social Security Administration (SSA), and non-governmental institutions, such as credit card companies and banks.
To apply for a marriage license in Texas, arrive in person at the county clerk's office with government-issued photo ID. Your license remains valid for 90 days once issued. And issuance comes 72 hours after applying, unless waived.
Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas course on premarital education will pay lower license fees and get the 72-hour waiting period set aside.
Military personnel who are active will have their waiting time eliminated by default, including Department of Defense employees and those who have received a judge's waiver.
Fees for a marriage license vary across Texas' 254 counties, but fall within $60 and $90. A Texas license is valid across the state, regardless of which county you apply in.
After getting married, your officiant must complete the license and return it to the county clerk for filing. You can then ask for certified copies of your marriage certificate from the county clerk to get your name legally changed across government agencies.
Husband's surname
You can opt to take your spouse's last name using just your marriage certificate. This is the most common and traditional name change preference in Texas.
Maiden name usage
You may go with the surname of your spouse on official records and identifications, but continue using your maiden name in professional circles, such as the workplace.
Hyphenation
It's also possible to request a name change by taking your spouse's last name and adding it into your own with a hyphen or simply add without a hyphen.
Continue using your name as it is
Another option in Texas is to just continue with your married life without seeking a name change.
Divorce name change
For a legal name change to be done in Texas after divorce you need to gather a number of documents, the most important being a certified copy of a Texas divorce decree as well as a proof of your age and identification.
After getting the divorce decree copy, read through to ascertain if there is a provision granting a name change. In case it is there, the document remains the best name change legal proof you need.
Sometimes the provision for a name change might be left out from the divorce decree and you should communicate with the court that finalized the divorce to request for an amendment of the document. Remember amendments can sometimes be denied by different courts in the state; you need to change tact and continue with a normal adult name change petition in Texas.
Together with the name change petition, you are also requested to provide fingerprints, a legible set of them on a fingerprint card approved by the state. The verification of the petition needs to be done, where you must swear and sign that the information provided on your forms is accurate before a notary.
Remember to have the order for name change prepared for the judge to sign. Apart from containing similar information as that in the petition, Texas requires the order to also clearly state the change of name is in public interest and beneficial to you. A hearing is then scheduled by the court. It's possible that the judge will request a repeat of the information you have provided in the petition prior to the signing of the order declaring your change of name.
Once the name change has been effected, ensure you have approached all the right government agencies to update your name, from the Social Security Office, IRS, to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Nonetheless, you might want to know that changing your name with the Social Security Office comes first. Once this has been approved, simply take the certificate you will receive to the Texas Department of Public Safety to have your driver's license name changed.
General adult legal name change
If you do not have a marriage certificate or divorce decree, it is still possible to effect a name change in Texas. This requires filing court-provided name change forms for an adult petition for change of name. File your petition in your county of residence. If you do not live in Texas, you cannot change your name in the state's court system.
Your name change must be for good cause and not for nefarious means, such as trying to avoid creditors, evade warrants, disparage others, or commit fraud. You can file to change your name and gender marker together. Gender marker changes require a separate filing, though.
You must pay the filing fee of $150 to $300; filing fees vary across the state. If you cannot afford court costs to change your name, you can request a fee waiver by filing a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs or an Appeal Bond.
It means you must prepare a Name Change Petition and Order for Texas without signing any document. Take these legal forms to be signed by a notary, who will have your identity verified and allow you to sign it before the he has signed the document again to verify that you signed the petition in his presence. Do not sign the petition at this time.
The next process requires you arrange with the local law enforcement for your fingerprints to be taken on either an approved FBI fingerprint card or DPS. After receiving the fingerprint card, the Order and Petition, make two copies of each. Take them to the local county courthouse to file with the county's court clerk in your local jurisdiction. Filing the paperwork comes at a cost and once you have paid it a name change case number is assigned.
A stamped copy of the petition will then be returned to you. Ensure you have the original copy of the court order to schedule your court hearing. You must know the court date assigned by the office of the clerk; to be on the safe side, call a few days before the hearing to know everything is as scheduled.
On the material court date, have the petition's copy the clerk gave you including the original order when attending the hearing. Expect the judge to ask a couple of questions; be as brief and honest as possible in your answers.
Once the legal change of name has been granted by the judge, the court order will be signed and you must file it with the court clerk's office. Request a name change certificate after you file the order with the clerk in the same manner used to submit the initial petition for the name change. For a small fee, the Texas Name Change Order certified copy, dully signed, can be provided.
Although you may seek assistance from a licensed attorney to help process your name change, it is not required.
Child's name change
Within the Texas Family Code are all the regulations needed to effect a name change of a child within the state. The name change can be requested due to custody proceedings, adoptions, among others, by managing conservators, legal guardians or parents. It's important for parents to file the name change petition within the county court where the minor lives.
The first thing is requesting the petition for the name change of a child, including the order to change the name of a child and consent to change the name of a child. All these are found at the local county's district court and can also be downloaded online.
