How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Maryland

Changing My Name After Marriage in Maryland

Aside from a change in marital status that comes with getting married, newlyweds sometimes choose to take on new identities, specifically a name reflective of their situation. They may choose to either change their last name or combine the existing ones. Regardless of the type of name change people adopt, they must make it formal. They do this to ensure that the new name reflects on all legal, financial, and professional records and documents, including those that existed before the marriage.

In Maryland, while the process of changing one's name after marriage may be different across the various government and private institutions that maintain such records and documents, one thing that they all commonly demand is a certified marriage certificate that reflects the new name. Requesters can obtain this certificate at the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county the marriage took place. The Maryland State Archives also provides Marriage Records Indexes to members of the public in the state.

To obtain Maryland marriage records, interested and eligible persons may query local repositories or the record custodian in the courthouse where the marriage license was issued.

How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Maryland

The process of changing one's name after marriage in Maryland starts before the wedding and involves the following steps:

Obtaining a marriage license from the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the jurisdiction where the ceremony will be held. This marriage license is mandatory for a marriage to be legally recognized in Maryland.
Filling the marriage license by providing the new full legal name one would like to adopt and other required information. The license will be valid for six months, within which they must complete the marriage. The officiant at the marriage ceremony will complete the form and ensure distribution according to the instructions on the marriage license.

Although a person may start using this new name after the marriage ceremony, this new name has to be reflected on personal documents and records, and this necessitates the last step:

Requesting for a certified copy of the marriage record, i.e., the marriage certificate. A person can do this by obtaining, completing, and returning a form named "Request for Copy of Maryland Marriage Record" to the office of the Clerk of the Court where the marriage legally took place. This document allows the couple to change a name on a social security card, driver's license, and any other government-issued ID.

There are no court forms for changing a name after marriage in Maryland.

How to Update Your Social Security Card in Maryland?

The first government identity document that must reflect the new legal name of a person in Maryland is a Social Security Card. To update this document, cardholders must complete and mail the Application for a Social Security Card form together with a copy of the certified marriage certificate to their local Social Security Administration office. Alternatively, interested persons may visit the local office with the certified copy for the update.

How to Get a New Driver's License in Maryland?

To obtain a new license that reflects the new legal name, license holders must visit the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) division of a local Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) office. They must go along with a Social Security Card that reflects the new name. This means that an individual must update a Social Security Card before a driver's license in Maryland.

License holders must also present the official document backing the name change, in this case, the certified copy of the marriage certificate. The requester will need to pay a $20 fee to obtain a new license.

How to Update Your Insurance Information in Maryland?

The Maryland Insurance Administration provides information for consumers regarding the various types of insurance policies, including auto, health, life and annuities, homeowner, title, and boat insurance. An insurance policyholder needs to ensure that his/her new legal name is reflected in official documents and records. To update the information on an insurance policy, the holder must contact the provider to effect the name change. Insurance policy providers generally provide a change of status form for this purpose.

Where Do I Go to Change My Last Name in Maryland?

Aside from changing one's last name because of marriage, interested persons can also change their names for several reasons, such as after a divorce or changing a child's name after adoption. It should be noted that people cannot change their name for illegal or fraudulent purposes or to hide from their creditors. Neither will the court grant the request if it interferes with other people's rights.

Changing The Last Name After a Divorce

Anyone interested in restoring their former names after divorce can make this request at the local Circuit Court in two ways:

At the time of divorce: When a person files for divorce with the Complaint for Divorce form, they can request to resume using a former name. This is typically the easiest way. Anyone who does not indicate this interest usually has 30 days before their divorce hearing to do so. After the divorce has been granted, the divorce decree (Judgement of Absolute Divorce) will state that a divorcee has been returned to a former name.
After a divorce: Divorcees who did not return to their former names during the divorce typically have 18 months after the divorce has been finalized to make a separate name change request using a form called Motion For Restoration of Former Name (Form CC-DR-097). If the divorcee files this motion within 30 days after a divorce, the party may serve a former spouse by mail. However, if the action is filed after 30 days but within 18 months after a divorce, then a third party must serve the ex-partner in person.

The Maryland Courts provide an instructive video on restoring a former name after divorce.

