How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Mississippi

Changing My Name After Marriage in Mississippi

A common practice for newlyweds in the United States and worldwide is to change their names after the big day. This choice can be for various reasons, some having roots in one's religion or culture. No matter the instigating factor, spouses who wish to effect this change in Mississippi usually do not need to complete any special process - simply apply for a license, fill in the new name, and get certified copies of the marriage certificate from the Mississippi State Department of Health’s (MSDH) Vital Records Office.

Mississippi regards a change of name as a legal procedure that alters a person's identity. Therefore, it will be necessary to notify public and public institutions that maintain a person's identity and financial documents. Mostly, the name change process involves submitting lots of paperwork and following certain steps. This switch takes a couple of weeks, sometimes months, and the applicant will end up paying some hundreds of dollars to make the change official. Interested and eligible members of the public may also obtain Mississippi marriage records by querying the local repository or court house in the judicial district where the marriage license was issued.

How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Mississippi

In Mississippi, an individual can initiate a legal name change after marriage by applying for a marriage license. This document permits any person who meets the state's criteria for obtaining a license to get married. Not only that, but the spouses who decide to adopt a new name after the ceremony can indicate the change on their license, ensuring that the certified copy has their new and old names.

After obtaining this copy (advisable to get three or more of them), interested parties can contact federal and state agencies responsible for issuing identity documents to change their names officially., e.g., the United States Department of State. Also, it will be necessary to inform other private institutions where they may hold financial or consumer accounts, e.g., utility companies and banks, to avoid complications in future business, professional, and personal affairs.

Couples wed in Mississippi can choose to start and complete the name change process themselves. Before proceeding with the "do-it-yourself" option, it is important to know and understand the steps, especially the starting point and the crucial name changes. However, the process can be quite time-consuming as it involves making several phone calls, in-person visits, and waiting in line. As such, some people may decide to hire a family law attorney to represent them.

How to Update Your Social Security Card in Mississippi

The Social Security (SS) card is the first record to update after a legal name change, whether by marriage or court order. Without correcting this document, it will be impossible to apply to other institutions for a name change or obtain certain benefits and services. Spouses can update their SS cards through the US Social Security Administration (SSA). However, the documents required by the agency differ based on the applicant's citizenship status - if the adult correcting the card is a US-born citizen, foreign-born US citizen, or noncitizen.

Mississippians born in the United States will need the following original documents or their certified copies. Note that the agency does not collect notarized copies or photocopies:

The Application for a Social Security Card form, completed and signed by the applicant.
Evidence of citizenship: a US passport or birth certificate. (However, this is only required if the applicant has not proven citizenship to the agency before).
Current Social Security card.
Evidence of name change: a marriage certificate, court order, or certificate of naturalization that shows the new name.
Evidence of identity: a US driver's license, passport, or state-issued non-driver ID card. Anybody who cannot produce these identity documents, and cannot obtain a replacement in 10 days, can use any of the following paperwork, provided it has the person's name, age/date of birth, and recent photograph:
- School ID
- Employee ID
- US military ID
- Health insurance card (except a Medicare card)

Other persons who are noncitizens or not originally born in the United States can find more information on the necessary documents on the SSA's website.

Regardless, the update is free, and the SSA will mail the corrected card after receiving and verifying the applicant's information. This takes two to four weeks.

The Field Office Locator can be used to find nearby SSA offices to submit applications (in person or by mail).

How to Get a New Driver's License in Mississippi

The next identity document that should be updated upon a post-marital name change is the driver's license. Anyone applying to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS) must have already requested a corrected Social Security card. An interested person can stop by the nearest Driver License Bureau location to request the change. Office hours are usually Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. However, the applicant can skip long lines by scheduling an appointment beforehand.

The DPS will require original documents or certified copies that support the legal name change, such as a marriage certificate/court order and a current driver's license. The fee for a new driver's license in Mississippi is $24 (see driver services fees).

Applicants can also contact the DPS before the visit to find out if any additional procedures or documents apply. The DPS can be reached by phone at (601) 987-1212 or (601) 987-1224. The individual can also attempt emailing the agency at drivesafe@dps.ms.gov.

