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How to Change Your Name After Marriage in North Dakota

Changing My Name After Marriage in North Dakota

Intending couples in North Dakota have the option of changing their names after marriage. As provided by North Dakota's marriage laws, this privilege allows newlyweds to modify their names to reflect their new marital status. Among other reasons, adopting a name that reflects one's marital status helps couples feel more like a family.

For new couples in North Dakota, the process of fully changing legal names after marriage is only half complete at the receipt of a valid marriage certificate. The new partners will equally have to change the names that appear on their important records and documents, such as their Social Security cards, driver's license, utility services accounts, and mortgage contracts.

North Dakota marriage records are required to facilitate name change requests in the state. Hence, newly weds seeking to make alterations to their name must query the courthouse where the license was issued for these records before making a name change request.

How to Change Your Name After Marriage in North Dakota

The first step in changing a name after marriage in North Dakota comes when an intending couple obtains a marriage license. The couple must fill their marriage license with the names they intend to adopt after the wedding. The names the couple fill in the marriage license will be the ones that reflect on their marriage certificate when they receive it.

It is important to note that in North Dakota, marriage allows a person to change only their middle and last names. Therefore, to change the first name, interested individuals will have to file for a name change in a court of competent jurisdiction.

How to Update Your Social Security Card in North Dakota?

The Social Security card is one of the most crucial identification documents for persons in North Dakota. It is necessary to get a job, receive Social Security benefits, and access other government services. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the information contained on the card is authentic and up-to-date. Applying for a new card is free.

To apply for a new Social Security card after a name change, an individual must:

  • Obtain an authentic copy of a recognized I.D., which may include a driver's license issued by the North Dakota Division of Transportation, a United States international passport, or a state-issued identification document.
  • Fill and print out the Application for a Social Security Card form.
  • Send the completed application form, accompanied with the supporting documents, through mail to the county office of the Social Security Administration (SSA).

The application process for specific categories of people, such as non-US citizens, is slightly different. Nonetheless, the SSA provides adequate category-specific guidelines on its website.

How to Get a New Driver's License in North Dakota?

A driver's license is another important I.D. that a new couple must update after a legal name change. To request a new license that reflects the new name, license holders in North Dakota must apply to the North Dakota Division of Transportation in person. In addition, interested persons must present their name change document - the government-issued marriage certificate - at the closest North Dakota Drivers License office.

For licenses that are not due for renewal, the license holder will have to pay $3 and have their passport photo taken.

How to Update Your Insurance Information in North Dakota?

The North Dakota Insurance Department regulates all insurance providers and policies in the state. The Department requires all consumers who hold valid insurance policies, including auto, health, homeowners, and life insurance policies, to submit a name change application within 30 days of the change.

Consumers may notify the Department by submitting a completed Change of Address And/Or Name Form with a certified copy of a legal document ratifying the name change. Policyholders may submit this form by email, Fax: (701) 328-4880, or mail to:

North Dakota Insurance Department
600 East Boulevard Avenue
Department 401
Bismarck, ND 58505-0320

Whether or not consumers will still be required to inform their insurance policy providers formally varies from one provider to another.

Where Do I Go to Change My Last Name in North Dakota?

Outside marriage, the state permits the change of legal names in North Dakota for other reasons. These include religion, marriage dissolution or divorce, and any other reason that is not illegal or intended to further criminality.

Adult Name Change - For persons 18 years and older

Persons 18 years or older can complete a legal name change by filing a written petition with a district court. Only people who meet the following criteria qualify to file a petition of change of name in North Dakota:

  • Any person not changing their name to commit fraud or mislead people, and whose name change does threaten public safety or cause injury to another person.
  • Petitioners who are bonafide U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens of the United States.
  • Petitioners who, at the minimum, have resided in North Dakota for six months.

