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

Verified against Texas District Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

In Texas, 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

Timeline
Depends on ID updates

Step by step

  1. 1

    Order a certified copy of your marriage license from the COUNTY CLERK where the marriage was filed — in Texas the state DSHS issues only verification letters, so the certified county copy is your legal proof of the new name.

  2. 2

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

  3. 3

    Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to a Texas DPS driver license office to update your driver license or 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
Texas marriage & divorce records (verification) — order a certified copy from the county clerkVS-142.9Open ↗
Application for a Social Security CardSS-5Open ↗
Good to know in Texas:
  • • Texas DSHS does NOT issue certified marriage certificates — request the certified copy from the county clerk where you married.

Then update your IDs

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

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Marriage name change in nearby states

California →Florida →New York →Pennsylvania →

Name Change After Marriage in Texas: FAQ

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