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Name Change After Marriage in New York: Steps, Cost & Forms

Verified against New York Supreme Court / County Court (NYC Civil Court) and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

In New York, 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

Supreme or County Court in the county where you live (in New York City, any NYC Civil Court)

Timeline
Depends on ID updates

Step by step

  1. 1

    Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate — outside New York City from the NYS Department of Health ($30 by mail or $45 priority), or from the NYC City Clerk/Health Department if you married in the five boroughs (the state does NOT hold NYC marriage records).

  2. 2

    Update Social Security first at ssa.gov/personal-record/change-name with Form SS-5 (free); the new card arrives in about 14 business days.

  3. 3

    Update your NY driver license or ID with Form MV-44 and your certified marriage certificate ($12.50 for a license, $5.00 for a non-driver ID).

  4. 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.

FormCodeOfficial link
New York State marriage certificate — Vital Records—Open ↗
Application for a Social Security CardSS-5Open ↗
Good to know in New York:
  • • New York State Vital Records does NOT hold marriage records for the five NYC boroughs — those come from the NYC City Clerk / NYC Health Department.

Then update your IDs

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

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Marriage name change in nearby states

Florida →Pennsylvania →Texas →Illinois →

Name Change After Marriage in New York: FAQ

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