Checked against official SSA, State Department, IRS and USAGov pages and forms on 2026-10-07. Agency rules and fees change; the agency's current instructions win.
USAGov: "If you change your name or find an error on your renewed passport, you must get an updated one to reflect the change. The process, cost, and forms you need depend on how long you have had your current passport." Here's how the State Department's forms (editions 04-2025) split it:
| Situation | Form | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Your passport was issued less than one year ago, and your name changed by marriage or court order less than one year after it was issued | DS-5504, by mail | "There is no fee to use this form unless expedited service or 1-2 Day Delivery service is requested" |
| You can send your most recent passport; you were at least 16 when it was issued; it was issued less than 15 years ago; it isn't damaged, lost or stolen; and you can send certified proof of the name change | DS-82, by mail (or online renewal if you qualify) | Renewal fees apply (no execution fee) |
| First passport; last one issued under 16 or more than 15 years ago; lost, stolen or damaged; or you can't document the change as required | DS-11, in person | Passport fee plus an execution fee paid separately to the acceptance facility |
Fees and processing times change. Check the State Department's fee page and its name change page before you send anything.
The kit's passport form chooser and passport document packet make this a three-question decision, alongside every other step of your name change.
Get the Name Change Kit (PDF + Word), $12
Instant download. 14-day no-questions refund. Edition 1.0, dated 2026-10-07. Federal steps for every state; state steps you look up.