Name Change After Marriage in Tennessee: Steps, Cost & Forms
Verified against Tennessee Circuit, Chancery, or Probate Court (the court that hears name changes varies by county) and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.
In Tennessee, 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.
Your personalized plan
Pick your state and situation for your exact filing fee, court, forms, and ordered steps.
What it costs
No court petition needed to take a spouse's name
The Circuit, Chancery, or Probate Court in the county where you have lived for at least six months
Step by step
- 1
Order a certified copy of your Tennessee marriage certificate from the Office of Vital Records (or from the county clerk who issued your marriage license) — the certified copy is your legal proof of the new name and costs $15 per copy.
- 2
Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the replacement card takes about 7–14 business days.
- 3
Take the certified marriage certificate and your updated Social Security record to a Tennessee Driver Services Center to change the name on your license or ID (an $8–$16 duplicate fee applies).
- 4
Update your US passport (Form DS-5504 is free if the passport was 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.
- • You can adopt a new last name (including hyphenating or combining names) directly on the marriage license application, with no court order.
Then update your IDs
Once you have the certificate, update Social Security first, then your Tennessee license, then your passport and accounts.
Marriage name change in nearby states
Name Change After Marriage in Tennessee: FAQ
Do I need a court order to change my name after marriage in Tennessee?
How much does it cost to change my name after marriage in Tennessee?
Can I hyphenate or combine last names in Tennessee?
What's the first thing to update after marriage in Tennessee?
Sources
Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:
- www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/vital-records.html
- www.tncourts.gov/programs/self-help-center
- www.tn.gov/safety/driver-services/helpful-information/dlnamechange.html
See our verification methodology and themaster source list.