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Name Change After Marriage in District of Columbia: Steps, Cost & Forms

Verified against Superior Court of the District of Columbia — Civil Actions Branch and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

In District of Columbia, 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 is needed to take a spouse's name after marriage in DC

Court
No court needed

Civil Actions Branch of the DC Superior Court (500 Indiana Ave. NW, Washington, DC)

Timeline
Depends on ID updates

Step by step

  1. 1

    Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the DC Superior Court Marriage Bureau (Moultrie Courthouse) — in DC marriage records are held by the courts, and this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.

  2. 2

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

  3. 3

    Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to the DC DMV to change your driver's license or ID.

  4. 4

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

Official forms

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

FormCodeOfficial link
DC certified marriage certificate — Superior Court Marriage Bureau—Open ↗
Application for a Social Security CardSS-5Open ↗
Good to know in District of Columbia:
  • • Taking a spouse's surname at marriage requires no court petition — the certified marriage certificate is sufficient for all agencies.
  • • Unlike most states, DC marriage certificates come from the DC Courts Marriage Bureau, not a health department.

Then update your IDs

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

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Marriage name change in nearby states

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Name Change After Marriage in District of Columbia: FAQ

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