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

Verified against Louisiana District Court (Judicial District Court) and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

In Louisiana, 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

No court petition needed to use a spouse's surname in Louisiana

Court

No court needed

District Court in the parish where you live

Timeline

Depends on ID updates

Step by step

1
Order a certified copy of your Louisiana marriage certificate — Orleans Parish marriages are held by the Louisiana Vital Records Registry, while every other parish issues certified copies through that parish's Clerk of Court.
2
Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–14 business days.
3
Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to a Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) office to update your driver's license or ID.
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.

Form	Code	Official link
Louisiana marriage certificate — Vital Records (Orleans) or parish Clerk of Court	—	Open ↗
Application for a Social Security Card	SS-5	Open ↗

Good to know in Louisiana:

• Louisiana is unusual: under La. R.S. 9:292 marriage does not legally change either spouse's name — you simply gain the option to use your spouse's surname, so no court order is ever required.

Then update your IDs

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

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Marriage name change in nearby states

Alabama →Kentucky →South Carolina →Oregon →

Name Change After Marriage in Louisiana: FAQ

Do I need a court order to change my name after marriage in Louisiana?

No. In Louisiana, 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 Louisiana?

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 Louisiana?

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 Louisiana?

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:

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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.