How to Change Your Last Name After Marriage in Florida

Florida Marriage Name Change 101

Changing your last name after marriage in Florida means a stop at Social Security, then your local driver license office or tax collector, then the passport agency. Florida is strict about the order.

If you're taking your spouse's last name, your certified marriage certificate is your legal proof. You don't need a court order.

This guide walks you through each step with the current Florida fees and deadlines. Or, if you'd rather skip the paperwork, our name change kits fill out every form for you.

You can also skip to the section you need with the links below.

1. The Florida Process at a Glance
2. How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Florida
3. After Your Name Change
4. FAQ

The Florida Process at a Glance

Here's what changing your name after marriage in Florida costs and what you'll need.

• Proof of your new name: A certified copy of your marriage certificate from the county Clerk of Court
• Social Security card: Free. Apply with Form SS-5.
• Florida driver license: $25 replacement fee, plus a local office fee in some counties, within 30 days of your name change
• Passport: Free if your passport is less than a year old; otherwise the standard renewal fee
• Total time: Most people finish the government steps in 4 to 8 weeks

Fees change from time to time, so confirm the current amount with each agency before you go.

How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Florida

Step 1: Get certified copies of your marriage certificate

After the ceremony, your officiant returns the signed license to the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county that issued it. Once recorded, it becomes your marriage certificate.

Order two or three certified copies from that county's Clerk of Court. You can also order from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. Fees vary by county. Photocopies won't be accepted.

Every Florida tax collector office must accept any certified marriage certificate as proof of a name change, including ones issued in other states.

Step 2: Update your name with Social Security

Florida requires this step first. FLHSMV will not change the name on your license until Social Security has your new name.

Fill out Form SS-5. Then bring it to a Social Security office, or mail it, with a certified marriage certificate and proof of identity, like your current Florida license. Check ssa.gov first to see if you can start online.

There's no fee, and your number doesn't change. Your new card usually arrives by mail in about two weeks. Give the record a day or two to update before you visit the driver license office.

More detail: Social Security name change guide.

Step 3: Update your Florida driver license

Florida law asks you to get a replacement license within 30 days of a legal name change. You must go in person to a driver license service center or county tax collector office. Name changes can't be done online or by mail.

Bring your original or certified marriage certificate and your current license. If your REAL ID documents show a different name, such as your birth certificate, bring the documents that link each name change. The state replacement fee is $25, and many tax collector offices add a small service fee. Book an appointment with your county office.

More detail: driver's license name change guide.

Step 4: Update your passport

If you travel, the name on your ticket must match your ID. Update your passport before you book a trip in your new name.

If your passport was issued less than a year ago, use Form DS-5504; there's no fee. Otherwise, most people can renew by mail with Form DS-82. Include a certified copy of your marriage certificate either way.

More detail: passport name change guide.

Step 5: Update your vehicle title and voter registration

Update the name on your vehicle title and registration at your county tax collector's office. You can often do it at the same visit as your license.

Update your voter registration online at registertovoteflorida.gov.

After Your Name Change

Once Social Security, the FLHSMV and your passport show your new name, the government side is done. Next come all the private accounts and records that still have your old name:

• Your employer and payroll (and your W-4)
• Banks, credit unions and credit cards
• Insurance: health, auto, home, renters and life
• Your mortgage, lease or landlord
• The U.S. Postal Service and any mail forwarding
• Utilities, phone and internet providers
• Doctors, dentists and pharmacies
• TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and airline loyalty programs
• Retirement and investment accounts
• Professional licenses, unions and associations
• Your will, trust, beneficiary forms and property titles

It's easy to let one of these slip, and a mismatch can hold up a paycheck, a loan or a flight. Our name change kits include the forms and a checklist so nothing gets missed.

Not in Florida? See our guides for Texas and California, or the general marriage name change guide.

FAQ

How long do I have to change my name after marriage in Florida?

There's no deadline to start. But once you've legally changed your name with Social Security, Florida law asks you to replace your driver license within 30 days.

Do I need a court order to change my name after marriage in Florida?

No, not if you're taking your spouse's last name. A certified marriage certificate is enough. A brand-new last name that isn't either spouse's usually needs a court order.

How much does it cost to change your name after marriage in Florida?

Social Security is free. A replacement Florida driver license is $25, plus a local service fee at many tax collector offices. Certified marriage certificate copies cost a few dollars each. A passport update is free within a year of issue.

Can I change my name on my Florida license online?

No. Florida requires an in-person visit to change the name on a driver license. The one exception is for military personnel stationed out of state.