Name Change After Marriage in California: Steps, Cost & Forms
Verified against California Superior Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.
In California, changing your name after marriage usually needs no court petition — your certified marriage certificate is the legal name-change document. There is no court filing fee. You update Social Security first (free), then the DMV, then your passport.
Your personalized plan
Pick your state and situation for your exact filing fee, court, forms, and ordered steps.
What it costs
No court petition needed to take a spouse's name
Superior Court in the county where you live
Step by step
- 1
Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the county recorder where you married — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.
- 2
Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days.
- 3
Take the certified marriage certificate and your new Social Security record to a California DMV office to update your driver's license or ID.
- 4
Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS.
Official forms
Every link goes to the official court or government host — never a paid re-host.
- • You can adopt a new last name (including hyphenating or combining names) directly on the marriage license application, with no court order.
Then update your IDs
Once you have the certificate, update Social Security first, then your California license, then your passport and accounts.
Marriage name change in nearby states
Name Change After Marriage in California: FAQ
Do I need a court order to change my name after marriage in California?
How much does it cost to change my name after marriage in California?
Can I hyphenate or combine last names in California?
What's the first thing to update after marriage in California?
Sources
Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:
See our verification methodology and themaster source list.