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

Verified against Maine Probate Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

In Maine, 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 is needed to take a spouse's name after marriage in Maine

Court
No court needed

The Probate Court in the county where you live

Timeline
Depends on ID updates

Step by step

  1. 1

    Order a certified copy of your Maine marriage certificate from the Maine CDC Office of Data, Research, and Vital Statistics (or from the municipal clerk in the town where you married) — the first certified copy is $15 and it is your legal proof of the new name.

  2. 2

    Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–14 business days.

  3. 3

    Bring the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to a Maine BMV branch to update your driver's license or ID — Maine law requires you to notify the BMV of a name change within 30 days.

  4. 4

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

Official forms

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

FormCodeOfficial link
Maine vital records — order a certified marriage certificate (Maine CDC)—Open ↗
Application for a Social Security CardSS-5Open ↗
Good to know in Maine:
  • • A certified Maine marriage certificate is the only document needed to adopt your spouse's surname — no Probate Court petition is required.

Then update your IDs

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

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Marriage name change in nearby states

New Hampshire →Montana →Hawaii →Rhode Island →

Name Change After Marriage in Maine: FAQ

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