The petition has to be filled with the signature of the guardians and parents of the child, has to show how they relate to the minor, child's legal status, case numbers to previous judgments relating to the minor, name change details, the reason for the name change, and the vital statistics of the child.
In case the minor is a registered sex offender, the Sex Offender Update form needs to be filled out and a copy attached to the petition. The petition should then be signed before a notary public who also signs on the form before officially stamping it.
The reason for the Consent to Change the Name of the minor has to be explained clearly to the child if above ten years of age, who then must add his/her current name and the name proposed before the signing of the form.
The document should be taken to the office of the district court clerk for filing. You will be updated about an assigned court date, including a corresponding case number. Appear at the court as scheduled. If the judge is convinced the change of name is in the child's best interest, it will be approved. The name change order will then be completed by the court.
Request the court clerk issue a certified copy of the name change order to use to change the child's name on their social security card and birth certificate.
Change of name on birth certificate
Birth certificate amendments are done by the Department of State Health Services in Texas with each application clearly reviewed by a professional if the name change can be done. In case the birth took place in the last 180 days, you should expect the name change to be effected within 20 to 30 days.
Amendments cost $15 with an additional $5 if you want expedited service. Estimated normal processing time for the birth certificate amendment takes 20 to 25 business days.
Name change with social security and DMV
After changing your name, you must notify the various relevant government bodies. In case of any name change, notify the Social Security Administration, whether you are newlyweds, lately divorced, or simply changed your name legally through court petition.
Even those who have reverted to their prior names need to let the Social Security Administration know. File the Application for a Social Security Card Form SS-5 by mail or at a social security office in your locality and include the legal proof of the name change.
Once you have changed the name with the Social Security Administration only then can you request a name change with the Department of Motor Vehicles. Thirty days after the name change, visit the office of Texas Department of Public Safety with your current ID card or driver's license, including the proof of name change. The license "replacement" fee is $11.
Name change with non-governmental institutions
Once you have legal proof of name change, you can change your name with just about anyone, including non-governmental institutions, such as financial institutions, insurance providers, employers, and other professional documents, such as your passport, credit cards, and voter registration.
Closing thoughts
Congratulations! You are now well-equipped to change your name in Texas. While transitioning to a new name may seem complicated at first, following the required steps we have outlined should make it a cinch to carry out.
There are many different tracks to take when changing your name, so make certain you choose the path that suits your needs and circumstances best.
Good luck to you as you proceed on the grand journey of changing your name. Stay strong and brave, because after this experience, you will experience a clean slate with your new identity.
I want to drop my first name and keep my middle name as my first name after marriage as well as take my future husband's last name. Is this possible? Can I change this all at once when I take my husbands last name? What is the process?
Hi Edna. First name changes would have to go through a court petitioned name change.
This may be a little tricky, but I want to know if I can change my middle name to another name with my maiden name added or hyphenated and take my husband's last name as my new last name.
So… I want to see if I can do the following without filing a court petition:
First, Middle which I currently don't have, Last
to
First, New Middle + Maiden, Husband's Last Name
Sorry for being difficult; just want to see what my options are.
Hi Emi. Adding another name along with your maiden wouldn't be recognized as part of the married name change process through use of your marriage certificate. That kind of name change would require you to petition the court. Once you get a court order you can change your name however you prefer.
How do I petition the court for a first/middle/last name change after marriage in Texas? I have
First Middle Maiden I want to change to First+Middle as first, Maiden to middle, and take my husbands last name. We have our marriage license.
Hi Annie. You can read more detail about what a name change petition entails. The process is similar in each state. In Texas, you'll have to visit the court and file a petition to get a judge to grant a name change order. See the "general adult name change" section in this article that discusses it further.
Hi! I have two questions:
1) I got married in a legal destination wedding but am a resident of Texas. Will the official marriage certificate still work the same as the Texas marriage certificate listed above?
2) Is it possible to drop your middle name and use your maiden name as your middle name and husbands name as surname? So it would be FirstName MaidenName(now middle) HusbandsName(now last)
Thanks!
–Andrea
Hi Andrea. Yes, to both questions.
How do you achieve this?
Hi Bren. Get a certified copy of your marriage certificate. If you got married abroad and your certificate is not written in English, you may need to get it translated to English and notarized. Take your certificate to the SSA, DMV, and other government/non-government institutions to complete your name change.
My wife and I got married about a month ago and want to combine our last names to make a new last name. Is that possible?
Hi Macy. While a few states do provide the option to combine (or segment) last names, Texas does not appear to be one of them.
What states provide this option for combine or segment last names? Or completely new last name altogether?
Hi Michelle. Oregon, California, and North Dakota are some states that allow it.
Hi,
My wife and I(same sex) got married in NYC in 2012. On the marriage license she did not take my last name. We now live in Texas and would like to have her last name changed to mine. Do we have to file a petition with the court, since the marriage license doesn't show her name to be changed?