How to Update Your Insurance Information in Mississippi

The average Mississippian has at least two insurance coverages to safeguard against financial losses. These different coverages are identified on the Mississippi Insurance Department's website, including life, auto, homeowner's, flood, life and annuities, and health insurance. Reviewing an insurance policy is an integral part of the name change process. It is crucial to report any change in name to the relevant providers to avoid problems in claiming the benefits later on. Some people may also update their insurance information to add a spouse as a beneficiary.

Generally, policyholders can usually contact their insurance providers to request a name update. Depending on the company, an individual may use electronic means (fax, mail, email) or physical visits to effect the change. Note, however, that some companies have a time limit within which this change should be reported. For example, people under Medicaid coverage must inform a Medicaid regional office of a name change within 10 days or risk compromising their benefits. A Medicaid consumer can use email, fax the Bureau of Eligibility at (601) 576-4164, or via phone at (800) 421-2408 (toll-free) to request the change.

Similarly, other health insurance policyholders can update their names by email, fax, and mail using forms and contact information provided on the Reporting Requirements page.

Interested consumers can also request assistance from the Mississippi Insurance Department.

Where Do I Go to Change My Last Name in Mississippi

Anyone who wants to change their name for a reason other than marriage in Mississippi must petition the Chancery Court. However, married couples who want to create new names or change their first names may not be able to use their marriage certificates to make it official. Therefore, they may also need to petition the court. Note that the applicable court must be the one located in the petitioner's resident county. Also, adult petitioners must be 21 years or older and Mississippi residents. If less than 21, the petition must be submitted by the minor's parents (one or both of them). The parents must also provide their signed consent.

The court name change process begins with filing a petition with the court clerk. This petition for name change can be obtained from the local court. However, the petitioner must complete it and sign it before a notary public before submitting it to the Chancery Court clerk. At the clerk’s office, the petitioner should ensure to ask for copies of the petition to know the case number and filing date. The clerk will also require a certified copy of the petitioner's birth certificate. (This can be obtained from the Mississippi State Department of Health's vital records office). Other required documents include:

A Civil Cover Sheet (see statewide form)
An Order to Change Name
Consent for Name Change of a Minor (for underage parties)
Cash, or check, or money order payment of the petition fee

However, note that each court has its local forms and applicable fees, so it is important to query the clerk's office for forms and the court's processes. Adult pro se (self-represented) litigants may also use the name change packet provided on the Mississippi Access to Justice website to prepare their petitions. Keep in mind that court fees for a name change petition vary by county.

After every relevant document has been filed and the court fee paid, the clerk will provide the petitioner with the court hearing date, which will be before a judge or special master. In the hearing, the judge will either grant or deny the petition. If granted, the clerk will mail certified copies to the petitioner. However, it is still possible to ask the clerk after the hearing for these copies.

Rather than go the pro se route, individuals may hire legal representation for assistance.

How to Update Information with Mississippi Mortgage and Utility Companies

After updating the major documents (social security cards, passports, driver's licenses, etc.), individuals with mortgages or subscribed to utility services (water, electricity, phone, etc.) can contact their lenders or providers to update the names on their accounts. Usually, these companies can be notified by phone, email, or in person. In some cases, the consumer can log in to an online account to alter the name. Note that the company in question may request evidence of the legal name change, which can be offered in the form of a court order or marriage certificate.

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

The documents a person will need to change a name after marriage vary, but the primary one is the "marriage license." Without this document, an individual cannot use marriage as the motive for a legal name change. Instead, the party must obtain a court order upon informing the court of a legitimate reason for the change (and this requires submitting more documents). Changing one's name alters their identity in the eyes of the law. Therefore, the applicant may have to prove their marriage, residence, age, citizenship, and more. Some of these documents include:

Certified copies of a marriage license or marriage certificate, or a court order
Certified birth certificate
Passports, state-issued ID cards, driver's licenses, etc.

