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

Verified against Kentucky Court of Justice and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

In Kentucky, 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

Court
No court needed

District Court in the county where you live (petitions are filed through the Circuit Court Clerk's office, which serves both courts)

Timeline
Depends on ID updates

Step by step

  1. 1

    Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics using Form VS-230 (records from June 1958 to present; earlier records come from the County Clerk who issued the license) — the certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.

  2. 2

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

  3. 3

    Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to a Kentucky driver licensing office (drive.ky.gov) to update your driver's license or ID.

  4. 4

    Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, USPS, and update voter registration at elect.ky.gov.

Official forms

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

FormCodeOfficial link
Application for a Certified Copy of Marriage/Divorce CertificateVS-230Open ↗
Application for a Social Security CardSS-5Open ↗
Good to know in Kentucky:
  • • A certified marriage certificate costs $6.00 per copy from the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics; you can also order through VitalChek.
  • • Kentucky lets you adopt a new last name directly through the marriage, with no court order.

Then update your IDs

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

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Marriage name change in nearby states

Louisiana →Oregon →Alabama →Oklahoma →

Name Change After Marriage in Kentucky: FAQ

Do I need a court order to change my name after marriage in Kentucky?
No. In Kentucky, 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 Kentucky?
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 Kentucky?
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 Kentucky?
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.

We're re-confirming some fee details for this state against the county court. Always confirm the exact current fee with your court clerk before you file.