diff --git a/.build_rtd_docs/Doxyfile b/.build_rtd_docs/Doxyfile
index 1dc8033b435..95a4d26625d 100644
--- a/.build_rtd_docs/Doxyfile
+++ b/.build_rtd_docs/Doxyfile
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ PROJECT_NAME           = "MODFLOW 6"
 # could be handy for archiving the generated documentation or if some version
 # control system is used.
 
-PROJECT_NUMBER         = "version 6.5.0.dev0"
+PROJECT_NUMBER         = "version 6.5.0"
 
 # Using the PROJECT_BRIEF tag one can provide an optional one line description
 # for a project that appears at the top of each page and should give viewer a
diff --git a/CITATION.cff b/CITATION.cff
index 08cfa01c6d4..af515842683 100644
--- a/CITATION.cff
+++ b/CITATION.cff
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ cff-version: 1.2.0
 message: If you use this software, please cite the software itself.
 type: software
 title: MODFLOW 6 Modular Hydrologic Model
-version: 6.5.0.dev2
-date-released: '2024-02-13'
+version: 6.5.0
+date-released: '2024-05-23'
 doi: 10.5066/F76Q1VQV
 abstract: MODFLOW 6 is an object-oriented program and framework developed to provide
   a platform for supporting multiple models and multiple types of models within the
diff --git a/DISCLAIMER.md b/DISCLAIMER.md
index f32778cb5e4..9226475a939 100644
--- a/DISCLAIMER.md
+++ b/DISCLAIMER.md
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 Disclaimer
 ----------
 
-This software is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is
-being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The software has not
-received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). No warranty,
-expressed or implied, is made by the USGS or the U.S. Government as to the
-functionality of the software and related material nor shall the fact of release
-constitute any such warranty. The software is provided on the condition that
-neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages
-resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the software.
+This software has been approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey
+(USGS). Although the software has been subjected to rigorous review, the USGS
+reserves the right to update the software as needed pursuant to further analysis
+and review. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS or the U.S.
+Government as to the functionality of the software and related material nor
+shall the fact of release constitute any such warranty. Furthermore, the
+software is released on condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government
+shall be held liable for any damages resulting from its authorized or
+unauthorized use.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f2d96047b8f..fa742b249aa 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 This is the development repository for the USGS MODFLOW 6 Hydrologic Model. The  official USGS distribution is available at [USGS Release Page](https://water.usgs.gov/ogw/modflow/MODFLOW.html).
 
-### Version 6.5.0.dev2 (preliminary)
+### Version 6.5.0
 
 [![GitHub release](https://img.shields.io/github/release/MODFLOW-USGS/modflow6.svg)](https://github.com/MODFLOW-USGS/modflow6/releases/latest)
 [![MODFLOW 6 continuous integration](https://github.com/MODFLOW-USGS/modflow6/actions/workflows/ci.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/MODFLOW-USGS/modflow6/actions/workflows/ci.yml)
@@ -110,12 +110,13 @@ Citations for specific versions are included with the [releases](https://github.
 Disclaimer
 ----------
 
-This software is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is
-being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The software has not
-received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). No warranty,
-expressed or implied, is made by the USGS or the U.S. Government as to the
-functionality of the software and related material nor shall the fact of release
-constitute any such warranty. The software is provided on the condition that
-neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages
-resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the software.
+This software has been approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey
+(USGS). Although the software has been subjected to rigorous review, the USGS
+reserves the right to update the software as needed pursuant to further analysis
+and review. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS or the U.S.
+Government as to the functionality of the software and related material nor
+shall the fact of release constitute any such warranty. Furthermore, the
+software is released on condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government
+shall be held liable for any damages resulting from its authorized or
+unauthorized use.
 
