Name Change After Marriage in Alabama: Steps, Cost & Forms
Verified against Alabama Probate Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.
In Alabama, 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.
Your personalized plan
Pick your state and situation for your exact filing fee, court, forms, and ordered steps.
What it costs
No court petition needed to take a spouse's name
Probate Court in the county where you live
Step by step
- 1
Since 2019 Alabama no longer issues ceremonial marriage licenses — the couple completes and notarizes the state marriage certificate form and records it with any county Probate Court, which forwards it to the Alabama Department of Public Health; that recorded certificate is your legal proof of the new name.
- 2
Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the ADPH Center for Health Statistics or any county health department (the search fee is $15.00 and includes one certified copy).
- 3
Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days.
- 4
Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to an ALEA Driver License office (or a local probate/licensing office) to be issued a duplicate license or ID in your new name at the normal duplicate fee.
- 5
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.
- • You can take your spouse's surname (including hyphenating or combining names) directly from the recorded marriage certificate — no probate petition or court order is required.
Then update your IDs
Once you have the certificate, update Social Security first, then your Alabama license, then your passport and accounts.
Marriage name change in nearby states
Name Change After Marriage in Alabama: FAQ
Do I need a court order to change my name after marriage in Alabama?
How much does it cost to change my name after marriage in Alabama?
Can I hyphenate or combine last names in Alabama?
What's the first thing to update after marriage in Alabama?
Sources
Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:
- www.alabamapublichealth.gov/vitalrecords/marriage-certificates.html
- eforms.alacourt.gov/do-it-yourself-forms
- www.alea.gov/dps/driver-license/driver-license-forms
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.