How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Delaware

Changing My Name After Marriage in Delaware

When a person gets married in Delaware, the person may choose to take or add on a partner’s name. Name change after marriage is not mandatory under any law. However, people opt to change their names for various financial, social, cultural, or personal reasons. The State of Delaware has instituted processes for name changes. After marriage in the state, those who change their names must follow due process to ensure the new name’s legality and update relevant databases accordingly. One of the primary requirements in the Delaware name change process is the marriage certificate. Delaware’s Office of Vital Statistics maintains and issues certified copies of marriage certificates in the state. However, in some Delaware counties, it is also possible for interested parties to obtain proof of marriage from the Clerk of the Peace Office.

Delaware marriage records may also be useful for a variety of other legal reasons other than facilitating name change requests. Hence, interested and eligible persons may request these records from local courts or repositories.

How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Delaware

Persons who wish to change names after marriage in Delaware must:

Get proof of name change, such as a marriage certificate or court order
Update Social Security details
Visit the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to update driver’s licenses
Update passports, voter’s registration, and other state-issued documents
Update utilities, banks, and others.

There are many steps and institutions involved in the Delaware name change process, and this can make things overwhelming. Hiring an attorney can simplify and fast-track the process as lawyers have a better grasp of state laws and requirements. However, it is important to note that hiring a lawyer may be expensive. Petitioning parties must also note that while some government agencies update identification details at no cost, some other processes, such as filing a name change petition, attract fees. Delaware courts may provide fee waivers to applicants who can prove indigence or inability to pay required fees.

How to Update Your Social Security Card in Delaware?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is the agency in charge of Social Security information. Persons who change names after marriage in Delaware must provide the updated details to the SSA. The Social Security details update is a very important part of the process as it is a requirement for all other updates. To update Social Security details, requesting parties must present the following to the SSA:

A completed application form
Marriage certificate or court order as proof of name change
A driver’s license or other state-issued identification showing the requesting party’s former name
Proof of U.S citizenship

Requesting parties must present original or certified copies of each required document, as the SSA does not accept copies. The SSA returns all documents after processing the Social Security details update. Requesting parties may apply in person at a local SSA office or mail the requirements to the nearest office. The SSA processes all requests on receipt. But depending on the SSA’s schedule, it may take two to four weeks for requesting parties to receive updated cards.

How to Get a New Driver’s License in Delaware?

Delaware residents must update driver’s license information within 30 days after a legal name change. A requestor must visit a DMV office in person to make the update. However, such persons may only visit 48-72 hours after updating Social Security details. This is to allow for updates to the SSA database. A requesting party must present a current driver’s license and a court order or marriage certificate. The DMV processes name change requests at $1.15. Requesting parties may reach the DMV at (302) 744-2506 for more information or any questions about the name change process.

How to Update Your Insurance Information in Delaware?

The Department of Insurance regulates insurance practices and agencies in the state. The department lists the following broad insurance types as available in the state:

Workers compensation insurance
Health insurance
Automobile insurance
Medical supplement health insurance
Property insurance

Parties interested in updating insurance information in Delaware may contact the relevant insurance agencies. Requesting parties can typically complete the notification over the phone. However, parties may need to mail or fax legal proof of name change to the insurance agencies.

Where Do I Go to Change My Last Name in Delaware?

Persons without marriage certificates may file a petition for a change of name in the Court of Common Pleas. Requesting parties must file the petition in the county where the party lives. The parties must file the following documents with the petition:

Affidavit of Petitioner notarized by a notary public
Affidavit of Newspaper publication
Photo identification
Birth certificate
Marriage certificate

The court assesses an $85 filing fee and schedules a hearing date. If the court grants the petition, the requesting party will receive an original signed order of name change and eight (8) certified copies of the order.

How to Update Information with Delaware Mortgage and Utility Companies?

Updating personal information on liens and mortgages can make it easy for the property owners to retain full access to the liened property and refinance or resell when necessary. Additionally, under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act, utility companies must record a customer’s utility credit properly using the customer’s legal name. To update information with mortgage and utility companies in Delaware, interested parties may notify the relevant agencies over the phone or in-person at the agency’s office. These agencies may require legal proof of name change or provide information update forms.

