How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Texas

Changing My Name After Marriage in Texas

Changing names after marriage may involve adopting a spouse's name or another name to reflect one's new marital status. A change of name allows new couples to alter their legal documents and personal records, including Social Security cards and driver's licenses.

An original marriage certificate is the main legal document that reflects a person's newly adopted name. Public and private institutions will typically require a certified copy of this document to change or update the legal names on their files. Interested persons may access marriage license application indexes from 1966 to the present through the Vital Statistics Section (VSS) of the Texas Health and Human Services (THHS). However, certified copies of marriage licenses can only be obtained from the county clerk's office. Texas marriage records are also held by the county clerk’s office and are a critical requirement for facilitating name changes in the state.

How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Texas

In Texas, changing names after the marriage starts before the wedding ceremony when the couple obtains a marriage license. Anyone intending to get married may obtain this license from the office of any county clerk in the state, not necessarily in the county where the couple resides or where the marriage will be taking place. The following documents will be required to obtain a marriage license:

A government-issued identification document, such as a state identification card, driver's license, or US passport
The Social Security numbers of the couple

The price of a marriage license differs from one county to another. Therefore, interested persons must find out beforehand the exact cost and acceptable means of payment of the county to obtain the license. Any couple who wants to adopt new names after marriage must fill this marriage license with the proposed names, typically decided beforehand by both partners.

Intending couples may have to request more than one copy of the marriage license to have a copy of their own. It typically takes three days after application to receive a license, which is valid for the next 90 days.

After the marriage ceremony, the officiant who will sign the marriage license is responsible for filing the document with the clerk where the license was issued. The officiant must do this within 30 days after the marriage ceremony. Roughly two weeks from filing the completed and signed marriage license, the couple will receive a certified marriage certificate by mail. The couple can then use this certificate for a name change across relevant government and private agencies.

Couples must note that a marriage certificate typically allows the adoption of a spouse's surname or a combination of both spouses' names with or without a hyphen. Therefore, it is advisable to find out at the county clerk's office if the marriage certificate covers the desired name change.

How to Update Your Social Security Card in Texas?

Social Security cards are one of the most important documents that residents of Texas must keep current. For instance, it is usually a requirement for securing jobs and claiming Social Security benefits. After a marriage where one or both spouses change their names, they must follow the steps below to obtain new Social Security cards that reflect the new name:

Print a completed copy of the Application for a Social Security Card form.
Send the form together with a photocopy of a government-issued ID, such as a US passport or driver's license, to the closest Social Security office.

The Social Security Administration also provides specific guidelines for certain categories of people. Processing takes between two to four weeks.

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

New couples in Texas can request new driver's licenses that reflect their new names from the Texas Department of Public Safety. To do this, the couple must visit their closest driver's license office with an original copy of their marriage license within 30 days of the name change. This document must be in English. The process will cost $11 per license.

How to Update Your Insurance Information in Texas?

New couples who hold a valid insurance policy and have changed their names due to marriage must update the information on their insurance policy. Doing this will ensure that there will be no identity contradictions in their profiles. This applies to all policies, including Home or Renters Insurance, Vehicle Insurance, Disaster Insurance, Health Insurance, Life Insurance, and Long-term Care Insurance.

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) supervises the insurance sector, and while it provides name change services for insurance agents and adjusters, it does not do so for consumers in Texas. Insurance policyholders looking to effect a name change after marriage will have to contact their insurance provider for appropriate instructions.

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

The state of Texas allows a change of name on marriage or divorce grounds. People (adults and minors) can also complete name change applications outside of this by filing a petition with a county district court. To file this petition, individuals must meet certain requirements. For adults, this includes:

Must not be under 18 years old
Must file the petition for name change in their county of residence
Must not have a felony conviction. Otherwise, prove that the conviction was pardoned or two years have passed since the completion of the prison sentence or probation
Must not be a registered sex offender. Otherwise, provide evidence that they have notified the local enforcement agency of the application for a name change
Must make full disclosure of all Class A or B misdemeanors and felony charges filed against them

A child's parent, legal guardian, or managing conservator may complete a name change on their behalf. The instructions for completing a child's name change depend on each child's parental circumstance, including cases where only one of the parents agrees to the name change.

