This guide gives information, not legal advice.
Recommended Order
The order you update your name on your ID documents matters.
Follow this recommended order to make the process as easy as possible:
- Birth certificate (if you want or need it – more info below!)
- Social Security record
- State ID card or driver’s license (do this after your name is updated with the Social Security Administration)
- Voter registration
- Other records: passport, financial accounts, work, school, insurance, phone bill, housing documents, etc.
Helpful Notes
Using a photo ID with your old name during this step is okay.
Your court order ties everything together.
Be ready with extra documents.
You might be asked to provide additional proof of your identity and your state residency.
Change your name with the Social Security Administration before going to the DMV.
Your state will check Social Security records before issuing you an updated driver’s license or ID card.
Recommended Order
Birth Certificate
Your birth certificate is a record you can provide to government agencies as proof of your identity.
Your birth certificate is the original proof of your legal name. Updating it first may be required in some states and it can make the process of updating the rest of your ID documents easier.
