How to Change Your Name After Marriage in South Dakota

Changing My Name After Marriage in South Dakota

Spouses can choose to change their names through marriage in South Dakota. However, this option can only be used to change last names. Changing a middle name or first name after marriage is usually only possible through a court order.

After an individual changes their name in South Dakota, the state requires such persons to inform certain government agencies to ensure that correct records are maintained on their databases.

Couples that intend to change their names can do so by obtaining a marriage license application and entering the new name where applicable. However, the state has its marriage requirements. For instance, both parties must be at least sixteen years old, and only persons aged eighteen and older can tie the knot without parental consent. Marriage certificates are maintained by the South Dakota Department of Health. However, South Dakota marriage records are maintained by the courthouses where the marriage license for the couple was issued. Interested persons may query the court for these records before proceeding with the name change process.

How to Change Your Name After Marriage in South Dakota

To get a name change after marriage in South Dakota, interested couples can visit their local Register of Deeds office to purchase a marriage license. The Marriage License Application Worksheet has two forms that each party must complete with their details. In this application worksheet, the spouse who chooses to change their last name must fill it in the name section.

Applicants are to pay $40 for the license in cash or a traveler's check. They must also provide a valid form of identification, which can be either a driver's license or a certified birth certificate.

Partners must solemnize their marriage within ninety days of obtaining the license, or it will become invalid. Within ten days, the individual that performs the marriage ceremony must return the license to the Register of Deeds office. Per the South Dakota statutes, individuals authorized to solemnize a marriage include a justice of the supreme court, a magistrate, a circuit court judge, or any individual that a church permits.

How to Update Your Social Security Card in South Dakota?

In South Dakota, individuals that change their name must notify the Social Security Administration (SSA) to process a new social security card that bears their new name. The SSA needs the following to provide a new card:

A social security card application form.
Certified copies of a birth certificate.
Document proving the name change, i.e., a marriage certificate or court order.
A valid identification card or document, including a driver's license and work ID card.
For requesters born outside the U.S, proof of citizenship or other relevant documents must be tendered.

Getting a new social security card comes at no cost. South Dakota residents can find their local SSA office by entering the zip code of their city or county area into the Field Office Locator.

Apart from in-person applications, the SSA also accepts requests via mail. Interested persons can call customer service at _(800) 772-1213_to obtain more information on getting new social security in South Dakota.

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

It is important for individuals who changed their name in South Dakota to get a new driver's license that carries their new name. Residents can obtain this license by visiting a Driver's Licensing location with the following documents:

Evidence of the name change: a marriage certificate or court order.
A document that shows proof of residence. The document must have the motorist's name and be issued less than a year from the application date.
Most recent driver's license.

If the individual does not have an existing driver's license, the Department of Public Safety may require more documents to prove identity, residency, or U.S citizenship. The DPS charges $15 and requires applicants to bring the original copies of their documents.

How to Update Your Insurance Information in South Dakota?

If an individual changes their name in South Dakota, they must notify their insurance company. The Division of Insurance serves as the regulatory body of the state's insurance industry. Insurance services in South Dakota include life, health, car, and property insurance.

Individuals can contact their insurance company via phone or visit a local office to inquire about the process to update their information. The company's website may also provide such information or an online option to update insurance information. Usually, the requirements for the update may include submitting proof of name change (marriage certificate or court order) and a valid identity card.

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

While spouses can change their last names in South Dakota with a marriage license, interested persons can also get a court order to change their last names legally.

Individuals must file a petition at the circuit court located in the county where they have lived for at least six months. The Petition for Adult Name Change Form must be completed and filed with the clerk of the court. However, the Verification section at the bottom of the form should be signed in the presence of a notary public. Petitioners can do this at their local courthouses or a bank.

Petitioners must also file a completed Civil Case filing Statement form and Notice of Hearing for Adult Name Change form alongside their petition. The clerk charges $70 as a filing fee. After filing the forms, the clerk will provide a hearing date for the name change.

The court requires petitioners to contact a local newspaper and publish the notice form once every week for four consecutive weeks before the court hearing. Petitioners can consult their county office to find out the correct newspapers to contact. After publishing the notice, the newspaper must provide proof of publication that the petitioner will file with the court clerk.

Before the hearing, the petitioner must obtain and complete the necessary sections of the Order for Adult Name Change form. Documents needed for the court hearing include:

A certified copy of a birth certificate
Order for Adult Name Change form (two copies)
Proof of publication of the notice

If the judge grants the petition, the officer will sign the Order and have the court clerk make certified copies of it as proof of the name change. Petitioners can submit these copies when updating their information with any agency.

