The Name Path
The New Jersey Edition · $27

New Jersey

Your name change after marriage in New Jersey, 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

New Jersey, in six lines

Straight from the New Jersey 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 local registrar (vital statistics office) of the municipality where you married, or from the State Office of Vital Statistics and Registry. Agencies want originals or certified copies with the required seals.

  • MVC

    New Jersey requires you to report a legal name change to the MVC within two weeks. Name changes are walk-in at any MVC Licensing Center, and the change fee is $11.

  • Deadline

    Yes. New Jersey's driver manual says a motorist who legally changes their name by marriage must report it to the MVC within two weeks (N.J.S.A. 39:3-9a).

  • Social Security online

    New Jersey licenses and IDs qualify; New Jersey marriage records don't. Because New Jersey marriage records don't qualify for the online route, New Jersey couples married in New Jersey should plan on an in-person or mail application.

  • Voter registration

    New Jersey asks you to submit a new voter registration form with your new name, online or on paper, at least 21 days before an election.

  • Social Security first?

    The MVC's name-change page doesn't say to visit SSA first. Updating Social Security first helps your records match when the MVC verifies your number.

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MVC

Fees (New Jersey MVC)

ItemFee
Auto license change or duplicate$11
REAL ID auto license change$11

From the MVC's license fee table ("Changes/duplicate"). 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. A New Jersey REAL ID looks like a regular license with a star in the upper right corner; a Standard license says NOT FOR "REAL ID" PURPOSES instead. Standard licenses remain valid for driving and voting.

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Step 1 · Certified copies

Where to order your marriage certificate

Certified copies come from the local registrar in the municipality where your marriage took place, or from the State Office of Vital Statistics and Registry. The MVC says all documents must be originals or certified copies with the required municipal and/or State seals. The state says local fees vary by municipality.

WhereCertified copy fee (as published)How to order
Newark Office of Vital Statistics$25 first copy; $4 each additional copy of the same recordWalk-in (same day), by mail (up to 4 weeks) or online
Jersey City Office of the City Clerk$25 per copyIn person by appointment, or by mail with form REG-37A (English) or REG-37B (Spanish)
Paterson Office of Vital Statistics$25 per certificate; $5 each additional copy of the same record on the same dayPhoto ID and proof of relationship required; no personal checks or cash
Elizabeth Office of Vital Statistics$15 per certified copySame-day walk-in (cash or money order), by mail (1–2 weeks), or online
Other NJ municipalitiesSet by each municipality. Confirm with your local registrar.Search "[town] vital statistics marriage certificate"
NJ Office of Vital Statistics and Registry (state)$25 for the search and one certified copy; $2 per additional copy ordered at the same timeBy mail or online; no cash
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 Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth and the NJ Department of Health, checked Oct 21, 2026. See Sources.

Official forms

The New Jersey 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 (MVC)NJ MVC: Name changenj.gov/mvc/drivertopics/namechange.htm
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 titleNJ MVC Universal Title Application (OS/SS-UTA, PDF)nj.gov/mvc/pdf/vehicles/OS-SS-UTA.pdf
Voter registrationNJ Online Voter Registrationvoter.svrs.nj.gov/register
How we checked

Checked against the agency itself

The New Jersey guide's verification log lists 18 state facts: 17 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 New Jersey Edition

Your whole New Jersey name change, one clear path

$27

14-day refund, no questions asked · One-time payment, no subscription

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.

Private by design · We never ask for your Social Security number, birth date or ID numbers

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