diff --git a/code.json b/code.json
index 8edddb0aa5a..a2fa703adc0 100644
--- a/code.json
+++ b/code.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [
     {
-        "status": "Preliminary",
+        "status": "Release",
         "languages": [
             "Fortran2008"
         ],
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@
             "email": "langevin@usgs.gov"
         },
         "laborHours": -1,
-        "version": "6.5.0.dev2",
+        "version": "6.5.0",
         "date": {
-            "metadataLastUpdated": "2024-02-13"
+            "metadataLastUpdated": "2024-05-23"
         },
         "organization": "U.S. Geological Survey",
         "permissions": {
diff --git a/doc/version.py b/doc/version.py
index b9069149d3d..9386a26a0a8 100644
--- a/doc/version.py
+++ b/doc/version.py
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 # MODFLOW 6 version file automatically created using...update_version.py
-# created on...February 13, 2024 21:29:25
-__version__ = "6.5.0.dev2"
+# created on...May 23, 2024 16:21:35
+__version__ = "6.5.0"
diff --git a/doc/version.tex b/doc/version.tex
index ae1627b11a1..8fdbf1ca67b 100644
--- a/doc/version.tex
+++ b/doc/version.tex
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-\newcommand{\modflowversion}{mf6.5.0.dev2}
-\newcommand{\modflowdate}{February 13, 2024}
+\newcommand{\modflowversion}{mf6.5.0}
+\newcommand{\modflowdate}{May 23, 2024}
 \newcommand{\currentmodflowversion}{Version \modflowversion---\modflowdate}
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 0da78223a9e..f8cae64fed9 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 project(
   'MODFLOW 6',
   'fortran',
-  version: '6.5.0.dev2',
+  version: '6.5.0',
   license: 'CC0',
   meson_version: '>= 1.1.0',
   default_options : [
diff --git a/pixi.toml b/pixi.toml
index 1f3d894a699..3e86897f9d7 100644
--- a/pixi.toml
+++ b/pixi.toml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 name = "modflow6"
 channels = ["conda-forge"]
 platforms = ["win-64", "linux-64", "linux-aarch64", "osx-arm64", "osx-64"]
-version = "6.5.0.dev2"
+version = "6.5.0"
 
 [dependencies]
 appdirs = "*"
@@ -67,6 +67,6 @@ build-docs = { cmd = "python build_docs.py", cwd = "distribution" }
 build-dist = { cmd = "python build_dist.py", cwd = "distribution" }
 build-makefiles = { cmd = "python build_makefiles.py", cwd = "distribution" }
 test-dist-scripts = { cmd = "pytest -v --durations 0", cwd = "distribution" }
-update-version = { cmd = "python update_version.py", cwd = "distribution" }
+version = "6.5.0"
 deprecations = { cmd = "python deprecations.py", cwd = "doc/mf6io/mf6ivar" }
 sphinx = { cmd = "make html", cwd = ".build_rtd_docs" }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Utilities/version.f90 b/src/Utilities/version.f90
index 0f3fa1ce2ee..60a74653676 100644
--- a/src/Utilities/version.f90
+++ b/src/Utilities/version.f90
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ module VersionModule
   public
   ! -- modflow 6 version
   integer(I4B), parameter :: IDEVELOPMODE = 1
-  character(len=*), parameter :: VERSIONNUMBER = '6.5.0.dev2'
-  character(len=*), parameter :: VERSIONTAG = ' (preliminary) 02/13/2024'
+  character(len=*), parameter :: VERSIONNUMBER = '6.5.0'
+  character(len=*), parameter :: VERSIONTAG = ' 05/23/2024'
   character(len=40), parameter :: VERSION = VERSIONNUMBER//VERSIONTAG
   character(len=2), parameter :: MFVNAM = ' 6'
   character(len=*), parameter :: MFTITLE = &
@@ -75,16 +75,18 @@ module VersionModule
   ! -- disclaimer must be appropriate for version (release or release candidate)
   character(len=*), parameter :: FMTDISCLAIMER = &
     "(/,&
-    &'This software is preliminary or provisional and is subject to ',/,&
-    &'revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best ',/,&
-    &'science. The software has not received final approval by the U.S. ',/,&
-    &'Geological Survey (USGS). No warranty, expressed or implied, is made ',/,&
-    &'by the USGS or the U.S. Government as to the functionality of the ',/,&
-    &'software and related material nor shall the fact of release ',/,&
-    &'constitute any such warranty. The software is provided on the ',/,&
-    &'condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held ',/,&
-    &'liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized ',/,&
-    &'use of the software.',/)"
+    &'This software has been approved for release by the U.S. Geological ',/,&
+    &'Survey (USGS). Although the software has been subjected to rigorous ',/,&
+    &'review, the USGS reserves the right to update the software as needed ',/,&
+    &'pursuant to further analysis and review. No warranty, expressed or ',/,&
+    &'implied, is made by the USGS or the U.S. Government as to the ',/,&
+    &'functionality of the software and related material nor shall the ',/,&
+    &'fact of release constitute any such warranty. Furthermore, the ',/,&
+    &'software is released on condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. ',/,&
+    &'Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from its ',/,&
+    &'authorized or unauthorized use. Also refer to the USGS Water ',/,&
+    &'Resources Software User Rights Notice for complete use, copyright, ',/,&
+    &'and distribution information.',/)"
 
 contains
 
diff --git a/version.txt b/version.txt
index 393ba97a6cb..4be2c727ad9 100644
--- a/version.txt
+++ b/version.txt
@@ -1 +1 @@
-6.5.0.dev2
+6.5.0
\ No newline at end of file