How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Utah

Changing My Name After Marriage in Utah

People often change their name after marriage, taking up their spouse’s name as a sign of commitment and love. Some people replace their last names with their partners’, while some include the new name in their old names. Still, other people maintain their previous name and add their spouse’s name to it using a hyphen.

After a change of name in Utah, it is essential to follow the legal steps and inform all necessary agencies. The most significant document needed in changing a name with government parastatals is the certified marriage certificate.

Records of marriage held in Utah in 1887 are managed by the office of the Probate Court. From the late 1890s, the county clerk began to keep all marriage records in Utah. Also, the Utah Department of Health’s Office of Vital Records and Statistics manages records of marriages that occurred between 1978 and 2010.

Utah marriage records are also accessible through the office of the court clerk in the courthouse where the marriage license was issued. These records are required to facilitate name change requests (if the reason for the requested name change is marital).

How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Utah

Anyone who wishes to change their names in Utah may hire an attorney to do the job or go on with the processing themselves. The first step is to obtain a marriage certificate from the clerk’s office. After that, it is important to inform the Social Security Administration and get an updated card that carries the new name. The name change process also entails updating one’s passport and other travel documents. It is also crucial to get a new state-issued ID and notify other government agencies. Another important step in the name change process is updating bank accounts and notifying employers and all service providers.

How to Update Your Social Security Card in Utah?

After a name change in Utah, it is important to update the information with the Social Security Administration (SSA) by applying for a new or corrected card. Failure to inform the SSA of a name change may result in delays when filing taxes or causes disruption when wages are being posted. The SSA has outlined the procedure for updating one’s Social Security card.

Application: It is not possible to apply for a corrected Social Security card online. Hence, requesters need to download an Application for a Social Security card ( Form SS-5). Apart from requesting a name change, the application form can be used to apply for an original Social Security card or to get a replacement.
Relevant documents: An application for a name change on one’s Social Security card is incomplete without the requester providing all relevant documents. If a name changes after marriage, the requester must provide a certified copy of the marriage certificate. The SSA will review the marriage certificate before returning all documents to the applicant. The SSA might request additional documentation for requesters who changed their names more than two (2) years ago. Also, the SSA may ask requesters to prove their citizenship if they were born out of the US.
Application submission: All applications and documents can be submitted in person or by mail to a local Social Security office.
Receive the new card: Applicants must remember to include the mailing address to receive the new card. Updating a Social Security card takes two to four weeks. Although the corrected card will come with a new name, it will retain the old number.

The SSA has a pamphlet that addresses Social Security numbers and cards.

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

After informing the SSA of a name change and getting a new Social Security card, the next step is to obtain a new driver’s license from the Utah Department of Public Safety. The Department of Public Safety has highlighted the required procedure for updating one’s driver’s license in Utah.

The first step is to fill an application online, print it, and take it to a driver’s license division office, or visit the office to obtain the application form. Applicants are required to schedule an appointment ahead of the visit so that the Department can take their photos.

While applying, requesters must attach a certified marriage certificate to confirm the authorization of the name change. Requesters may also be asked to present their current driver’s license, proof of residency, proof of identity, and proof of a Social Security number. Also, the Department will conduct an eye (vision) test as part of the requirements. Finally, the requester will pay a nonrefundable fee of $23 for the new driver’s license. Upon submitting the application form accompanied with the required documents, the applicant will receive a temporary license. The process takes roughly 4 to 6 weeks, after which the completed license will be mailed to the applicant.

How to Update Your Insurance Information in Utah?

Utah Insurance Department highlights three main types of insurance: Auto/Home/Liability, Health, and Life/Annuity. After a name change, individuals must contact their insurance service providers to ensure that they continue to access the service they applied for.

Insurance companies in Utah usually set a time limit for customers to update their information after marriage. Hence, persons with a new name must inform their insurance providers as soon as they obtain their proof of name change. Usually, insurance companies issue a change of status form to clients to input the new information.