Hi Elle. The marriage certificate as-is should suffice, preventing you from having to go to court.
Husband/wife would like to have the same middle (wife's maiden) and last (husband's last) names. Can both spouses file for a Marriage Name Change?
Also, can a license be obtained in TX but the wedding performed/officiated in a different state?
The husband would need to get a court order.
No, a marriage license obtained from Texas can only be used in Texas.
Kyrie — this is exactly what my fiancé and I want to do. Was it super difficult in Texas? Also, how did your family and friends react to y'all's decision, since it wasn't him taking your last name but still somewhat unconventional, did you get a lot of flack for it?
Hi..
So my wife has had an expired Mexican Passport for awhile. We have been married for some time. Now she went to get a new PP, but has MY last name on it. It seems that Mexican law has changed. Our marriage certificate has her old married last name on it, not her maiden name, which is required now by Mexico (I think that's dumb, oh well). So now we have to get her name changed on our marrage certif. Couple of questions:
We go married in one Texas county, but now live in another, do we have to do all this naming changing at the county we were married at???
Thank you for taking time to help. :-)
Hi Frank. Getting a name modified on a marriage certificate is difficult, unless there's a mistake on the clerk's part. If you were going to try to change it, you'll go to the county where's it's been filed, which is typically the same county where the license was acquired.
Hi. Im from Texas but currently living in Nevada. I got married and wanted to change my name. I want to use my maiden name as my middle name and take my husbands last name. In the state of Nevada this is possible with the social security card. When it comes to my drivers license i was told they would have to hyphenate my maiden name with my husbands last name. I do not want that. Is this the same in Texas? Would they have to hyphenate my maiden with my husbands last name on my license?
No, I don't believe that's required.
Can I take my husbands maiden name and last name as my married name(As our last pre-married surname is the same)?
Hi T. I don't believe that's an option. While state statues don't appear to explicitly prohibit it, that doesn't mean it's a supported and recognized option.
Hello,
I wanted to ask if there would be any way to have my 3 daughters' last names changed. I got divorced from my ex in 2015, part of the final decree has name changes listed for my daughters. He is incarcerated for sexual crimes. I already went to the social security office and changed their social security cards to my last name but I need to have their birth certificates changed for new school enrollment purposes. Can this be done? I live in Texas.
Hi Erica. The Texas Department of State Health Services (Vital Statistics Unit) handles birth certificate amendments. See form VS-170.
My fiance and I are getting married in November. We are both Texas residents. He would like to take on my maden name instead of me taking his. Is that possible?
Hi Rachelle. That would require getting a name change by petitioning the court.
My wife and I were married and still live in Texas in 2009. We kept our last names as they were for the time. I would now like to my last name to my wife's. Do I have to do the name change petition or is the fact that we're married and trying to have the same last name enough? If not, would I have still had to do a name change petition were I the female in the marriage in this situation?
You'll have to do a petition.
If the roles were reversed, a petition would be unnecessary.
I am married and chose to hyphenate my name. My husband expressed a year later that he was hurt by my decision. What is the procedure in changing my last name again?
Since you've already undergone a legal name change due to marriage, you'll have to petition the court to do it a second time.
In Texas, can a husband take a wife's last name after marriage?
Hi Kelly. No, not in Texas; not without a court order.
Hello!
I got married earlier this month my home state of WI, although we currently live in TX. I was planning on changing my name to FirstName MiddleName Maiden Name (as an addition to my middle) HusbandsName. On our WI Marriage Certificate, I'm listed as FirstName Middle Name Maiden Name. Will I have any issues getting my name changed in Texas, since my married name is not on the certificate?
Hi Alyssa.
That shouldn't be a problem.This is actually incorrect. I didn't notice the earlier MiddleName portion of your comment. Therefore, adding a second middle name to your existing middle name wouldn't be possible without obtaining a court order.
I tried to do this form of name change for my Driver's License in Texas "FirstName MiddleName Maiden Name (as an addition to my middle) HusbandsName". I was told this was not allowed and would need a court petition. I did not have an issue changing my name to this for SS, but the Texas driver's license would not accept, were they incorrect?
Hi Heather. Good catch. I had glossed over the MiddleName portion and read it as replacing the middle name. So, no, it's not possible to add a second middle name without petitioning the court.
Is there a statute of limitations regarding sending in the documents to change your name after getting married? My niece got married several years ago in TX and never sent the paperwork in. She's legally married but never took care of it afterward
Thanks in advance.
No, there is none.
Per my husband's culture (originally from Kenya, now US citozen) his MIDDLE name is our children's last name and is suppose to be mine as well. We did marry but I've yet to change my name from previous marriage. I want to carry the same name as OUR children and abide to his culture as well. Will the state of Texas allow this?
Hi Nichole. It would have to be the last name, either hyphenated or not hyphenated.
or she can petition the court, right?
