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

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

Quick answer

In Colorado, 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 after marriage

Court
No court needed

County Court or District Court in the county where you live

Timeline
Depends on ID updates

Step by step

  1. 1

    Order a certified copy of your Colorado marriage certificate from the county clerk and recorder that issued your license, or from CDPHE Vital Records ($17 per copy) — this certified certificate is your legal proof of the new name.

  2. 2

    Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–14 business days, and Colorado's DMV requires the name to be on file with Social Security before you visit.

  3. 3

    Make an appointment at a Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles driver license office and bring the certified marriage certificate to update your license or ID within 30 days of the change.

  4. 4

    Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if issued within the last year), then your banks, employer, and USPS.

Official forms

Every link goes to the official court or government host — never a paid re-host.

FormCodeOfficial link
Order a Colorado vital record (marriage certificate) — CDPHE—Open ↗
Application for a Social Security CardSS-5Open ↗
Good to know in Colorado:
  • • Colorado accepts a certified original marriage certificate as proof of a name change at the DMV — no court order is required to take a spouse's surname.
  • • Foreign marriage licenses are not accepted by the Colorado DMV; the certificate must be an original or certified copy with an official seal (no photocopies or laminated versions).

Then update your IDs

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

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Marriage name change in nearby states

Wisconsin →Minnesota →Maryland →South Carolina →

Name Change After Marriage in Colorado: FAQ

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