The Name Path
The Michigan Edition · $27

Michigan

Your name change after marriage in Michigan, in the right order: Social Security, your driver's license or state ID, your passport, voter registration and everything after, with every fact checked against the official source.

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At a glance

Michigan, in six lines

Straight from the Michigan guide. Where we couldn't confirm something from an official source, the guide says to ask the agency, and so does this page.

  • Certified copies

    From the county clerk in the county where you applied for your marriage license, or from the state (MDHHS, slower). Agencies want originals or certified copies.

  • Secretary of State

    Michigan name changes are done at a Secretary of State office visit, after Social Security has your new name. The correction fee is $9 for a license and $10 for an ID.

  • Deadline

    The Secretary of State's name-correction page doesn't give a deadline. Update soon after Social Security so your license and SSA record match.

  • Social Security online

    Michigan licenses and IDs qualify, and so do Michigan marriage records. Since both Michigan licenses and Michigan marriage records qualify, a Michigan couple married in Michigan can often use the online route.

  • Voter registration

    When a Michigan license or ID holder changes their name at a Secretary of State office, the clerk updates their voter record. Check your registration at Michigan.gov/Vote afterward.

  • Social Security first?

    Yes, in effect. The Secretary of State checks your name and date of birth against SSA and denies the change if they don't match, so update SSA first and wait at least three business days.

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Secretary of State

Fees (Michigan Secretary of State)

ItemFee
Name correction, driver's license$9
Name correction, state ID$10

From the Secretary of State's name-correction page. Card payments add a fee. Confirm before you go.

REAL ID

REAL ID

Since May 7, 2025, TSA requires a REAL ID-compliant card or another accepted ID, such as a U.S. passport, for domestic flights. Michigan REAL ID cards show a star in a gold circle (older design) or a star in a silhouette of Michigan (newer design) in the upper right corner; both count. Enhanced licenses and IDs are REAL ID-compliant with or without a star.

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Step 1 · Certified copies

Where to order your marriage certificate

Certified copies come from the county clerk in the county where you applied for your marriage license. Oakland County says all its copies are certified and serve as an original document. The state Division for Vital Records (MDHHS) also issues certified marriage records, but its posted processing time is 10–12 weeks (8–10 weeks expedited), so the county is usually faster.

WhereCertified copy fee (as published)How to order
Wayne County Clerk (Detroit)$24.00 first copy; $7.00 each additional copy bought at the same timeIn person by appointment, by mail, or online
Oakland County Clerk$15 first copy; $5 each additional copyOnline, in person, or by mail (money order; no personal checks)
Macomb County Clerk$15 first copy; $5 each additional copy of the same recordOnline, by mail (check or money order) or in person; only for licenses filed in Macomb County
Kent County Clerk (Grand Rapids)$10 first copy; $3 each additional copy of the same record (online orders add a convenience fee)In person, by mail with the request form, or online
Other MI countiesSet by each county clerk. Confirm with your county.Search "[county] county clerk marriage certificate copy"
MDHHS Vital Records (state)$34 search fee per standard record; online orders add a $14 processing feeBy mail or online through VitalChek; 10–12 weeks regular
Married in another stateOrder certified copies from the office that issued your certificate in that state (often a state vital records office or county clerk).

Fees as published by the Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Kent County Clerks and MDHHS, checked Oct 21, 2026. See Sources.

Official forms

The Michigan forms, straight from the source

Every link goes to the agency's own page or PDF; we never host copies. Where we couldn't confirm a downloadable form, the row says to ask the agency. Your guide explains which form fits your situation. Links checked Oct 23, 2026.

ForFormOfficial link
Social SecuritySS-5: Application for a Social Security Card (PDF)ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf
Social SecuritySSA online: Apply for a Social Security Cardsecure.ssa.gov/ossnap/public/
Driver's license or ID (Secretary of State)Michigan SOS: License or ID name correctionmichigan.gov/sos/all-services/license-or-i…
PassportDS-5504: Application for a U.S. Passport for Eligible Individuals: correction, name change to a passport issued 1 year ago or less, and limited passport replacement (PDF)eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds5504_pdf.PDF
PassportDS-82: U.S. Passport Renewal Application for Eligible Individuals (PDF)eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds82_pdf.PDF
PassportDS-11: Application for a U.S. Passport (PDF)eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds11_pdf.PDF
Vehicle titleApplication for Michigan Vehicle Title (TR-11L, PDF)michigan.gov/sos/-/media/Project/Websites/…
Voter registrationMichigan Online Voter Registrationmvic.sos.state.mi.us/RegisterVoter
How we checked

Checked against the agency itself

The Michigan guide's verification log lists 17 state facts: 16 confirmed on the official page, and 1 we couldn't confirm, which the guide marks "ask the agency". Sources checked October 21, 2026.

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The Michigan Edition

Your whole Michigan name change, one clear path

$27

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Changing your name with Social Security is free. You can apply directly with the Social Security Administration at ssa.gov or by calling 1-800-772-1213. You don't need to buy this guide, or anything else, to do it.

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