Hi Heatherly. Correct. If it's can't be changed through marriage, it would have to be changed through court.
Hi,
I live in Texas and got married back in May. I want to change my last name but I hear that men don't have the same process as women in Texas. Is this true and I'm originally from Massachusetts and have lived most of my life there, could that in any way make it easier? I was married in Texas. Thank you.
It is true. In Texas, you'd have to get a court petitioned name change. If you were changing your name in Massachusetts, you could just use your marriage certificate.
I have a question.
My fiance and I live in Texas and would like to change both of our names to an old family name, it is not either of our surnames.
What will the process be for both of us? Adult name changes?
Hi Judity. Neither of you could accomplish this through a marriage-based name change. It would require going through a court-petitioned name change, which can be done before or after marriage.
If my father in law and my husband are changing there last name to the biological families names, do I need to do a legal change of name also or does mine change when my husbands does?
No, you are not required to change your name also. Your name does not and will not change automatically just because your husband changes his name. If you want to change your name to match, you'd have to do it separately.
Me and my husband were just married in Texas. Is it possible for us to change our last name to his mother and step dads (who he considers his real dad) last name instead of his legal last name? He has always gone by their last name on everything except legal documents.
Hi Evelynn. No, that sort of name change wouldn't be possible through marriage. You'd have to get a court order.
Can a man change his surname with a marriage certificate to drop his mother's maiden name (this was done by a traditional Mexican mother who named her son the way she would have in Mexico but is beginning to cause problems now that he is an adult)?
Not in Texas. Not with a marriage certificate. He'd have to petition the court.
I got married 23 years ago and kept my maiden name. I would now like to change my last bame to my husband's. Since it has been so long will I need to go through the court process or can I just send in my marriage certificate?
Thanks
Hi Carrie. You can use your marriage certificate.
I'm getting conflicting information in my inquiries, so I'm hoping you can help clarify. In 1990, I changed my last name from my maiden name to my husband's last name. We divorced in 2005, but I kept his last name as we have a child together. I'm soon to remarry. I would like to drop my middle name and use my original maiden name and my current last name as a hyphenated middle name, then take my new husband's last name. So it would be First Name, Maiden Name-Current last name, New Last Name. The Knot states you cannot change your middle name with a marriage certificate name change in Texas though it seems in reading above that you state one can. And I'm not sure I can add my maiden name back into my name at all since it's currently not part of my name. Can you please confirm? Thank you!
This would require a court petitioned name change.
my husband found is father and is now changing his last name to his real fathers last name. will I have to petition to get his new last name or can we revise the marriage license? We also need to change my daughters last name. Help!
Amending your marriage record that way wouldn't be accepted, so you will have to petition.
Petition as well.
I am in Texas with children from my first marriage. Being divorced from a second marriage for over 10 years, I want to take back name from first marriage to identify with my children.
What do I need to do this?
Hi Carol. If your divorce decree contained an order restoring your previous, first marriage name, then you could use that document to change your name. Short of that, you'll have to get a court order by petitioning the court.
I was married in 2015 and changed my last name to my husband's last name using the marriage certificate. I've decided I would like to hyphenate my maiden name with my husband's last name. Can I still do this with the marriage certificate or would I have to file with the court?
You'd have to go to court.
Can my mother keep her married name, to maintain same last name as kids as she will be getting married in a few months time ?
We live in Texas btw.
Yes, she can.
How should my name be listed on my divorce decree? Divorce is in Texas. On my decree it has my maiden name as my middle name. Is that correct?
Hi Belinda. You'd put your legal name as-is. If the judge is restoring your maiden/previous name, it'll be specified separately. The court clerk can advise you on this.
I am about to entering into an informal marriage in Texas. What is the procedure for name change?
Also, is it unlawful to use his last name (without legal name change) in informal situations (i.e. church, introductions, etc)?
You'd have to petition the court.
As long as there's no attempt to defraud, it's fine.
My husband added his ex wife's maiden name to his last name without a hyphen. For example his last name on legal documents is first name jones smith. They are divorced but no name change order was included and the decree is only in his last name first name smith. Can he legally just drop the jones name without having to petition the court? If we get married and the license has both last names, am I able to just take one since it isn't hyphenated?
Hi Brandi. He'd have to petition the court to drop it. You would have to take the full name.
After marriage, I hyphenated my last name to contain my maiden and my husbands last name,
Do I have to go to court to drop the hyphen and just keep my husband's name? We are not divorced or anything. I would like to add my maiden as a middle name and just have my husbands name as my last.
Just for clarification purposes:
Current name: First, Middle, Maiden-Husbands surname as last
What I want: First, Middle, Maiden as 2nd middle, husbands surname as last
Hi Heather. Yes, you would have to go to court to change it again.
My wife and I got married in Las Vegas about 4 months ago but we live in Texas. Do we simply need to take our Nevada marriage license to the local county clerk here in Texas in order to get my wife's last name changed to mine? Thanks!
