Everything You Need to Know to Change Your Name in Wyoming

If you want to know how to change your name in Wyoming after the wedding, you've come to the right place. There are some state-specific procedures, and paperwork you'll have to complete to make the new name official.

And, thankfully, there's extra help available too, if you want it. HitchSwitch is a name change service that takes care of much of the name change process for you. If you decide to use them, you'll simply fill out a form on the HitchSwitch website, and they'll auto-fill your legal forms for you, then provide you with personalized instructions for submitting everything.

Before you start, familiarize yourself with all the steps of a Wyoming name change. We've broken it down below.

• How to Get a Marriage License and Certificate
• How to Petition for a Name Change in Wyoming
  
• How to Change Your Name on Your Social Security Card
• How to Change Your Name on Your US Passport
• How to Change Your Name on Your Wyoming Driver's License
• How to Complete Your Wyoming Name Change

How to Get a Marriage License and Certificate

Getting a name change due to marriage most often starts before the wedding, with getting a marriage license. That's because a marriage license is necessary to have a legal wedding. You and your future spouse should obtain your marriage license in the state where your legal ceremony will take place. If you're marrying in your home state, you'll head to any County Clerk's office in Wyoming to apply.

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What forms do you need?

At the clerk's office, you'll complete a Wyoming marriage license application. (Here's a sample of what the form looks like in Uinta County—each county's paperwork may vary slightly.)

Wyoming marriage license requirements include showing valid photo ID, so you should both bring that along.

How much does it cost?

It costs $30 to apply for a marriage license in Wyoming.

How to Petition for a Name Change in Wyoming

In most cases, the marriage license is enough to kickstart the name change process, but for some people, a court order may be necessary. For example, this would be needed if you didn't have a legal wedding. Wolff also explains that some name changes—ones that aren't simply taking a spouse's last name or hyphenating the two names—require a court order.

If you find that you need a court order, contact your district court for full instructions on how to legally change your name in Wyoming. The process may vary a bit from court to court. They'll also be able to provide you with Wyoming name change forms to complete.

How to Change Your Name on Your Social Security Card

Next, it's time to alert the Social Security Administration of your new name. That's because having a marriage certificate or court order alone doesn't make the new name official with the federal government. For a legal name change in Wyoming—and the rest of the US—you're going to need to update your Social Security card to reflect the new name. After you take this step, then you can change your name on other forms of ID, including your passport and driver's license.

What forms do you need?

Fill out and print Form SS-5. Bring (or mail, if you'd prefer) the completed form to your local SSA office. With it, you'll need to submit:

• Your legal name change document (marriage certificate or court order)

• Proof of identity (your current driver's license, state ID or passport, for example)

If you haven't already established your citizenship with the SSA yet, you'll also have to submit proof of that (such as your birth certificate or passport) too.

How much does it cost?

Thankfully, this name change step is usually free. Hooray!

Important things to remember:

Submit original or certified copies of your documents to the SSA. The organization won't accept photocopies. Wyoming birth records and marriage certificates may be requested through Vital Statistics Services.

How to Change Your Name on Your US Passport

Next, change your name on your US Passport, if you have one (and if you don't, maybe now's the time to get one!). This process can take seven to ten weeks to complete, and so it's a good idea to kick it off right away.

What forms do you need?

You can find complete instructions and passport name change forms at the US Department of State website. You'll need to complete one of these three:

1. For a passport correction, use Form DS-5504. This form is necessary if you received your passport less than a year before you changed your name. Mail in:

• The completed form

• Your current passport

• A certified name change document

• A color passport photo

2. For a passport renewal, use Form DS-82. This is the form you'll need if your current passport was issued within the last 15 years, and you were at least 16 years old at the time it was issued. It must still be in good condition. Mail in:

• The completed form

• Your current passport

• A certified name change document

• A color passport photo

3. To apply for a new passport, use Form DS-11. This is necessary if you don't have a passport, or if you have one, and it doesn't fit either of the above descriptions. You won't be able to apply by mail, unfortunately. Instead, you'll have to visit a passport office in person to deliver your documents. Submit:

• Proof of identity (like your driver's license), plus a photocopy

• Proof of citizenship (like your birth certificate), plus a photocopy

• A certified name change document

• A color passport photo

If you need to update or get a new passport, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to apply. Expedited service is a major hassle, and can be quite expensive, too!

How much does it cost?

It depends on which of the above routes you'll need to take. Passport correction (DS-5504) is free. Passport renewal (DS-82) costs $130 for a passport book and/or $30 for a card (which offers more limited travel options). New passport (DS-11) costs $130 for a passport book and/or $30 for a card, plus $35 in fees.

Important things to remember:

If you're taking an international trip any time soon, time your passport name change right. Your name on travel reservations must match the name on your passport, so tickets should be bought accordingly. For the same reason, many couples wait until after the honeymoon to initiate the name change.

How to Change Your Name on Your Wyoming Driver's License

Next, change your name on your Wyoming driver's license. Visit a Wyoming DOT driver exam office to make this switch.

What forms do you need?

You'll need to turn in your current driver's license and name change document (marriage license or court order). You might also want to bring along your new Social Security card. It won't be necessary unless DOT is unable to verify your SS name change on its own.

How much does it cost?

You'll be charged a renewal fee to change your name on your driver's license. For a Class C license, that's $35.

Important things to remember:

Bring original or certified documents for your driver's license name change, too. You'll get your picture retaken while you're there, and re-sign your signature to appear on your new license.

How to Complete Your Wyoming Name Change

Once you've done all of the above, you'll have updated your major forms of ID, which is a huge accomplishment, but you won't be totally done. To complete your name change after marriage in Wyoming, you'll need to notify all entities that hold your records and accounts. For example, your employer, your insurance companies, your bank and much more.

Once you start taking inventory of every place you need to update with your new name, it's easy to start feeling overwhelmed. Thankfully, HitchSwitch can help you out with this too. It provides its customers with resources that make every step of the name change process a bit easier and more straightforward, like checklists and instructions. Life savers!

This article has been fact-checked and reviewed for accuracy in November 2023.