Name Change After Marriage in Minnesota: Steps, Cost & Forms
Verified against Minnesota District Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.
In Minnesota, 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
No court petition needed to take a spouse's name
District Court in the county where you have lived for at least six months
Step by step
- 1
Order a certified copy of your Minnesota marriage certificate from the county where the marriage license was issued (or through the Minnesota Department of Health Office of Vital Records) — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.
- 2
Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–14 business days, and Minnesota DVS verifies your name against SSA records.
- 3
Visit a Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) office in person with the certified marriage certificate to update your driver's license or ID card and have a new photo taken.
- 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.
- • Minnesota does not require a court order to take a spouse's surname after marriage — the certified marriage certificate is sufficient at SSA, DVS, and the passport agency.
- • The Minnesota Department of Health does not itself issue marriage certificates; they are issued by the county that recorded the marriage.
Then update your IDs
Once you have the certificate, update Social Security first, then your Minnesota license, then your passport and accounts.
Marriage name change in nearby states
Name Change After Marriage in Minnesota: FAQ
Do I need a court order to change my name after marriage in Minnesota?
How much does it cost to change my name after marriage in Minnesota?
Can I hyphenate or combine last names in Minnesota?
What's the first thing to update after marriage in Minnesota?
Sources
Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:
- mncourts.gov/help-topics/name-change
- dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/license-and-id/common-transactions-all-dl-and-id-card-types/change-your-name-your-dl-id-card
See our verification methodology and themaster source list.