Name Change After Marriage in South Carolina: Steps, Cost & Forms
Verified against South Carolina Family Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.
In South Carolina, 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 at marriage
Family Court in the county where you have lived for at least six months
Step by step
- 1
Order a certified copy of your South Carolina marriage certificate from the SC Department of Public Health Vital Records office (through VitalChek or by mail; the $12 standard search fee includes one certified copy) — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.
- 2
Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the SC DMV requires that your Social Security record be updated at least 48 hours before you visit.
- 3
Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security information to an SCDMV office in person to change your driver's license or ID — SC DMV name changes cannot be done online or by mail.
- 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.
- • In South Carolina you get only one opportunity to change your name at marriage; changing to a different variation of your married name later requires a Family Court order.
Then update your IDs
Once you have the certificate, update Social Security first, then your South Carolina license, then your passport and accounts.
Marriage name change in nearby states
Name Change After Marriage in South Carolina: FAQ
Do I need a court order to change my name after marriage in South Carolina?
How much does it cost to change my name after marriage in South Carolina?
Can I hyphenate or combine last names in South Carolina?
What's the first thing to update after marriage in South Carolina?
Sources
Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:
- dmv.sc.gov/Driver-Services/Drivers-License/Address-or-Name-Change
- www.sccourts.org/resources/general-public/self-help-resources
See our verification methodology and themaster source list.