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

The required documents for a change of name in Delaware include:

A marriage certificate or court order
A newspaper publication
A Social Security Number/card
A driver’s license or other state-issued identification
Proof of old names such as birth certificates or old driver’s licenses

How to Get Certified Copies of Your Marriage License in Delaware?

Delaware’s Office of Vital Statistics maintains records of marriages held after 1969 in the state. Interested parties can request certified copies of marriage records online or in person at any of the state’s Office of Vital Statistics offices. Alternatively, interested parties can request marriage records by mailing completed request forms to the Office of Vital Statistics. To request or order certified copies of marriage records online, interested parties may use the third-party platforms that work in collaboration with the state government to make public records available in the state.

For in-person and mail-in requests, interested parties must complete an application form and submit the form to any of the Office of Vital Statistics locations in the state. Requesting parties must submit a fee of $25 with the application. Money orders or checks addressed to ‘Office of Vital Statistics’ are acceptable as payment methods. Requesting parties must also present or submit copies of valid state-issued identification such as driver’s license or state ID.

Interested parties can find records of marriages older than 50 years at the Delaware State Archives (DSA). Such parties may request the records by filling the DSA’s online contact form. Requesting parties may also contact the DSA on phone at (302) 744-5000.

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 Delaware?

Persons who wish to obtain new passports in Delaware must contact the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the Department of State. This Bureau issues passports in the US and offers different guidelines and processes for passport request needs. The requirements and forms a requesting party must fill depends on the party’s situation at the time of the request. To change a name on a passport in Delaware less than a year after a recent passport issue, interested parties must submit:

A completed application for a US passport (DS-5504)
Legal proof of name change such as a court order or marriage certificate
The party’s most recent US passport
A color passport photo

Parties in this category may mail in passport applications to the Bureau of Consular Affairs using only USPS. The Department of State provides this service at no cost to this category of requesters. However, persons in this category who request expedited services must pay for the service. Individuals interested in updating a passport more than one year after a passport issue must pay application fees. Such parties must also submit a different application form (DS-82) along with other required documents. Requesting parties may submit travel documents requests in person or by mail exclusively through USPS. Parties in this category with passports issued within the last 15 years and undamaged passports may submit passports by mail. Parties who do not meet these requirements may only submit applications in person at designated passport acceptance facilities. To find the nearest facility, interested parties may use the Department of State’s search tool.

Routine passport requests can take up to 12 weeks to process and six (6) weeks to mail. However, expedited services are available at an extra $60. Expedited requests take six (6) weeks to process and six (6) weeks to mail. Persons who have urgent travel or life-or-death emergencies may be able to obtain new passports within 72 hours. Such parties must make an appointment using the online appointment system or by calling a passport agency on the following numbers:

1-(877) 487-2778
1-(888) 874-7793 (TDD/TTY)

How to Change your Name on Bank Accounts in Delaware?

Persons who change names in Delaware must contact the relevant banks or financial institutions to update banking accounts and checkbooks. Such parties may need to visit the financial institutions in person and fill information update forms. In addition, the bank may request a court order or marriage certificate as legal proof of name change. It is also important to contact credit and debit card companies to notify them of the change of name. After updating bank account details, persons who change names after marriage should provide updated banking information to employers. Such parties must also review subscriptions and automatic payments for necessary updates.

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

The time it takes to change a name in Delaware varies from one county to another and one court to another. Change of name court orders can take months to complete. One way to find out how long a name change will take is to contact the relevant court directly to inquire about the court’s schedules and procedures.

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

Delaware requires interested parties to publish a change of name notice in a newspaper at least once every week for three weeks. Upon publication and obtaining an affidavit of publication, such persons may then file a name change petition with the court. A person’s name is legally changed once the court grants the person a final name change order. However, the timeline for the hearing depends on the court’s schedule and other factors.