Social Security Name Change (Form SS-5): Do This First
Whatever else you've read, this is the step that unlocks the rest. Your driver's license office and the IRS both check your name against the Social Security record — so SSA goes first, every time, in every state.
The whole process
- Download Form SS-5 (PDF, free) or start online in my Social Security.
- Attach proof: certified marriage certificate (or divorce decree restoring your name) + photo ID.
- Mail it or bring it to a local office (office locator). Originals/certified copies are returned to you.
- Record updates in days; the new card (same number, new name) arrives in ~2 weeks.
- Wait 24–48 hours after confirmation, then do your state license.
The one mistake that costs people weeks
Going to the DMV the same morning as the SSA office. The DMV's electronic check against SSA hasn't synced yet, the clerk can't override it, and you've burned a trip. 48 hours of patience saves the do-over.
What counts as proof
For a marriage-based change: a certified marriage certificate — raised seal or stamped, issued by the vital records office or county clerk, not the decorative one from the ceremony. For divorce: the certified divorce decree, and it must contain the name-restoration clause (if yours doesn't, see the divorce guide). Plus current photo ID (license or passport, even in the old name).
Skip the forms — get them filled in 10 minutes
The NamePacket Packet ($39, one time) asks you the questions once, then generates your completed official forms — SS-5, the right passport form — plus notification letters for your banks and employer, and your state's exact instructions. Built entirely in your browser: your details never touch our servers.
Get the $39 packet →Common questions
How much does a Social Security name change cost?
Nothing. Form SS-5 and the replacement card are free. Anyone charging you for the form itself is reselling a free government PDF.
Do I need to go to a Social Security office in person?
Often no. If you're a U.S. citizen 18+ with a state ID, many states let you start the application in your my Social Security account and finish by uploading or mailing documents. Otherwise, mail the SS-5 with a certified marriage certificate copy or bring it to a local office.
How long before I can go to the DMV?
Wait at least 24–48 hours after SSA processes the change. DMVs verify your name against the SSA database electronically; go too early and the check fails.
Does changing my name affect my Social Security number or benefits?
No. The number never changes — only the name attached to it. Benefits, work history and credits all carry over automatically.