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
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.
We recommend starting with your birth certificate first if you changed your name via court order.
Social Security Record
Change your name with the Social Security Administration (SSA) before going to the DMV. Your state will check the SSA database before issuing you an new driver’s license or ID card.
Driver’s License or State ID Card
Do this after your Social Security record is updated.
You will need to go in person to your state’s motor vehicle office to update your driver’s license or state ID card.
Other Records
You will also need to update your voter registration, passport, bank account and credit cards, utility bills, employer records, school records, health insurance, lease or rental agreements, and any other accounts.
You do not (and cannot!) fix everything at once. It is okay if some IDs still have your old name while you work on updating them.
Helpful Notes:
To update your ID documents, you usually need to provide:
- Proof of your name change (e.g. certified copies of your updated birth certificate, name-change court order, marriage and/or divorce certificate.)
- Photo ID
- Completed forms
Using a photo ID with your old name during this step is okay. Your name-change documents tie everything together.
Be ready with extra documents. You might be asked to provide additional proof of your identity and your state residency.
For information only. Not legal advice.