The process of updating one’s information in Utah is peculiar to each insurance company. Typically, the company will request a copy of the marriage certificate to verify the name change.

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

Anyone wishing to change their last name in Utah may obtain a court order from their county District Court. However, the individual must have resided in the county for at least one year before filing for a name change.

To petition for a name change, interested persons will need to fill all the required forms. These include:

Certification Regarding Sex and Kidnap Offender and Child Abuse Offender Registry Form. By completing this form, the petitioner attests to not being a sex offender or registered as a child abuser. Filling this form should be the first process in changing one’s name. It must be mailed along with a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

Offender Registration Program
14717 Minuteman Drive
Draper, UT 84020.

A staff of the Offender Registration Program will complete the form and return it to the applicant in the same envelope. Upon receipt, applicants must file the form and other paperwork with the court. Without the form, adults cannot file a name change petition in Utah. The required documents include:

Utah District Court Cover Sheet for Probate Cases
Petition for Name Change
Order on Petition for Name Change
Suppose the petitioner is on the Sex and Kidnap Offender Registry, or the judge orders the party to notify others of the name change. In that case, such an individual must fill a Notice for Hearing on Petition for Name Change form.

Every petitioner must pay a filing fee of $150. Afterward, the clerk will inform the party of the hearing date. Requesters must have copies of all the forms before submission. Ahead of the hearing, the court may ask that petitioners notify specific individuals or groups of people with a Notice of Hearing form. Applicants must fill this form, attach it to a copy of the petition, and mail it to the relevant party. During the hearing, the judge may ask the petitioner questions about the desire to change their name. After that, the judge may sign the Order on Petition for Name Change Form. The court may serve copies of the signed Order form to specific persons.

How to Update Information with Utah Mortgage and Utility Companies?

After a name change, individuals must update the names on their mortgage or real estate properties. The first step is to get a certified marriage certificate (or court order) and complete a grant deed using the old name as the grantor and the new name as the grantee.

The grant deed and marriage certificate, along with a legal description of the property, must be forwarded to the mortgage lender. The final step is to notarize the deed and file it with the local county assessor’s office.

On the other hand, utility companies in Utah can help customers update their information over the phone or by email. Many utility companies also provide a change of name form for account holders. Furthermore, some utility companies allow customers to edit their personal information online. Either way, the company will demand legal proof of name change - a certified copy of an applicant’s marriage certificate.

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

The primary documents needed to change one’s name after marriage include:

All current documents and IDs that show the old name.
Certified marriage certificate. This is a major requirement in changing one’s name after marriage in Utah. All government agencies will demand to review the marriage certificate to complete the name change process.
A newly-updated Social Security card and driver’s license or State ID card.

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

Certified copies of marriage licenses in Utah are available upon request in person or by mail. Generally, anyone who wishes to get certified copies of their marriage license must visit the clerk’s office that serves the county where the event took place (only couples have the right to request certified copies of marriage licenses).

The first step is to locate the office of the county clerk that issued the marriage license. At the clerk’s office, an individual can obtain an application form. This form must be sent with an application fee and enclosed self-addressed envelope. Applicants can choose to mail the envelope to the clerk’s office or submit it in person. The clerk’s office will send the requested documents after the application has been processed.

For marriage records held between 1978 and 2010, requesters may visit the Utah Department of Health’s Office of Vital Records and Statistics at this address:

Cannon Health Building
288 North 1460 West
Salt Lake City UT 84116

Persons who seek to obtain marriage records from the Utah Department of Health’s Office of Vital Records and Statistics will be asked to fill and submit a Marriage Certificate Request Form.

All requests must be forwarded via mail to this address:

Vital Records
P.O. Box 141012
Salt Lake City UT 84114-1012

The fee to obtain certified copies of marriage certificates in Utah is $10. However, this fee may vary by county. After requesters have sent their request via mail, the average processing time is about three (3) weeks.

