Name Change After Marriage in Washington: Steps, Cost & Forms
Verified against Washington District Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.
In Washington, 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
District Court in the county where you live (Superior Court for sealed/confidential name changes)
Step by step
- 1
Order a certified copy of your Washington marriage certificate from the Department of Health (through VitalChek, about $25 per 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
Washington law requires an in-person visit, so take your certified marriage certificate and updated Social Security record to a Department of Licensing office to get a new driver license or ID in your new name.
- 4
Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then banks, employer, and USPS.
- 5
Update your voter registration with the Secretary of State using MyVote, and remember your name on the vehicle registration must be changed separately from the driver license.
Official forms
Every link goes to the official court or government host — never a paid re-host.
- • You can adopt a new last name (including hyphenating or combining names) directly on the marriage license application, with no court order.
- • It can take up to five months for a marriage record to reach the state Department of Health; for a recent marriage, get a county-certified copy from the county auditor's office where you got the license.
Then update your IDs
Once you have the certificate, update Social Security first, then your Washington license, then your passport and accounts.
Marriage name change in nearby states
Name Change After Marriage in Washington: FAQ
Do I need a court order to change my name after marriage in Washington?
How much does it cost to change my name after marriage in Washington?
Can I hyphenate or combine last names in Washington?
What's the first thing to update after marriage in Washington?
Sources
Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:
- doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/vital-records/ordering-vital-record/marriage-or-divorce-record
- www.courts.wa.gov/forms/?fa=forms.static&staticID=13
- dol.wa.gov/driver-licenses-and-permits/update-driver-license-information/change-your-name-or-address-your-driver-license
See our verification methodology and themaster source list.