How Many Marriage Certificates are Needed for a Name Change?

The number of marriage certificates that a person needs is very dependent on how and where they are changing their name.  The DMV, State Department, and Social Security offices all require a certified marriage certificate to process a name change, but they will return them.  Name change with many banks and creditors will require marriage certificates and they are not obligated to return the certificates.  The average number of marriage certificates a bride uses for a name change in the United States is three.