North Dakota Marriage Laws | § 14-03-20.1 | Surname Options. Marriage Laws

North Dakota Century Code 14-03-20.1

Surname options.

1. Every person has the right to adopt any surname by which that person wishes to be known by using that surname consistently and without intent to defraud. 2. A person's surname does not automatically change upon marriage. Neither party to the marriage must change the party's surname. Parties to a marriage need not have the same surname. 3. One party or both parties to a marriage may elect to change the surname by which that party wishes to be known after the solemnization of the marriage by entering the new surname in the space provided on the marriage license application. The entry on the application must consist of one of the following surnames: a. The surname of the other spouse; b. Any former surname of either spouse; c. A name combining into a single surname all or a segment of the premarriage surname or any former surname of either spouse; or d. A combination name separated by a hyphen or space, provided that each part of the combination surname is the premarriage surname or former surname of either spouse. 4. Use of the option under subsection 3 has the effect of providing a record of the surname change. The marriage certificate containing the new surname, if any, constitutes proof that the use of the new surname, or the retention of the former surname, is lawful. 5. Neither the use of nor the failure to use the option of selecting a new surname by means of a marriage license application, as provided in subsection 3, abrogates the right of either party to adopt a different surname through usage at a future date. 6. Compliance with the surname provisions of this section is sufficient to meet the satisfactory evidence requirements of section 39-06-07.1.

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More North Dakota Marriage Laws

§ 14-03-09 Who may solemnize marriages.
§ 14-03-0 Foreign marriages recognized - Exception
§ 14-03-09 Who may solemnize marriage
§ 14-03-01 What constitutes marriage - Spouse defined.
§ 14-03-01.1 Members of armed forces deemed residents.
§ 14-03-02 Lawful age for marriage.
§ 14-03-03 Void marriages.
§ 14-03-06 Marriage of person having husband or wife void - Exception.
§ 14-03-11 Who issues marriage license to official.
§ 14-03-17 Application for license.
§ 14-03-18 License to and marriage of intoxicated person prohibited.
§ 14-03-19 License issued to all who comply with law.
§ 14-03-20.2 Middle name options.
§ 14-03-21 Return of license and certificate - Duplicate delivered to persons married - Records kept - Penalty.
§ 14-03-24 Certified record is evidence.
§ 14-03-25 Performing marriage ceremony without authority - Penalty.
§ 14-03-28 Penalty.
§ 14-03-20.1 Surname options.
§ 14-03-08 Foreign marriages recognized - Exception.
§ 14-03-22 Marriage license fee - Supplemental fee - Fee for marriage ceremony - Duties of officers.
§ 14-03-10 Marriage may not be solemnized without license.
§ 14-03-20 License and certificate.