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Name Change After Marriage in New Jersey: Steps, Cost & Forms

Verified against Superior Court of New Jersey and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

In New Jersey, 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

Superior Court, Law Division (Civil Part) in the county where you live

Timeline
Depends on ID updates

Step by step

  1. 1

    Order a certified copy of your New Jersey marriage certificate from the NJ Department of Health Office of Vital Statistics and Registry (or the municipality where you married) — this certified copy with a raised State seal 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.

  3. 3

    Take the certified marriage certificate and your other 6-points documents to any NJ Motor Vehicle Commission licensing center (walk-in only) to update your driver's license or ID.

  4. 4

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

Official forms

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

FormCodeOfficial link
New Jersey vital record request (certified marriage certificate)REG-27aOpen ↗
Application for a Social Security CardSS-5Open ↗
Good to know in New Jersey:
  • • You can adopt a new last name (including hyphenating or combining surnames) on the marriage license application, with no court order.
  • • The Office of Vital Statistics charges $25 for the search and first certified copy and $2 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.

Then update your IDs

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

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Marriage name change in nearby states

Michigan →Virginia →North Carolina →Washington →

Name Change After Marriage in New Jersey: FAQ

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