Hi Chris. You'll just need to get a certified copy of the NV marriage certificate to change her name.
My husband and I got married in CA and I inserted my husband's last name as my middle name: I didn't have middle name before. My first and last name didn't change. It was ok in CA and our CA marriage certificate shows that. We are now living in TX and my TX drivers licrnse, social security has this new name. But when I applied for green card in TX, the officer said this name change (creating middle name) is not allowed in TX and rejected my name. So they issued green card having only my first and last name, no middle name. Is it true you cannot change middle name by marriage in TX? You can only change it to maiden name but not to anything else? Is name change law different for US citizen vs immigrants?
That's correct.
It's the same.
I just got married 2months ago and had my marriage certificate still on my last name. Can i change it to my husbands last name. How much fees? And what i need to do? Thank you
Hi Claudette. Marriage certificate amendments wouldn't be accepted unless there's a mistake on the part of the issuing clerk.
Hi Valera. I'm getting married next month. I'm a in a male same sex couple. The situation seems complex. I hope you can help me know if I can do this name change in Texas.
Current name Married Name:
FIRST: Anthony FIRST: Anthony
MIDDLE: no middle name MIDDLE: Cruz (I just want to keep one word of the two)
LAST NAME: Cruz Hernandez. LAST NAME: Flores (my future husband's last name)
Thank you
Hi Anthony. While taking the full last name as the middle should be okay, a partial/segment isn't likely to go through.
I have a Texas drivers license and don't have a middle name so when I changed my license years ago to add my married name I was told I had to keep my maiden name because I had no middle name. My Texas drivers license shows my married name as last name, no middle name is shown and my first name is shown along with my maiden name. This has caused a lot of problems since I don't use my maiden name. Can I have my maiden name remove?
Hi Lee. You can return to your driver's license office to explain your circumstance and request an amendment. You can ask them to produce the directive that says your name change was done properly. If it can't be produced, you can argue it was an error or misinterpretation on the clerk's part and you'd like for your license to be amended and reissued.
Hi.. how can my husband go about requesting his exwife to remove his last name… she takes advantage and sometimes poses as his wife to obtain information about him, myself and our children..
Hi Barbara. Typically, an ex-spouse cannot compel a name change or name reversion. If there's fraud involved, he'll have to contact an attorney to determine if there's any legal recourse available.
Hi Valera, I have a similar question. My mother in law has married total of 3 times. She now wants to use her first married name. (Not her maiden name). I do not get along with her what so ever. Is she allowed to now be using my husband and my last name? If so, it is possible for me to change my last name back to my maiden name while still being married?
If she gets a court-ordered name change, she can.
Same answer. You'll have to petition the court.
I recently got married and I submitted information to SS to take my husbands last name. If I want to change and hyphenate my name with his, can I simply resubmit a new form with required documentation?
Hi Ree. That's unlikely, since it's already in the queue. Unless you're able to rescind your request, you'll end up having to get a court order to change it again.
Could I make my maiden name a second middle name, and take married name as last name, without going through court process?
Currently: First Middle Maiden
Would like to be: First Middle Maiden(as 2nd middle name) Married
Hi May. You would be looking at a court petitioned name change for that.
Can you help me understand how this works? From what I've read SSA would allow this change; Texas would not. But once I got an updated SS card, wouldn't DPS have to recognize that as my legal name?
Also heard a rumor that DPS only allows 3 names on a driver license. Is that true? So if I had 4 names I would have to leave one off?
Hi May. It's different, as one's federal and the other's state. The DPS may query the SSA database for a name match/mismatch, but that doesn't mean it's required to match what's returned. It's more for verification.
I got married and got my new social security several months ago. I didn't know that I only had 30 days to change my name at the DMV! I was planning on doing that tomorrow. What is going to happen since I waited longer than the permitted 30 days?
I forgot to say, I live in Texas!
Most likely nothing. Such rules are meant more to motivate people to update their records in a timely manner. It's not something that's often enforced or penalized.
Hello.
I am a Texas resident. I got divorced 3 years ago and have three kids with my ex-husband. I legally changed my name from my married last name to my maiden name a couple months ago through the courts. I want to hyphenate my kids last name so that keep their father's last name but also add my maiden name. He pays child support and gets them about 30% of the time. He is not delinquent. I take care of 100% of their private school tuition and do almost all the majority of caring for them. What re the chances that the courts will grant the order request to hyphenate under my circumstances?
Hi Cristina. With the father's consent, it wouldn't be a problem. Without the father's consent, it's unlikely. You'd have to contact an attorney or court for a more definitive answer.
I got married (same-sex) in Texas last year. Both of us still use ex-husbands last name (that name is on our marriage license as well) to keep it the same as our kids.
Now, we want to change our names back to our maidens name and use are maiden names with a hyphen for our last names. Does this have to be a petition filed with the court?
