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Name Change After Marriage in West Virginia: Steps, Cost & Forms

Verified against West Virginia Circuit Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

In West Virginia, 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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Your situation

What it costs

Filing fee
$0

No court petition needed to take a spouse's name

Court
No court needed

Circuit Court or Family Court in the county where you live

Timeline
Depends on ID updates

Step by step

  1. 1

    Order a certified copy of your West Virginia marriage certificate from the county clerk who issued the license or from the West Virginia Vital Registration Office (about $12 per copy) — this certified copy is your legal proof of the new name.

  2. 2

    Update Social Security first with Form SS-5 (free); the new card takes about 7–10 business days.

  3. 3

    After Social Security is updated, take the certified marriage certificate and your documents in person to a West Virginia DMV regional office to update your driver's license or ID.

  4. 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.

FormCodeOfficial link
West Virginia marriage certificate — Vital Registration Office request—Open ↗
Application for a Social Security CardSS-5Open ↗
Good to know in West Virginia:
  • • You can adopt your spouse's last name using the certified marriage certificate alone — no court order or name-change petition is required.
  • • The West Virginia DMV requires your name to match Social Security Administration records, so update Social Security before your visit, and name changes must be done in person at a regional office.

Then update your IDs

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

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Marriage name change in nearby states

Idaho →Hawaii →Nebraska →New Hampshire →

Name Change After Marriage in West Virginia: FAQ

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