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

Verified against Missouri Circuit Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

In Missouri, 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

Court
No court needed

Circuit Court in the county where you live

Timeline
Depends on ID updates

Step by step

  1. 1

    Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the Recorder of Deeds in the Missouri county where your marriage license was issued — that certified copy is your legal proof of the new name (the state Bureau of Vital Records only issues a certified statement of marriage, not the certificate itself).

  2. 2

    Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the corrected card normally arrives in about 7–14 business days.

  3. 3

    Take the certified marriage certificate, your updated Social Security card, and proof of Missouri residency to a Missouri license office to apply for a duplicate driver license or ID with your new name.

  4. 4

    Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if your passport was 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
Order a Copy of a Vital Record (marriage) — Missouri Bureau of Vital Records—Open ↗
Application for a Social Security CardSS-5Open ↗
Good to know in Missouri:
  • • A certified copy of the actual marriage certificate must come from the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the license was issued — the Department of Health and Senior Services in Jefferson City only issues a certified statement listing the spouses, date, and county.

Then update your IDs

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

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Marriage name change in nearby states

Indiana →Maryland →Massachusetts →Wisconsin →

Name Change After Marriage in Missouri: FAQ

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