The steps for completing a formal name change via court petition involve:

  • Publishing the Notice of Petition for Name Change in a newspaper in the county of residence. Only on two grounds may a judge waive the requirement to publish the notice of the change of name petition: if the proposed name change is not for the petitioner's last name, and if the petitioner can present credible proof of being a victim of domestic violence.
  • Obtaining an Affidavit of Publication from the publication newspaper after the notice has been published
  • Collecting all written objections to the name change petition and completing the Petition for Name Name Change. Persons seeking a publication waiver may skip this step.
  • Filing a Petition for Name Change, an Affidavit of Petitioner, a Confidential Information Form, a Notice of Petition for Name Change, an Affidavit of Publication received from the publishing newspaper, all written objections, and a proposed Order of Name Change Form with the Clerk of Court at the local district court. A petitioner will typically pay an $80 filing fee or file a separate petition to waive the fee.
  • Completing a criminal history background check where that is required.

Once the petitioner completes all of the above steps, a district court judge then decides whether to grant the proposed name change. One must note that a district court judge will only hear a petition 30 days after the newspaper has published the notice of name change petition. Once the judge signs the Order of Name Change form and grants the name change, the petitioner may apply for a name change certificate at the same court.

Change of Name for Minors - Below 18 years of age

Some of the major reasons parents or guardians may want to change a minor's names include divorce, adoption, and even marriage. The steps, instructions, and forms for completing a name change for a minor through a court petition are quite similar to an adult's in North Dakota. However, the contents of some forms are modified to satisfy the requirements of the process. Below is an overview of the process:

  • Petitioner publishes the Notice for Name Change of a Minor Child in a county newspaper and obtains the affidavits of publication from the newspaper. Petitioners may skip this step if requesting a waiver for this publication requirement. The court may only waive this publication under one of two conditions:

    • If the petitioner is only seeking to change the child's first or middle name
    • If the petitioner can prove that they have faced domestic violence, which the state law describes to include physical injury, bodily harm, forced sexual activity, physical assault, and the threat of imminent physical harm

  • Petitioner completes the change of name forms and collects all written objections to the petition received from members of the public.

  • Petitioner files the following:

    • Petition of Name Change of a Minor
    • Confidential Information Form
    • Affidavit
    • Affidavit of Service by Mail
    • Proposed Order Granting Name Change
    • Published Notice of Petition for Name Change of Minor (if the petitioner did not waive this requirement)
    • A copy of the Notice of Petition for Name Change of Minor
    • Affidavit of Publication, and
    • The written objections submitted by members of the public (if any)

These documents are filed with the court clerk with a filing fee of $80 unless the petitioner requests a waiver.

  • Petitioner obtains a Criminal Background History Check for the child if the court requires one. The court will usually notify the petitioner of a background check requirement after the petitioner has completed the filing of the petition. In such a case, the petitioner will have to complete this step with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Typically, the court does not require a hearing for a name change petition. Nonetheless, if the court deems a hearing necessary, the district court clerk will send notification of the court hearing time, date, and location to the petitioner.

Also, where applicable, one additional step for the petitioner involves mailing a notice of the name change petition to a non-custodial parent within 10 days of publishing the notice in a newspaper. This step also necessitates completing an Affidavit of Service Form for each person the petitioner will serve. The petitioner must submit these affidavits with other forms when filing the petition at the local district court.

How to Update Information with North Dakota Mortgage and Utility Companies?

After marriage, persons who changed their names will typically need to update their information with the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA). To complete a change of name on a mortgage, interested persons must provide the legal document backing the name change to the NDHFA, i.e., a marriage certificate or court order.

A spouse may not be added to an existing mortgage. However, to change the name on a mortgage to exclude a former partner from holding any interest or incurring any liability, interested persons must refinance the housing loan or execute a release of liability. Individuals interested in carrying out either of these must contact the NDHFA at:

2642 Vermont Avenue
P.O. Box 1535
Bismarck, ND 58502-1535
Phone: (701) 328-8080, (800) 292-8621(Toll-Free)
Email: hfainfo@nd.gov

Completing a change of name on a utility services account depends on whether a private or government company provides the service. If a private company provides the utility service in question, interested persons will have to contact the customer service unit of the company. If the local government provides the utility services, persons looking to complete a name change must contact their local utility department for the necessary steps.

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

While the documents required to complete a change of name after marriage may vary slightly from one county to another, the general requirements include:

  • Documents that reflect the new legal names, such as a driver's license, U.S. passport, and Social Security card
  • Certified certificate of marriage
  • Other supporting documents as requested by the agency in question.

