One or both parties to a marriage may elect to change the middle or last names by which that party wishes to be known after they are married by entering the new name in fields 30A thru 31C, as applicable, on the marriage license application at the time they are applying for the marriage license.

The parties may choose any of the following middle or last names as the name they wish to be known as after marriage [FC 306.5(b)(2)]:

• Current last name of the other spouse
• Last name of either spouse given at birth
• A name combining into a single last name all or a segment of the current last name or last name of either spouse given at birth
• A combination of last names may or may not be hyphenated

IMPORTANT:

• You may not change your first name using this process.
• You may not amend the marriage license after it has been issued to add or change the name you wish to be known as after you are married.
• The name you indicate on the marriage license application will be your name on the marriage license/certificate and cannot be changed by the County Clerk.

You are not required to change your name, nor are parties required to have the same name.

The marriage certificate is used by multiple local, state, federal and private agencies, each of which have different rules and/or regulations regarding what documents are acceptable to change your name on their records following marriage.

It is recommended that you contact these agencies to verify their requirements prior to applying for your marriage license.

It is unlawful for our employees to answer questions of a legal nature.

County Clerk staff cannot advise you how to complete the marriage license application as it relates to your entry of a new name or retention of your former name on the marriage license application.

For your protection, if you have any questions regarding whether you should or should not list your new name on the marriage license application, and/or how the Name Equality Act of 2007 may affect you, please consult an attorney prior to applying for your marriage license.