How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Colorado

Changing My Name After Marriage in Colorado

Getting married in Colorado comes with legal and administrative transitions. A key aspect of it involves updating all personal information to reflect the new status. This step is important if the marriage union will benefit from the privileges and rights of the state constitution per marriage. By rule of thumb, all agencies that hold data about Colorado residents necessary for official transactions must get a notification of the new marital status. It also means that all notification or update processes must be accompanied by proof of marriage, that is, a marriage certificate. Concerned individuals can get copies of their marriage certificates over at the State Vital Records Office or at the Office of the County Clerk and Recorder where the event took place.

Besides facilitating name change requests, Colorado marriage records are pivotal for obtaining various other legal documents and accessing marriage-related benefits. Thus, interested and eligible members of the public may request to view or copy these records from local courts and repositories.

How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Colorado

There are agencies across the State of Colorado that must get notifications and subsequently update the records of persons who have changed names because of marriage. Below is a list of them:

Social Security Administration
Driver Licensing Authority (Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles)
Vehicle Title (County DMV Offices)
Vehicle Registration (County DMV Offices)

Other important agencies or organizations that require notification for smooth administration include:

Employers
Institutions (applicable to students)
Financial agencies such as banks
Telephone and Utility companies
State taxing authority
Insurance companies
Welfare services
Veteran administrations

It is important for parties to update name changes with professional and licensing bodies they are affiliated with.

How to Update Your Social Security Card in Colorado?

Parties can initiate an update on their Social Security Cards by applying to the agency office in person or by mail. When going in person, be sure to come along with the following:

A completed Application for a Social Security Card (SS-5)
Proof of age and gender (it could be an old driver’s license or a birth certificate)
Evidence of name change (marriage certificate, court order change of name, or a decree of divorce)
Proof of immigration and US citizenship

If sending by mail, attach the same documents, a self-enclosed envelope, and a daytime phone number. Expect to receive a new social security card by mail. Be aware that the Social Security Number does not change: only the names may change.

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

In Colorado, the Division of Motor Vehicle (DMV) is the agency that handles name changes on driver’s licenses. Name changes must be reported to the DMV within 30 days of effect. Concerned persons must take the following to the nearest DMV office in Colorado:

Legal records of name change documents (court-ordered name change, marriage certificates, or a decree of divorce.)
Notice of confirmation of change of name from the Social Security Administration, or evidence of change of name on the new social security card
Proof of new address (bank statement, rent/mortgage record, utility bill)

It costs $28 to update a driver’s license. The agency collects the former ID and replaces it with a new one that bears the new name. If the party’s spouse has a commercial driver’s license, it will attract an extra $15.50. Be aware that payments apply only to persons under the age of 60 years. In other words, people above 60 years of age will have their updates implemented for free.

Additional updates conducted by the DMV Colorado are vehicle titles and registrations. Title updates take place at the county offices of the agency. The following are required to initiate the process:

Evidence of change of name
Proof of identity. It could be a driver's license, ID card, a US passport, a valid passport with a current visa, or an I–94 form.
Documentation of the vehicle’s VIN or Colorado title number
A completed Duplicate Title Request and Receipt Form
A service fee of $8.20 for the update

Vehicle registration update processes differ by county. Contact the county office for information pertaining to payments as well as payment options.

How to Update Your Insurance Information in Colorado?

Insurance simply put refers to financial protection from unforeseen circumstances that may incur heavy debts. Both state and non-state agencies run insurance programs for clients across Colorado. However, the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Insurance, runs the largest coverage of insurance in the state. Under this division, there are four categories of insurance:

Health Insurance: there are several health insurance plans that work both for individuals and corporate settings in the state. A summary of the different filing options is available on the website. To update information with the health insurance division, contact the unit through the address below:

Colorado Division of Insurance
1560 Broadway, suite 850
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (303) 894-7499

Alternatively, send an email to dorainsurance@state.co.us. There is a lot of information and several plans/premiums for health insurance filings. Use the video guide on the website to get started.

Homeowners and Renters Insurance: As it is with the health insurance filings, the homeowners/renter's insurance plan comprises a wide variety of options a party can file for. While some may cover aspects of the home structures and contents, others cover specific areas of home structures. The kind of structure is also brought into consideration, such that there is a separate policy for condominium owners.
Auto Insurance: the policy covers different aspects of damage that may arise in the use of vehicles. These range from bodily injury, property damage, medical payments arising from an auto injury, comprehensive collision, and uninsured/underinsured motorist. The policy also defines drivers into categories A to D based on age, marital status, the primary use of vehicles, and their driving history.
Life insurance and annuities: several types of life insurance programs exist with the state department to meet the needs of their residents at various stages of life. Life insurance could be based on term, whole, universal, or life insurance. An annuity represents an agreement where an insurance company pays a series of income in regular periods in exchange for a premium previously paid to the insurance company. Annuities work more like a future retirement income plan. There are different types of annuities recognized under the state’s policy.

To update individual information with the insurance provider, go to the state website and select the option ‘change an individual address, name or email address.’ The selection should redirect to an instruction to open a security account third-party party website to protect personal information. Follow the prompts provided.