And will we be able to have our last name changed to both maiden names with a hyphen with the courts approval?
Thank you for your time!
Hi Jennifer.
You should be able to just use your marriage certificate to effect such a name change.Incorrect. See follow-up.Thank you.
The names on our marriage license reflect the last names from our ex-husbands.
Are you referring to our maiden names on the 1st marriage license to the ex-husbands that we can use?
Hi Jennifer. Apologies. My previous statement was incorrect. I now realize that your maiden names weren't actually restored following your divorce. In that case, you would have to petition the court. If you restored your names, then you could use your certificate.
Thank you!
Hello!
My same sex female partner and live in texas and will be getting married in August. My last name Jones and her last name is Mccoy. We would both like to hyphenate as Jones-Mccoy. Is this name change covered for us both using our marrige certificate?
Hi K. Jones. Yes, it would be covered.
Hello…I also leave in Texas. And I also have a same sex marriage. My last name is jordan which is my ex husband name..but my maiden name is Akins and her last name is Brown. We want both Our last names to be Akins-BROWN. We went to the SS office today. And they would only change my name to Akins-BROWN and not her. We had a official marriage licence.. the woman told her she needed a name change for them court..this is crazy! Want to do.Is this clerk correct , because I dont feel she is?
Hi Latasha. Some clerks interpret the standards differently when the rules are ambiguous. The SSA provides its agents with documentation with how to proceed with name changes, so you may want to ask them to provide written documentation to justify their decision. If it can't be provided, request the name change be processed.
Hi – my fiancee got divorced a few years ago. She was able to revert to her maiden name in her SS card but not with the Texas DNV (nor passport office) because she didn't have a certified copy of the divorce decree, which apparently the SS office didn't ask for but Texas did. We're due to marry soon here in Texas and are wondering if we can just apply for the marriage licence under her married name and after the wedding she could just change straight to my last name. However if the marriage licence and certificate don't state her maiden name then is that going to be a problem with SS? It just seems as I'm marying one and not the other…Thanks
There's nothing stopping her from applying under her maiden name. Texas doesn't require the driver's license be used as the only form of acceptable ID. There are other documents they'll accept, such as a certified copy of her birth certificate.
It's more straightforward to apply in the maiden name. This way, it'll match the SSA and the certificate.
Thanks – could she apply then using her SS Card which is under her maiden name?
Hi Gabriel. No, the social security card isn't a valid identity document. She could use a state ID, passport, birth certificate, insurance policy, or car title. All those are acceptable ID documents.
Hello I got married last November and I wanted to change my last name. so far its just changed on my email, how can I start this process.?
on this name I used my married last name
Hi Maria. Order a certified copy of your marriage record from the county clerk. Get it from the same county clerk office where you originally applied for your license. Use that document to change your name with the SSA, TxDPS, passport office, etc.
Hi! I'm a resident of the Netherlands, and I'm marrying a woman from Texas who wishes to have her name changed to mine (no maiden name). She's on vacation and will have to return to Texas soon after, however.
My question: what does she have to do in order to have her name officially changed in Texas as well after we're married? Do we have to do anything beforehand, or does the marriage certificate itself need any special requirements (legalization of the document in the US, etc.)?
Hi Vince. Once you're married, she can order a certified copy of the marriage record from the county clerk's office that issued the license. That document is what's needed to change her last name to yours. The marriage license/certificate doesn't need anything extra.
I am in Texas. I got married about 2 weeks ago and received our Certificate of Marriage in the mail. I am confused on what i need to do next in order to change my last name to his. Also, when we went to get our marriage license i was not aware i had to put the name i wanted to use after i got married. I put my maiden name on the license. Did i do this wrong?
-Help
You got the document you need. Take your certificate of marriage to change your name at the SSA, then DMV, etc.
Texas marriage licenses don't provide a space to specify a new name after marriage. The certificate is what you'll need to change it.
You filled it out right.
I need some help!! When we applied for our marriage license they applied both last names from my husband to my name. So now I have my last name, my husbands dad's last name and my mother in laws last name. In Mexico they register the kids with both last name. I am having issues and need to have my mother in laws last name off the license and my documents but is there a way to do this without having to go through the court and paying lots of $$ to have a name change done. please help me.
Hi Dora. Short of getting your license reissued or reapplying, you'd have to go to court.
I am male and wish to change my last name to my soon to be husbands last name does the state of Texas allow that? We will not be married in the state of Texas.
Hi Andrew. Yes, it is allowed.
I live in Texas and was married in Texas last month. I would like to change my name from:
FirstName MiddleName MaidenName to FirstName MaidenName Husband'sSurname
Can this be done by just taking my marriage certificate and SS-5 to the social security admin, or will they not allow this kind of change without a court petition?
Thank you for the help!
Hi Lara. Yes, it can be done.
