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

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

Quick answer

In Arkansas, 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

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 Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records office (or the county clerk who issued the license) — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.

  2. 2

    Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days.

  3. 3

    Take the certified marriage certificate to an Arkansas DFA driver services (OMV) revenue office to update your license or ID; DFA also offers an Affidavit of Legal Name Change form.

  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
Arkansas certified marriage record — ADH Vital Records—Open ↗
DFA Affidavit of Legal Name Change—Open ↗
Application for a Social Security CardSS-5Open ↗
Good to know in Arkansas:
  • • No court order is required to take a spouse's surname — the certified marriage certificate is the legal document.

Then update your IDs

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

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Marriage name change in nearby states

Nevada →Mississippi →Iowa →Kansas →

Name Change After Marriage in Arkansas: FAQ

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