Name Change After Marriage in Mississippi: Steps, Cost & Forms
Verified against Mississippi Chancery Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.
In Mississippi, 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
No court petition needed to take a spouse's name
Chancery Court in the county where you live
Step by step
- 1
Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) Office of Vital Records (about $17 for the first certified copy) — 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 original certified marriage certificate in person to a Mississippi DPS Driver Service Bureau office to update your 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.
- • No court order is required to take a spouse's surname — the certified marriage certificate is the legal document.
- • Marriage records from July 1938 through December 1941 are held only by the county circuit clerk, not MSDH.
Then update your IDs
Once you have the certificate, update Social Security first, then your Mississippi license, then your passport and accounts.
Marriage name change in nearby states
Name Change After Marriage in Mississippi: FAQ
Do I need a court order to change my name after marriage in Mississippi?
How much does it cost to change my name after marriage in Mississippi?
Can I hyphenate or combine last names in Mississippi?
What's the first thing to update after marriage in Mississippi?
Sources
Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:
- msdh.ms.gov/page/31,0,109,811.html
- courts.ms.gov/trialcourts/chancerycourt/chancerycourt.php
- www.driverservicebureau.dps.ms.gov/node/223
See our verification methodology and themaster source list.
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.