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

A name change in Colorado is primarily a legal process. Therefore, interested parties get referred to the courts of jurisdiction to get a change of name. There are different processes, depending on the age of the interested party or the reason for seeking the change. Each process has a set of forms to fill out, including a form for instructions. Download the applicable set of forms and begin by reading the instructions carefully. An adult name change process involves:

A fingerprint-based criminal history check must be conducted within 90 days of filing the petition.
File the Petition of Change of Name Form (JDF 433). Be sure to sign the petition either in the presence of a court clerk or a notary public.
Complete the JDF 426 form (Publication for Change of Name), but do not sign it.
Complete the JDF 427 form (Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name)
Complete the caption box of the form JDF 448 (Final Decree for Change of Name). If the presiding judge or magistrate approves the petition, he or she signs the decree. This form, when signed, is proof of a change of name.
Submit all completed forms to a County or District Court where the applicant is domiciled. Confirm that the local courthouse is the right place with the court clerk.
Expect to pay some fee for the process. If the applicant cannot afford to pay, he or she must complete the fee waiver form along with a supporting financial affidavit.
The court schedules a name-change court hearing, and upon approval, the petitioner notifies the petitioner of the application’s success. Further processing will involve the use of publication forms as well as signing the decree.
If the filing party has a record of conviction or adjudication for a felony, there is a separate process for filing a petition for a change of name. Use this set of forms and follow the instructions provided:

The process for a change of name on behalf of a child a similar, but with a few peculiarities:

The petitioning party must be at least 18 years of age
The minor child must be a resident of the county of filing
Children above 14 years of age must be free from all adjudication as a delinquent for offenses which otherwise will be felonies in an adult Court
All children above the age of 14 years must complete a fingerprint-based criminal history and submit the report within 90 days of the petition

Persons above the age of 70 can file for a change of name under a different set of requirements:

Eligible persons must be free from any conviction of felonies or adjudication as a juvenile delinquent, which could have constituted a felony in an adult Court or under federal law
A plausible reason for seeking a name change would be to harmonize discrepancies in names in order to get an identification card in the state. Like all others, the petition must contain a fingerprint-based record of the individual.

Some parties may seek a change of name after divorce or separation. There are a separate set of forms for this. Follow the instructions on the instruction sheet in the package. The fee for Name Restoration is $105. Concerned parties must pay this fee within 60 days from filing.

How to Update Information with Colorado Mortgage and Utility Companies?

Mortgage companies in Colorado may be public or private. Public mortgage agencies are state-owned and, as such, will have standard rules for updating records. The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Real Estate, handles mortgage loans for the state. Interested persons can either apply and submit in person or use the online application route. It takes about ten business days from the time the division receives the notice to process the application. Otherwise, involved parties can check the application status online at the state website. Online applications are processed more quickly. In fact, updates may reflect within 24 hours of approval.

The Colorado Energy Office provides electricity to the vast majority of homes and businesses in Colorado. To update information with them, call (303) 866-2100, or visit the ground address below:

Colorado Energy Office
1600 Broadway, Suite 1960
Denver, CO 80202

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

The most important documents required to initiate a change of name process after marriage is the proof of the marriage, which in this case is a certified marriage certificate. Accompanying documents include proof of address, which could be any of the following:

Computer-generated utility bill
Bank statement
First-class mail
Vehicle insurance policy mortgage document
Motor vehicle registration
USPS change of address form
(CNL 107)

All documents must be valid within one year of the application.

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

Certified copies of marriage licenses in Colorado are available at the Office of the County Clerk and Recorder where the event took place or where the license was filed. Certified copies are available only to the persons listed in the record or third parties that bear consent from them. Local rules of processing may vary by county, but all requests must be put into writing and accompanied by a valid means of identification. Certified verification of marriage documents is accessible only to eligible persons at the Department of Public Health and Environment, Vital Records Unit.

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 Colorado?

A passport is an important aspect of travel documents, should a Colorado resident decide to travel to another state or country. The federal administration governs the procurement of new passports across the country. To obtain a new passport in Colorado, visit the Colorado Passport Agency in person. Ensure to call ahead to get information about business hours and local rules. When visiting, ensure to take the following along:

A completed Form DS–11
Social Security Number. An applicant without this must present a statement of oath stating that he or she has never received a social security number before.
A valid proof of US citizenship: It could be a certified birth certificate signed by the registrar, a consular report of birth abroad, or a certificate of citizenship/naturalization.
A single-sided black and white copy of the proof of citizenship.
Original form of identification (a valid U.S. driver's license, a former US passport, government employee identification, U.S. military ID, or a valid foreign passport)
A single-sided black and white legible photocopy of a form of identification
A color passport photograph
Fee payment (a minimum of $100)

An applicant can apply for an expedited passport by providing supporting documentation such as a travel ticket, hotel reservation confirmation, etc. However, expedited passports attract extra fees.

How to Change your Name on Bank Accounts in Colorado?

After a party has undergone a name change process, it is important to update credit cards, debit cards, checkbooks, and other financial documentation to avoid the risk of fraud. Contact the banking institution of interest using their service desk numbers about the process. Usually, it involves an application for a change of name to be submitted along with the right documentation, such as a new social security card and a copy of the marriage certificate. Submit in person at the nearest branch of the bank. For more inquiries, go to the help desk in the bank. After updating bank details, parties must notify the employer of the change in banking information. Autopay transactions must undergo self-data management. The safest way to do it is to remove the card and set up a new account with the new details.

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

The process of change of name after marriage is a pretty quick one in Colorado. Usually, after filling out the marriage license and certificate document, the marrying parties must return the documents within 63 days after completion. Thereafter, they can request certified copies for proof and facilitate other name change processes in governmental facilities.

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

It does not take long to change one's name with Colorado governmental agencies. It depends upon the party having satisfied the requirements for the process. Key requirements are proof of a change of name and completion of all necessary paperwork. Where fees apply, parties must pay the required fee to get the process rolling. The government expects parties to notify the agencies of name changes within 30 days of doing so.