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 Utah?

When someone takes a new name after marriage, such an individual must contact the US Department of State to obtain a new passport. The US Department of State handles the issuance, renewal, and updating of information like a change of name on passports. The Department has outlined details to guide applicants through the process.

Anyone seeking a corrected passport after legally changing their names due to marriage must fill and complete Form-5504. However, there are other application forms that suit other conditions. Form-5504 is only applicable to requesters who wish to change the names on their passports within a year of passport issuance. The form must be sent along with the applicant’s most recent US passport and a recent color passport photograph. This photograph should have been taken within the last six (6) months and must have a white or off-white background.

This can be submitted at a passport agency or acceptance facility. Requesters must also remember to submit a certified copy of the marriage license to prove the name change.

There is no application fee for a name change on a US passport except the requester demands expedited service. The completed application with required documents can be mailed to:

National Passport Processing Center
Post Office Box 90107
Philadelphia, PA 19190-0107

However, this takes about ten (10) to twelve (12) weeks. Applicants can opt for expedited service. This service attracts a fee and is only available for passports mailed in the US or Canada. These applications must be mailed to the following address:

National Passport Processing Center
Post Office Box 90907
Philadelphia, PA 19190-0907

Requesters must attach a personal check or money order for the expedited service. The newly updated passport and all documents submitted will be returned to applicants.

Adult passengers above 18 years must present a form of valid identification at the airport checkpoint when traveling. While waiting to receive a new passport, travelers can use other forms of travel documents. The Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) accepted forms of ID for travelers are as follows:

Driver’s license or other State ID issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent). However, anyone who plans to use their state ID to fly within the US must ensure it is REAL ID compliant.
US passport card
DHS trusted traveler cards (NEXUS, FAST, SENTRI, and Global Entry)
Permanent resident card
US Department of Defense ID (including IDs issued to dependents)
Border crossing card
State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL)
Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID
Foreign government-issued passport
Transportation worker identification credential
US Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (1-766)
US Merchant Mariner Credential
Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
HSPD-12 PIV card
Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card

How to Change your Name on Bank Accounts in Utah?

The first step in changing one’s name on bank accounts in Utah after marriage is to obtain a certified copy of the marriage certificate. The clerk’s office that serves the county where the event was held usually mails the certified copy. However, persons who do not have a copy may request one from the county clerk’s office. Having the marriage certificate is essential as the bank will ask for it to validate the name change process. Also, the bank will require a Social Security card that shows the new name.

The general procedure in changing one’s name on bank accounts in Utah is to:

Contact the financial institutions. Requesters may give the bank a direct call or visit a branch in their locality.
Talk to a customer care agent to complete the name change on their account.

Mostly, banks have a form that requesters can fill. However, some banks may ask applicants to submit a formal letter requesting a change of name.

While updating bank accounts with the name, it is also important to request new credit and debit cards and checkbooks.

Furthermore, requesters must inform employers of their name change and fill a new Form W-4. The Form W-4 is an Employee’s Withholding Certificate that enables employers to withhold the correct federal income tax from employees’ pay. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has listed the tax consequences for failure to update a name change with employers.

After a name change with financial institutions, account holders must review service providers on auto payments. This is vital because payments may be declined if the name on the new card does not match the name on their databases.

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

Changing one’s name in Utah after marriage may be a lengthy and tedious process. However, people can hire skilled lawyers to act on their behalf. Requesters who petition the court may need to wait eight (8) weeks to complete the process.

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

The processing time for changing one’s name depends on different government agencies. The Social Security Administration, for example, uses two to four weeks to process a request for a new Social Security card. Whereas obtaining a new driver’s license in Utah takes about four to six weeks.

More importantly, the period of a name change process in Utah depends on the applicant. Agencies will only begin the name change exercise after requesters have applied with the correct documentation.