How to Change Your Name after Marriage

You will need to obtain a certified copy of your marriage certificate.

To obtain a copy of a public marriage certificate from the Santa Cruz County Recorder’s Office:

• Visit the office located at 701 Ocean Street, Room 230, in Santa Cruz between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., (closed for lunch between 12:00 and 1:00 p.m.) Monday through Friday.
• Santa Cruz County Recorder’s Office Website
• On-line using VitalChek

To obtain a copy of a confidential marriage certificate from the Santa Cruz County Clerk:

• Visit the office located at 701 Ocean Street, Room 310, in Santa Cruz between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, complete a form, and show ID. Cost is $18 per copy.
• By mail, submit a notarized application with a check or money order ($18 per copy) to:

  Santa Cruz County Clerk
  701 Ocean Street, Room 310
  Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Some of the places listed below (such as the Social Security Administration) will insist on seeing documentation. Others will not. Some will just need a phone call, while others will need to see you in person or get it in writing. Documentation helps with your transition between names, so the more documentation you get, the easier the subsequent changes will be.

We suggest you alert the following places of your name change:

• Social Security Administration and your employer. This will assure that your earnings will be properly reported by your employer and recorded in our records. You can get a new card from Social Security with your new name. Name change information and Getting a new card
• DMV
• Voter's Registration registertovote.ca.gov
• Credit card agencies
• Internal Revenue Service www.irs.gov/faqs/faq-kw124.html
• Utility companies
• The post office
• Passport travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/forms.html
• Bank
• Stocks/bonds/mutual funds
• Retirement plans
• Real estate
• Professional associations
• House, car and life insurance
• The Name Equality Act of 2007