Petitioning For A Change of Name (Adult)

To effect a name change as an adult outside marriage or divorce grounds, interested persons, 18 years or older, must file a Petition for Change of Name (Adult) or Form CC-DR-060 in person at a local Circuit Court. They must attach their birth certificates or other official documents reflecting their present name. The fee for this petition is determined by the county where it is filed.

Then, petitioners must ask the Clerk of the Circuit Court about the requirements for publishing a notice of the petition. In some courts, petitioners are responsible for posting this notice in a generally circulated newspaper in their county. Still, in others, the Clerk of the Court arranges the publication of this notice of name change. This process comes with a fee determined by the newspaper publisher. Once the petitioner pays the amount due and the newspaper publishes the notice, it is the petitioner's responsibility to ensure that the Clerk of the Circuit Court receives the confirmation of publication of the notice. While some newspapers send this notification to both the petitioner and the Circuit Court Clerk, some send it to only the petitioner. This publication gives other people the opportunity to challenge the proposed name change.

To fight a name change, a person must file an objection with the court and send a copy of the objection to the petitioner. On the other hand, if no one objects, then a Circuit Court judge sanctions the name change by signing the Order for Name Change document.

Petitioners can then present a certified copy of the Order of Name Change at local offices to effect a name change on their Social Security cards, driver licenses, and other government-issued identification documents.

The Maryland Courts provide a video guide on the process of petitioning for an adult name change.

Name Change for Children

To file a name change for a minor who is at least one year old in Maryland, follow these steps:

Complete a Petition for Change of Name (Minor) or Form CC-DR-062. Here, provide both biological parents' names and attach a document that reflects the child's current name, i.e., a birth certificate.
The Consent To Change of Name (Form CC-DR-063). This must also be completed by a parent or guardian.

These three documents must be filed with the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the child lives.

The petitioner must also publish a Notice For Publication (Minor), also known as Form CC-DR-065, in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the child resides. It is important to check with the Clerk of the Circuit Court to know which publication arrangement applies. That is, whether the petitioner or the Clerk will arrange the publication. In any case, it is most likely that the petitioner will pay a publication fee.

After the newspaper publishes the notice, the petitioner must attach a copy with the Certificate of Publication (Form CC-DR-075) and submit it to the Clerk of the Circuit Court. This step may not be required if the Clerk of the Circuit Court arranged the publication. A petitioner may also apply to waive the requirement to publish the request for a name change by completing and submitting a Motion for Waiver of Publication (Form CC-DR-114).

How to Update Information with Maryland Mortgage and Utility Companies?

To update the name on a property record after a formal change of name, the property owner has to file a new deed with the Land Records office in the county where the property is located. It is recommended to consult a property attorney or title company to update the name on a property deed.

Also, individuals can change their account name with utility companies by informing them of the legal change on the phone. If a company can complete the account name change process over the phone, the consumer will be asked to provide the necessary information. In some cases, consumers will have to fill and submit an account name change form issued by their utility companies. They will typically have to attach a copy of a supporting document, such as a divorce decree, marriage certificate, or other official document authorizing the name change. Utility companies that allow customers to maintain a consumer account online may provide a menu on their profile dashboard to effect the change.

What Documents Do I Need to Change My Name after Marriage?

In Maryland, anyone who wishes to change their legal name on important documents and records due to marriage will typically need to provide a certified copy of their marriage certificate. This document is obtainable from the Circuit Court in the local county where an individual got married or the Division of Vital Records (DVR) of the Maryland Department of Health (MDH).

Marriage certificates may be obtained from the Clerk's office at Circuit Court, where the marriage license was issued using a Request for Marriage Certificate form and paying a fee of $5.50 per copy.

Alternatively, couples can request a marriage record from the Division of Vital Records (DVR) online or by mail. This order may be made only by either spouse named on the marriage license, a representative bearing a letter signed by one of the spouses to that effect, or an attorney with proof to represent either spouse. To order online, interested and qualified persons will provide information such as the county where the marriage license was obtained and the date of the marriage. People who have applied for a marriage certificate online can also monitor the progress of their order online.

How to Get Certified Copies of Your Marriage License in Maryland?