How to Get Certified Copies of Your Marriage License in Mississippi

Mississippi has specific requirements to obtain a marriage license for a wedding. These include:

The intending couple must appear together at a local circuit clerk's office. Nevertheless, some courts provide application forms on their websites that couples can fill and come with.
Both individuals must provide valid identification as proof of age, e.g., a birth certificate or driver's license. Military IDs, life insurance policies, baptismal records, school records, and passports are also accepted.
The parties must be 21 years or older. However, persons under 21 (females at least 15 years and males at least 17 years old) can apply, provided it is with parental consent (see sample form).
If recently divorced (at most, 6 months before the request), the applicable party must provide a divorce decree.
A filing fee of $37.

Upon obtaining this document, a couple has the state's blessing to conduct a marriage ceremony. A unique feature of Mississippi's marriage licenses is that they do not expire. After the wedding, a spouse or any other eligible party can obtain certified copies by in-person or mail request to the Mississippi State Department of Health’s Vital Records Office. Eligible persons include:

The spouses
Their parents, siblings, children, and grandparents
Their legal representatives
Other persons eligible by court order

It costs $17 for the first certified copy and $6 per additional copy, payable by cash, certified check, personal check, or money order. The requester will also need to provide a valid photo ID. Without this ID, the MSDH's Vital Records Office will not process the request.

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 Mississippi

Any legal name change occurring from marriage in Mississippi must reflect on an individual's travel documents, e.g., US passport. This is an important step as a person will be unable to travel overseas if their registered name is different from their passport's. The agency to apply to is the US Department of State. Depending on the applicant's passport status, the State Department may require the party to apply for a new passport, correct the old one, or renew the passport.

For passports issued less than a year before the change, the applicant must complete and submit Form DS-5504 (passport replacement). The individual must also provide their recent passport, original or certified legal name change document, and a color passport photograph that meets the agency's specifications. Anyone eligible to complete Form DS-5504 is not liable for any fees for the service, except they request expedited service.

For passports aged one year plus, the form to submit is DS-82 (passport renewal) together with the documents listed above. Here, adult applicants must pay certain fees for the service.

Lastly is Form DS-11 (new passport). This applies to persons ineligible to renew passports by mail. Here, applications must be must tendered in person along with the following documents:

Proof of US citizenship and photocopy
Original or certified name change decree, i.e., the marriage certificate or court order
Valid identification document and photocopy
Passport photograph (color)
Fees

The DS-11 form is also used when the applicant has started using their new name but cannot change the old one using a court order or marriage certificate.

The methods of submission (in person or mail) and other key information are provided on the Change or Correct a Passport page.

It takes 10 to 12 weeks to process a new passport, but it is possible to expedite this time to 4 to 6 weeks for an additional $60.

How to Change Your Name on Bank Accounts in Mississippi

Mississippi banks require a person who has legally changed their name due to marriage to report the change to avoid complications with future transactions. Individuals can do this by visiting any bank branch where they hold an account and requesting the modification. Generally, they will be required to produce a legal name change document, i.e., a marriage certificate or court order, a corrected social security card, and a new driver's license. However, it is advisable to contact the bank first to determine if it has any special procedures or requires a specific document.

The customer should also tell the bank to issue new debit cards, credit cards, or checkbooks in their new name. Once the account is updated, it is important to update billing information wherever the consumer subscribes for automatic payments. Individuals should also inform employers of their new banking information.

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

A prospective spouse's name change becomes legal after the wedding ceremony. Unlike other states, Mississippi marriage licenses do not have an expiry date. Therefore, the length of time the name change takes depends on when the ceremony is scheduled. Once a couple has said their vows, the name change becomes legal, and the individuals can obtain certified copies from the Mississippi State Department of Health’s Vital Records Office. Then, the interested spouse can begin to make the change official in government and private institutions.

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

Name changes in Mississippi do not have a specific duration of time within which they are made official. Because an individual must submit lots of paperwork to several agencies, the duration varies by agency and how soon the interested spouse begins the process. Generally, it is advisable to start early to round up quickly.