Vermont Name Change After Marriage — Cost & Steps (2026)
Taking a spouse's name, hyphenating, or creating a new combined name after getting married
← Back to Vermont overview1
Which state are you in?
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Why are you changing your name?
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Which documents do you need to update?
This is exciting — you're starting a new chapter. The paperwork is worth it.
You may be able to skip court
If you're taking your spouse's exact last name and it's listed on your marriage certificate, most states let you skip the court order entirely and update SSA directly with your marriage certificate.
What you'll need
- Certified copy of your marriage certificate (not the decorative one — the official county-issued version)
- Most states: no court order needed if you're simply taking spouse's last name on marriage certificate
- Court order required for: hyphenating, creating new name, taking middle name as last name
Common mistakes to avoid
- Ordering the wrong type of marriage certificate (decorative vs. certified)
- Not ordering enough certified copies — get at least 4
- Updating banks before updating SSA and driver's license
- Forgetting to update professional licenses
- Not updating passport before an upcoming trip
Pro tips
- Update SSA before DMV — SSA updates need to sync first
- Order 4–6 certified copies of your marriage certificate upfront
- If traveling soon, expedite your passport update ($190)