I did the same as Lara but I heard from someone that you have to petition the court as well since you're using your maiden name as middle name. Is this true? I don't see why it would be true when the SSA and DMV used my marriage certificate with no problem.
Hi Theranique. There have been some who had to petition the court to modify a portion of their name after they already underwent a marriage-related name change, but it shouldn't happen if the move from maiden to middle represents the initial name change.
I currently have my fathers last name and I want to change it to my mothers maiden last name. Can my fiancé and I change our last name to my mothers maiden last name when getting married?
No, you'd both have to petition the court.
Hello, I was married in Texas and also divorced in Texas. My ex husband had a lawyer, but I did not. I was aware of some tweaks made to our divorce/custody paperwork…but I was not aware that he ordered me to have my last name revoked and changed back to my maiden name. (Not happy about that) we have a 5 year old son together. When I approached and talked to him about it, he said that he only did that to be spiteful and that he doesn't care if I change it or not. That it's up to me. Which of course I want to keep it because of our son. I'm now worried that if he gets spiteful again or angry at all, that he will try to use that against me and get me for "contempt of court". What do I need to do in order to keep my last name as it is and NOT go back to my maiden name? My license, social, and really everything important has my married last name. Please help!
You may have to contact an attorney, as I can't speak on what's written in your decree nor its context. Even people who request their prior name be restored through divorce aren't obligated to follow through. It doesn't matter what's specified in a divorce decree or marriage certificate if you don't actually follow through and notify the SSA, DMV, etc of the name change. A divorce decree isn't going to do the notifications for you.
I'll give you another example. For a person who successfully petitions the court to change their name, the issued order means nothing unless that person actually notifies the various government institutions and executes the change.
Hi, I got married in Texas 2015, on my divorce decree it didn't show that my ex husband last name was taken off so when I explain to the clerk that I didn't want my ex last name on my current marriage certificate she explains that it have to stay because the decree didn't state it could be taken off now I have all my government IDs is in my correct name can I go back to the court house where I get married and request for my ex husband last name to be taken off my marriage certificate please help
No, your marriage certificate is a historical document that can only be amended if it contains an error.
My wife and I married in October of 2008. She intended to change her name, but never did get around to it and has continued to use her maiden name since. Now that our first daughter is going to be born soon, we'd like to get it done as we'd like our whole family to have the same name. Can this be done with our marriage license now at an affordable rate or is there a limitation in the amount of time after marriage that one can affect a change?
Hi Joshua. It can be done with a certified copy of the marriage license. There is no time limit.
Hello, I was recently married in Texas and when I went to the DMV to have my name changed, because I was taking my husband's surname, but I also wanted to just go without a middle name all together. The DMV said I could not just "remove" my middle name and take his last name – it would have to be replaced with my maiden name, which I did not want. So they ended up keeping the middle name on my DL. However, when I went to the SS office, removing my middle name was no problem and the representative said that when you get married in Texas, removing your middle name (without replacing it) is fine while taking the surname of your husband. Can someone please verify this and the statue/code/law that this comes from so I may take it back to the DMV and have my DL fixed? Thank you in advance!
Hi Desiree. The discrepancy is due to the SSA being federal and DMV being state. Different standards.
My spouse and I registered for an informal marriage certificate in Texas in 2015, and kept my maiden name. We have recently had a religious matrimony at our church, will the state recognize the ceremonial marriage in the church? Will I be able to use that certificate to change my last name to his?
Hi Yvonne. If the religious ceremony was solemnized using a Texas-issued marriage license, then you could use a certified copy of the marriage record/certificate after it's been recorded.
I signed my marriage license with my maiden name was I suppose to sign my future last name and will that affect me changing my social an driver license cause it my maiden name on the license
Hi Kimberly. You signed with the right name. It won't negatively affect your name change prospects.
I got divorced and kept my ex-husband's last name. I am now engaged to be married again, however I do not want to take my new husband's last name. I want to revert to my maiden name. I live in Harris County, Texas – is this possible?
Hi Tracy. No, I don't believe reverting is an option without a court order.
I was recently married in Nevada, I'm originally from Texas and reside in Texas, how do I go about changing my name in Texas with my Nevada marriage certificate? Or do I need to apply for a Texas marriage license?
Hi Chelsea. Obtain a certified copy of your marriage record from Nevada.
My husband divorce his wife in the state of Texas, on the wavier she sign she has to change her last name back to her maiden name. On the divorce decree also she sign to have her last name change back to her maiden name and also my husband wrote on the decree that she change her last name back to her maiden name on everything and it is final and sign by the judge, but after she found out he was getting re marry she refuses to change her last name now and will not change it and has brought several cars after the divorce using that last name and will not change her last name back. Are we able to file contempt of court on her to change her last name back to her maiden name
It's unlikely, unless restoration of the maiden name was part of the marital settlement agreement (MSA).
Hi. I took my husband's last name and maiden as middle when we got married. The process went smoothly at SS office and DMV and every where else. But recently I heard someone said that I also have to change it on my US Citizenship certificate. Do I really have to go through this with the USCIS to have to current name? Thank you!