The steps to filing a change of name petition in a district court are as follows:

Obtaining and completing the court forms.
- For an adult: The court forms include Petition to Change the Name of an Adult, Order Changing the Name of an Adult, and a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs (if the petitioners seek to waive the court filing fee).
- For a minor (both parents file): Both parents must complete a Petition to Change the Name of a Child and Order Changing the Name of the Child.
- For a minor (one parent file): A single parent must complete the Petition to Change the Name of a Child, Order Changing the Name of a Child, and Information on Suit Affecting the Family Relationship.
- For a minor (one parent dead or rights terminated): The single parent must complete the Petition to Change the Name of a Child and Order Changing the Name of a Child.
- For a minor (conservator or guardian file): A conservator or guardian must complete a Petition to Change the Name of a Child, Information on Suit Affecting the Family Relationship, and Order Changing the Name of the Child.

When petitioners cannot afford the court filing fees, they must complete a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs form. Also, the petitioner must seek the consent of children who are ten years old or more before changing their names. Therefore, such a child must complete the Child's Consent to Name Change.

For an adult name change, the petitioners must obtain complete and legible sets of their fingerprints taken on a fingerprint card by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) or Federal Bureau of Investigation. Petitioners may check with the local law enforcement agency to know where and how much to pay to get fingerprints taken.
Adults seeking a name change must obtain all paperwork relating to a felony conviction or a sex offense. To prove a pardon, petitioners must provide copies of their clemency or pardon proclamation from the Registrations Unit of the Office of the Secretary of State. Persons who completed their prison sentence in Texas must present copies of their discharge papers from the Texas Department of Justice, Classification and Records Division. For prison terms completed in another state or federal jail, petitioners must obtain copies of their discharge papers from the Department of Criminal Justice in such a state or the US Federal Bureau of Prisons. Registered sex offenders must also present evidence showing they have informed the law enforcement agency of the name change petition. Adult petitioners must write "Exhibit" on each of these documents and attach them to their petition.
Make a copy of each form, including the fingerprint card, where applicable, except for the Information on Suit Affecting the Family Relationship and the Order Changing the Name of the Child forms.
File the original and duplicate copies of the completed forms, except the form of Order of Change of Name of Adult or Child, with the local district court clerk. Petitioners may ask the clerk if there is a local standing order or rules that they must follow for the filing and case proceedings. The clerk of the court will write the case and court numbers on the first page of the petition. The petitioner must enter these numbers at the top of all documents. The clerk will then file-stamp these forms, keep the original copies, and return the duplicate copies to the petitioner. Petitions for adult name changes may also be filed online via the E-File Texas webpage or the Automated Online Interview for Adult Name Change.

At this stage, the petitioner will have to pay the applicable filing fee, while persons who seek to waive the filing fee will file the Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs.

Preparing for a court hearing: Petitioners must make detailed inquiries from the clerk of the court regarding how to prepare for a court hearing. For instance, if a criminal background check is necessary, petitioners will mail their fingerprints to the DPS in Texas with a file-stamped copy of their Petition to Change the Name of an Adult.
Going to the court hearing and finalizing the petition: For adult name change petitions, petitioners must visit the court with the following documents:
- Completed Order Changing the Name of an Adult form with only the judge's signature unfilled
- File-stamped copies of the Petition to Change the Name of an Adult together with all filed exhibits
- Fingerprint cards for petitioners who filed their petitions electronically
- Valid proof of identity, which may include a US passport, state-issued ID card, or driver's license, and
- A Testimony for Adult Name Change form (sample)

For a petition to change a child's name, the documents to take to court include:

A completed Order Changing the Name of a Child form
File-stamped copies of a Petition to Change the Name of a Child and the Child's Consent to Name Change (if applicable).

At the court, the petitioners will have to wait until the clerk calls their case. Then, the judge inspects all documents presented and asks questions about the reason for the change of name. Some judges require petitioners to testify that the name change is not to evade criminal prosecution or debt. For a minor, the petitioner may have to testify that the name change is in the child's best interest. Once the judge is satisfied with the documentation and verbal submissions, the hearing comes to an end, and the judge signs the Order of Name Change for Adult (or Child).