The Register of Deeds office provides the complete requirements needed to obtain an adult name change order in South Dakota.

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

Residents that change their personal information in South Dakota, such as their name, must notify their mortgage company of such alteration via phone. They can also visit the company to inquire about the name change process. While each mortgage company may have specific requirements, inquirers will likely provide proof of name change, a new social security card, and a valid state-approved ID. A certified copy of a marriage certificate or court order typically serves as proof of name change.

South Dakota utility companies that offer services like electricity, water, and transportation also require individuals to notify them of a change in their details. Such individuals can contact their utility providers to ask about the procedure for updating this information.

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

Couples may need the following documents to change their names after marriage:

Certified copies of a birth certificate
A marriage license or petition for a name change
Certified copies of marriage certificate or court order
A new social security card
A valid form of identification

The couple will also require other documents, depending on the method used to change names or the agency involved.

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

The Office of Vital Records of the South Dakota Department of Health serves as the custodian of vital records in the state. To get certified copies of a marriage license, requesters can make an order at the vital records office location, via mail, over the internet, or by phone.

Under state laws, vital records are not open for public inspection. Persons eligible to get a marriage record from the department include:

The spouses
The children of the spouses
The parents of a spouse
The legal guardian of a spouse
Other authorized persons, such as an attorney

The vital office may require proof of relationship with the partners at the time of the request.

To get certified copies of a marriage certificate, requesters will complete the application form and append their signatures. They must also pay a $15 non-refundable fee in cash, check, money order, or with their debit/credit card.

Acceptable forms of identification include:

Photocopy of state identification card
Photocopy of driver's license
Photocopy of tribal identification card
Photocopy of military identification card
Photocopy of U.S passport or visa

Individuals that do not have the above proof of identity must provide a photocopy of any two of the following:

Car registration or title with current address
A utility bill that bears their current address
A bank statement with current address
Social Security card
A paycheck that has the requestor's name, social security number, and workplace address

Requesters can submit these documents in person or via mail to any Register of Deeds office or the vital office's mailing address:

South Dakota Department of Health
207 East Missouri Avenue, Suite 1A
Pierre, SD 57501

Phone: (605) 773-4961
Fax: (605) 773-2680

The ordering vital records page provides more information on how to obtain certified copies of a marriage certificate. Inquirers can call the office's phone line from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays.

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 South Dakota

Residents of South Dakota that change their names must notify the U.S Department of State and obtain a new U.S passport. The following documents are needed for the process:

An application form
Proof of change of name (court order or a certified copy of a marriage certificate)
Current U.S passport
A color passport photo

There are different application forms for a new U.S passport, depending on a person's passport status. The forms are available on the agency's Name Change page, and applicants can read the instructions on the page to determine the form they need. In most cases, charges apply for the service. Typically, it takes between ten to twelve weeks to get a new U.S passport. Applicants can also pay a $60 fee to speed up the process and get their passports in a shorter time.

How to Change your Name on Bank Accounts in South Dakota

Residents of South Dakota must notify their bank upon changing their names. However, they must already have a new social security card and driver's license. To change the name on a bank account, account owners can visit the bank's local branch and inquire from the customer representative about the process. They may also inquire about the process through a phone call or check the bank's site for such information. The frequently asked questions (FAQs) page on the site may provide such information.

The bank will require proof of the name change to update the account. Individuals can submit a certified copy of their marriage certificate or court order to this effect. However, each bank may have specific requirements.

Apart from updating a new name on a bank account, account owners that use debit cards, credit cards, or checkbooks will also need to request new ones that bear their new names.

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

The time taken for spouses in South Dakota to change their name after marriage usually depends on when the marriage ceremony occurs. Upon getting a marriage license, the state laws require couples to get married within ninety days, or the license becomes invalid. After the ceremony, the individual that officiated the marriage must return the license to the Register of Deeds office within ten days.

The Register of Deeds processes the license, and the name change is officially recorded. However, the couples must obtain certified copies of their marriage certificate from the Register of Deeds' office or the Department of Health.

How Long Does It Take to Change Your Name in South Dakota?

The process an individual uses to get a name change in South Dakota can influence the time it takes. For instance, the court-ordered name change process takes more time. Also, such persons must contact different agencies to update the name on their records. Usually, this can take a few weeks to some months. However, contacting the necessary agencies early to update such information will hasten the process.