Hi Nhu. It is advised to update your name. Form N-565 is used for that purpose.
With my first divorce I kept my ex husband s last name because of the kids. Remarried and getting divorce again. The paperwork says to not makes changes to last name or makes changes to the last name you had before marriage. Does that mean my ex husbands last name before i married the second. Since I kept his name at that time.
It typically refers to any prior last name, including your ex-husband's or your maiden name.
Hello,
I was born in Vietnam, but have been a naturalized citizen of the USA since I turned 18 years of age (this was 10 years ago). My husband and I are both residents of Texas and were married in Texas. I would like to take his last name but am concerned about my birth certificate. Since my birth certificate is originally from Vietnam, will this cause any issues with the name change process?
Hi Thi. No, your birth certificate won't cause a problem.
My husband was born in Mexico and has his fathers last name and mother's last name as his legal name. Our children only have his fathers last name as is traditional in American. I want to change my last name to be same as children. Will Texas DMV let me change it to only his fathers last name?
Hi Jaclyn. Dropping a portion of the name may be a problem.
Hi Valera,
I live in Texas and I will be getting re-married early next year. After my divorce 20 years ago, I kept my ex husbands last name. When I get married can I use my maiden name hyphenated with my future wife's last name? Or will i only be allowed to take my wifes last name?
Hi Amanda. AFAIK, TX statutes doesn't discuss hyphenating with a prior surname, so it's unlikely.
I am getting married in September and would like to take my future husband's middle name as my last name. Would this be permitted by using the marriage license? Or would I have to do a court petition?
Hi Stephanie. It would be court petition.
Same sex couple. I want to take my wife's last name but I also want to keep my maiden name for work purposes. If I keep my maiden name and add her last name to it with no hyphen, will I be able to just use the dual last names at work and then just my wife's name for everything else (bank accounts, credit cards, etc.). I know that any legal documents would have to be signed with both.
Hi Jamie. Yes, you should be able to accomplish that by communicating your preference with your bank, credit card companies, etc.
We got same sex married in May. My husband has decided to take my last name. Do we have to petition the court, or will the marriage license be enough. I'm sorry if you've already answered this question. I didn't see it in the thread. Thanks!
Hi Steven. A certified copy of your marriage record is enough.
I got married in 2009. I'm an idiot & didn't realize I had to actually go and change my last name on my social myself. So I stupidly changed my name on my license. Is this going to cause an issue with getting it changed on my social?I'm going on Thursday so I just want to be sure I have what I need when I go.
No, it shouldn't be a problem.
Is there a cost in Texas for my wife to change her last name? We were married in Oklahoma. We read that there was a $277 cost affiliated with this process. Help please
Hi Joseph. You appear to be referring to a court petitioned name change, which is different from a marriage name change.
Is there a fee in Texas for not changing my last name after a year of marriage?
No, there isn't.
I got married in 1997. I changed my SS card but not DL. Separated for 20 years. My license are in my ex husband and my children's names.have to renew shortly. Is there going to be a problem?
Hi Barbara. You may be required to renew with whatever name is currently on your SS card.
I was married on the 14th of July. I was getting my ss hangs application done and realized that our marriage lic still has my maiden name vs my husband's surname. Do I need to do anything to change that with the county? Or will the SSA know that I want my husband's name.
Hi Trina. You're fine. You don't have to change anything beforehand.
Hi,
My husband and I got married in France, in 2012, we live now in Texas, I have 2 kids from my previous relationship and I want my kids and I take my husband's name. My kids still minor. Did we have to go through adoption or have we another way to change my kid's name? Thank you.
Hi Dich-park. You'll have to go to district court to change your children's names.
If i want to change my last name back to my birth name im Texas, what do i need to do and the cost?
Hi Jeremy. You'll have to go to district court to change your name in Texas. The filing fee varies, but can be as high as $300.
I'm getting married in September, is it possible for my future husband and I to create a new last name other than combining both of our last names?
No, not in Texas. Even the states that do allow creative name changes require some segment of the current or former name be applied.
hi, i got married recently in Texas, bt I have my ex husband last name on my marriage licence.. Can i have it changed to my maiden name on marriage licence, before changing it to my new husband name.
Hi Oyindamola. Unless it's an error, amending the certificate is unlikely to be accepted.
I recently obtained a Global Entry that required fingerprinting and an interview for international travel. Would this be acceptable instead of having to go through the finger print process again?
My wife and I have been married for almost 8 years. What would be the process for me to take my wife's last name? We do have a legal marriage license.
I forgot to mention that we have been married for almost 8 years and I would like to take my wife's last name. We do have a legal, certified marriage license. What would be my process for changing my name to my wife's last name? Sorry, I have added a separate request below for this information.
Hi Richard. You'd have to file a name change order with the court.
No, that's unlikely.