Filing the Order of Name Change and obtaining certified copies. The petitioner will have to file the Order of Name Change with the court clerk and pay a fee for each certified copy. These copies will typically be required to change the name on other official documents such as a Social Security card or driver's license.

How to Update Information with Texas Mortgage and Utility Companies?

The Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending regulates over 26,000 Residential Mortgage Loan Originators (RMLO) and more than 2,000 Mortgage-related entities. However, to change the name on a Texas mortgage, mortgage holders will have to contact their providers to receive instructions on how to complete a name change.

To change the name on a utility services account, consumers will contact the utility services provider. For utility services provided by government agencies, consumers will have to contact the public utility services authority in their county. Otherwise, consumers who want to complete a name change must contact the customer services unit of the private utility provider.

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

To change a name after marriage in Texas, newlyweds will need the following documents:

Original marriage certificates
Proof of identification, e.g., a US passport, state identification card, and driver's license
Proof of age, such as birth certificate, adoption decree, or hospital record

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

According to Texas Family Code, a person may obtain a certified marriage license from the office of the clerk of any county in Texas. Some counties offer both online and in-person application processes, while others provide only in-person services. Fees for certified copies vary from one county to the other.

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 Texas?

The US Department of State is responsible for issuing new travel documents to interested persons in Texas. Passport holders must follow the steps listed below to obtain new passports:

Passports Issued Within One Year

Persons who have recently changed their names after marriage can apply for a passport by completing and mailing Form DS-5504 along with the following documents:

Most recent US travel passport
A legal document confirming the change of name, such as a court order or certified marriage certificate.

No other mail delivery service apart from the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) can deliver mail to the address listed on the form. The applicant typically does not have to pay a fee unless requesting expedited service.

Passports Issued For Over One Year

Individuals who obtained their passports a year or more ago before the change may fill and submit Form DS-82. They must also attach the following items to the form:

A current United States passport
A legal document ratifying the change of name
A colored passport photo, and
A child or adult renewal cost. The fee will depend on the age of the passport holder.

The following persons may renew their passports by mail:

Persons who can submit their latest passport together with their renewal application
Persons whose passports have not been damaged, except usual wear and tear
Persons who were issued their passports at 16 years or older or within the past 15 years
Persons who can present legal proof of a change of name or who have been issued passports in their new names

Passport holders not within any of the categories listed above must apply in person with:

A Form DS-11
Authentic proof of their United States citizenship and a copy
A legal name change proof
A genuine ID and photocopy
A colored passport photo, and
The applicable fee

Passport holders in the above category who can provide an identification document bearing the new name will not need to provide official evidence of a name change.

How to Change your Name on Bank Accounts in Texas?

Individuals who have just undergone a formal name change must update their bank account, debit card, credit card, and checkbook information to reflect their new names. This ensures that the new name matches the information on their bank records. Because the procedure of completing a name change varies across banks, interested parties will have to contact their banks for detailed instructions.

Generally, banks will request proof of the name change, such as a certified marriage certificate or court order and identity documents (Social Security card or driver's license).

People who have made changes to their financial information must equally inform their employers through a completed Form W-4 to allow the employers to file their withholding taxes correctly. Persons should also register a formal name change with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services using Form I-9.

Upon altering debit and credit card information, consumers will have to go through their latest financial statements to identify and notify service providers they have authorized to make automated deductions.

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

Once the newly married couple has obtained a certified marriage license, the length of the name change process will be determined by the agencies handling the name change, such as the Social Security office and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

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

The period required to complete a name change in Texas depends on the type of name change process, such as marriage, divorce, or court petition. Similarly, the time required by each issuing organization, such as the Social Security Administration, Department of Public Safety, and banks, determines how long it will take a person to complete a change of name.

For persons who wish to complete a change of name through a court order, the time required to complete a name change depends on how early they can file a petition. Likewise, the length of the court processes will determine the duration of the name change.