People may obtain certified copies of marriage licenses from the Circuit Court where their marriage ceremony was held. Anyone applying for a marriage license will have to contact the Clerk of the relevant Circuit Court to know the applicable fees due to the fee variations across counties. In addition, applicants for a marriage license must provide the following information:

Full names and ages of parties to the marriage
State of birth
Addresses, which must include the county name
Social security numbers

Those who have been previously divorced or widowed must provide the date, county, and state in which the divorce or death occurred.

Marriage licenses will typically be effective 48 hours after issuance, and marriage ceremonies must be conducted within six months from this date. Applicants will get three copies of the marriage license, each containing distribution instructions, and to be completed by the officiant of the marriage.

How to Change Your Name After Marriage

A reliable alternative for obtaining vital records are third party websites. These are non-governmental aggregate sites that process record requests in a seamless, timely manner. While obtaining records from third-party sources is substantially easier than sourcing them from government-run repositories, the records and information contained in these sites may vary since they are privately-owned and independent of government sources.

How to Get a New Passport in Maryland?

To get a new passport that reflects a change in legal name in Maryland, interested persons will have to go through the United States Department of State. The following are the steps involved in obtaining a new passport:

For Passports Issued In Less Than One Year

Interested persons may apply for a new passport by completing and submitting a Form DS-5504, together with their most recent U.S passport and an official document certifying the name change, such as a court order, divorce decree, or a marriage certificate. These documents must be sent via the United States Postal Services (USPS), as other mail delivery companies can not deliver mail to the P.O.Box addresses contained in the form. Usually, no fees will be required unless the passport holder has requested expedited service.

For Passports Issued For More Than One Year

Passport holders whose main travel documents have been issued for more than one year, and are eligible to renew by mail, may request a new passport using Form DS-82. The form must be submitted together with the most recent U.S. passport, an official document certifying the change of name, a color passport photograph, and, depending on the age of the passport holder, an adult or child renewal applicant fee. Only the USPS may deliver to the mailing addresses stated in the form. Hence, it is the only mail delivery service that can be used.

The following are persons who may renew their U.S. passport by mail:

Passport holders who submit their most recent passport with their renewal application.
Passport holders whose passports are not damaged aside from normal wear and tear.
Passport holders whose passports were issued within the last 15 years or when they were 16 years or older.
Passport holders whose passports were issued in their current name or can provide an official document authorizing a legal change of name.

Passport holders who fall outside this category and cannot apply for renewal with a Form DS-82 must apply in person with a Form DS-11, an original proof of their U.S. citizenship and a photocopy, a certified name change document, an original valid identification document and a photocopy, a color passport photograph, and the applicable application fee. Passport holders in this category who changed their names due to marriage and can present a new ID issued in the new name will not need to provide official proof of name change.

How to Change your Name on Bank Accounts in Maryland?

Individuals who have made a recent name change will usually have to complete a name change on their bank accounts, credit and debit cards, and checkbooks. This ensures that the name that appears on their identification documents tallies with their financial information. The process of completing a name change in banks varies from one bank to another. As such, interested persons must contact their financial service providers to get the correct instructions on how to go about it. Most banks will request the official document authorizing the name change, such as the marriage certificate, court order, or divorce decree.

After a legal name change, anyone who has changed their banking information must also notify their employer by completing and submitting Form W-4. This will enable the employers to properly file their withholding tax.

Similarly, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services requires that it be notified of a legal name change using the Form I-9 for name re-verification.

Also, once consumers have changed their debit and credit details, they may have to review their most recent financial statement. This is to furnish service providers whose payments have been automated with the new credit or debit card details.

How Long Does it Take to Change Your Name in Maryland After Marriage?

The time required to complete a change of name after marriage in Maryland depends on the agency with which the name change is to be done, such as the Social Security Administration or the Motor Vehicle Administration. The ability of the individual applying for a name change to provide the required documents also affects the processing time.

How Long Does it Take to Change Your Name in Maryland?

In Maryland, an informal name change only requires verbal communication with relatives and colleagues. However, to formally complete a name change and have this reflected on all government-issued IDs, all relevant agencies must be notified of this name change. The reason for the name change also determines the duration of the period required to complete a name change.

For example, in the case of a divorce, the time it will take to secure an absolute order of divorce significantly affects how soon a person may complete a name change with the other government agencies. For an adult name change outside marriage or divorce grounds, a person will have to consider the time and process required before a judge signs the Order of Name Change. This time required will be more if there is an objection to the name change, necessitating a court hearing.