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Name Change After Marriage in Delaware: Steps, Cost & Forms

Verified against Delaware Court of Common Pleas and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

In Delaware, 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.

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What it costs

Filing fee
$0

No court petition needed to take a spouse's name; the certified marriage certificate is your legal proof of the new name

Court
No court needed

Court of Common Pleas in the county where you live (adults); Family Court for minor and divorce-related name changes

Timeline
Depends on ID updates

Step by step

  1. 1

    Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Delaware Office of Vital Statistics (Division of Public Health) — this certified certificate is your legal proof of the new name and no court order is required.

  2. 2

    Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days.

  3. 3

    Bring the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to a Delaware DMV office within 30 days of the name change to update your driver license or ID (allow 48–72 hours after updating Social Security).

  4. 4

    Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then your banks, employer, and USPS.

Official forms

Every link goes to the official court or government host — never a paid re-host.

FormCodeOfficial link
Delaware certified marriage certificate — Office of Vital Statistics—Open ↗
Application for a Social Security CardSS-5Open ↗
Good to know in Delaware:
  • • Taking a spouse's surname on marriage requires no court petition — the certified marriage certificate serves as the legal name-change document.

Then update your IDs

Once you have the certificate, update Social Security first, then your Delaware license, then your passport and accounts.

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Marriage name change in nearby states

Rhode Island →South Dakota →Montana →North Dakota →

Name Change After Marriage in Delaware: FAQ

Do I need a court order to change my name after marriage in Delaware?
No. In Delaware, your certified marriage certificate is the legal name-change document. You don't file a court petition — you take the certificate to Social Security, then the DMV, then your passport.
How much does it cost to change my name after marriage in Delaware?
There is no court fee. Your only costs are certified copies of your marriage certificate (about $15 each) and any new ID fees. Updating Social Security is free.
Can I hyphenate or combine last names in Delaware?
Yes. You can choose a new last name — including hyphenating or combining names — on the marriage license application, with no separate court order.
What's the first thing to update after marriage in Delaware?
Social Security, using Form SS-5. It's free and takes about 7–10 business days. Do it before the DMV or passport, because both check your name against the Social Security record.

Sources

Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:

See our verification methodology and themaster source list.

Last verified July 16, 2026Reviewed by the Name Change Atlas Editorial Team against official court and .gov sources.