How to Get Certified Copies of Your Marriage License in North Dakota?

According to North Dakota's marriage laws, newly-married couples must receive a filled and signed duplicate copy of their marriage license from the officiant at their marriage ceremony. The officiant must also return the original copies of the completed and signed marriage certificate and license to the county official's office that originally issued them. The county official then files and retains these original copies as official records.

To acquire a certified copy of a North Dakota marriage license, applicants must contact their county marriage licensing office and pay a fee of $1. While the county recorder is responsible for issuing the marriage certificate in some counties, the district court clerk performs that duty in some others.

Spouses can find clerk of court addresses for obtaining certified copies on the Department of Health's Certified Copies of Marriage Records page.

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 North Dakota?

Persons interested in getting a new passport in their new legal names in North Dakota must go through the U.S. Department of State. The steps for getting this travel document are as follows:

Passports Issued Within One Year

People can apply for a new passport by completing Form DS-5504 and submitting it with the following documents:

  • Most recent U.S. passport
  • A legal document confirming the name change, such as a court order or a marriage certificate.

These documents must be sent via the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Unless the applicant asks for expedited service, there are no fees for this service.

Passports Issued Over A Year

Form DS-82 can be used by those whose passports were issued over a year and want to renew the documents by mail. The following must be submitted with the form:

  • A most recent U.S. passport
  • An official document confirming the change of name
  • A colored passport photo, and
  • A renewal cost charged based on the age of the passport holder

The USPS is the only mail delivery agency allowed to deliver mails to the postal addresses listed on the application form.

The following categories of passport holders can renew their passports via mail:

  • Those who can submit their most recent passport together with their application form.
  • Those whose passports have not been damaged, except for the usual wear and tear.
  • Those who obtained their passports when they were 16 years or older or in the last 15 years
  • Those who can present official documentation of a legal change of name or who obtained their passports in their new name

Passport holders who do not fall within any of these categories and who cannot apply using a Form DS-82 have to apply in person with:

  • Form DS-11
  • Proof of their U.S. citizenship and a photocopy
  • A legal name change document
  • A valid identification document and a photocopy
  • A color passport, and
  • The application fee

Passport holders in this category who have adopted new names for marital reasons, and can provide a new I.D. issued in the new name, will not be required to show official proof of a name change.

How to Change your Name on Bank Accounts in North Dakota?

Individuals who have just undergone a formal name change due to marriage should update their bank accounts, debit cards, credit cards, and checkbooks to reflect the new legal name. This ensures that the new legal name on their I.D. documents matches the information on their financial records.

Because the process of completing a change of name at each bank varies, interested parties should contact their banks for guidance on how to go about it to avoid mistakes. Most banks will demand a legal document permitting the formal name change, such as a marriage certificate or court order.

People who alter their financial information must also inform their employers by filing a completed Form W-4. These employers will then be able to file their withholding taxes accurately using this form.

Individuals must also document a change of name with Form I-9 used for name re-verification at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

After changing credit and debit card information, consumers may have to review their most recent financial statements. This allows them to send the current debit or credit card details to service providers who make automated monthly deductions.

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

The period required to complete a name change after marriage varies from county to county. However, it is primarily affected by how long it takes before a person receives a marriage certificate.

How Long Does it Take to Change Your Name in North Dakota?

This is dependent on how long it takes to obtain an official name change document, including a certificate of a name change, court order, or another court decree (divorce, adoption, etc.).

For example, the length of a divorce hearing has a significant impact on the speed at which a person can change his/her name following a divorce. Similarly, a minor or adult name change petition submitted in court will be postponed if members of the public object to the petition and challenge the intended name change. Also, the court's docket has a considerable impact on how quickly a case can be heard.

Furthermore, because the time required for each change of name application differs from a county, city, or town to the next, interested parties will need to determine what time frame applies in their area.

The requirements for completing a formal name change also differ from one government body to the next. For example, processing a name change application and issuing a corrected Social Security card takes two to four weeks at the Social Security Administration.