Documents Needed for a Name Change
Steps
- Find the document that changed your name: marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order, or Certificate of Naturalization.
- Get certified copies, not photocopies.
- Order certified copies from the office that issued the document; for marriage and divorce records, CDC's Where to Write lists each state's vital records office.
- Update Social Security first.
- Start online if SSA's questions say you can; otherwise make an appointment at a local office.
Sources: Social Security name change (ssa.gov) and USAGov name change (usa.gov).
Which document proves your name change
The document is the one that legally changed your name. Social Security and the State Department both list the same kinds of proof.
| Name change | Document agencies ask for | Where it comes from | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriage | Marriage certificate (Social Security calls it a "marriage document") | The vital records or county office in the state where the marriage took place | SSA documents page · CDC Where to Write for Vital Records |
| Divorce | Divorce decree | The court that granted the divorce | SSA documents page · CDC Where to Write for Vital Records |
| Court order | Court order approving the name change | The court that granted the petition | SSA documents page · USAGov name change |
| Naturalization | Certificate of Naturalization showing the new name | USCIS (Form N-565 updates the name on the certificate) | SSA documents page · USCIS Form N-565 |
Changing a child's name or a gender marker? Those follow separate court and agency rules. See child name changes and name changes for gender identity.
What each office asks to see
Each office sets its own list. This table quotes or summarizes each one's official page.
This page covers the federal offices (Social Security, the State Department, the IRS), the federal REAL ID minimum for driver's licenses, and USAGov's voter and post office steps. It doesn't list each state's DMV documents; the DMV page covers 5 states with their official links.
| Office | What it asks to see | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security | Proof of the legal name change and an identity document, as originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. "We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies." If the name changed more than two years ago (four if under 18), an identity document in the prior name; an expired one is accepted. | SSA documents page |
| Passport, renewal by mail (DS-82) | Your most recent passport, a certified copy of the legal name change document, and 1 photo. State returns the name change document in a separate mailing. | State Dept: Renew by mail |
| Passport, DS-5504 (passport issued less than 1 year ago and name changed after it was issued) | Your most recent passport, an original or certified name change document, and 1 photo | State Dept: Change or correct a passport (Last Updated September 28, 2026) |
| Passport, in person (DS-11) | Evidence of U.S. citizenship and a photocopy of it, a photo ID and a photocopy of its front and back, and 1 photo. The State Department says you can apply in person if you have a valid ID in your new name and you complete the marriage details section on page 2 of Form DS-11. | State Dept: Apply for your adult passport · Change or correct a passport |
| Driver's license (REAL ID) | At a minimum: full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, two proofs of address and lawful status. If names differ across documents, DHS says applicants "should demonstrate name traceability," and each state chooses which documents show it. This is the federal minimum; DHS says states may impose additional requirements. | TSA REAL ID FAQs |
| IRS | No name-change form is listed. "All the names on a taxpayer's tax return must match Social Security Administration records." | IRS: Update my information (reviewed 09-Sep-2026) |
| Voter registration | Update through vote.gov for your state; a state may ask you to re-register or use a special form | USAGov: Change voter registration (LAST UPDATED February 23, 2026) |
| Post office | Report the name change to the local post office that delivers your mail | USAGov name change |
Step-by-step pages: Social Security · Passport · Driver's license (DMV) · IRS · Voter registration · Post office · Banks.
Why one certified copy may not be enough
Some offices keep your document for a while. When you renew a passport by mail, the State Department returns your name change document in a separate mailing, and supporting documents can arrive up to 4 weeks after the passport. Having more than one certified copy lets you update other records in the meantime.
Source: State Department, Renew by mail.
If a document is lost
To replace a marriage, divorce or birth record, start with the state or area where the event happened; the CDC's Where to Write for Vital Records page links to each state's office. A court order comes from the court that granted it.
Sources: CDC Where to Write for Vital Records (last reviewed August 15, 2022) and USAGov name change.
Frequently asked questions
Do offices accept photocopies?
Social Security does not: it accepts originals or copies certified by the issuing agency, and "cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies." A passport renewal by mail needs a certified copy of the name change document. For an in-person passport application, the State Department asks for photocopies of your ID and citizenship evidence in addition to the originals.
Sources: SSA documents page, State Dept: Renew by mail and State Dept: Apply for your adult passport.
I changed my name years ago. Is my old ID still useful?
Yes, for Social Security. If your name changed more than two years ago (four if you were under 18), SSA asks to see an identity document in your prior name, and it accepts one that has expired.
Source: SSA documents page.
What if my divorce decree doesn't restore my former name?
USAGov says that in most states you can ask for your former name when you apply for your divorce decree. If yours doesn't say it, see restoring a former name after divorce for the next steps.
Source: USAGov name change.
Does the IRS need a copy of my marriage certificate?
No form or copy is listed. The IRS says all the names on a tax return must match Social Security records, so the IRS change follows the Social Security update.
Source: IRS: Update my information.
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Checked 10/20/2026 against the official pages linked here.
Official sources
- Social Security name change (Social Security Administration)
- SSA documents page (Social Security Administration)
- Renew by mail (U.S. Department of State)
- Change or correct a passport (U.S. Department of State)
- REAL ID FAQs (TSA)
- Update my information (IRS)
- USAGov name change (USAGov)
- Change voter registration (USAGov)
- Where to Write for Vital Records (CDC)