Update Name on Social Security Record · United States

Bring these documents

• Proof of the name change[1]Required

  Certified marriage certificate, certified divorce decree (showing name restoration), or certified court order. Photocopies are NOT accepted.

• Proof of identity (current, unexpired)[1]Required

  U.S. driver's license, state ID, or U.S. passport — it can still be in the OLD name; SSA accepts that as identity proof during a name change.

• Proof of U.S. citizenship or immigration status[2]Required

  Required if SSA doesn't already have it on file. U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, or USCIS documents.

• Form SS-5 — Application for a Social Security Card[2]Required

  Same form used for replacement cards — check the 'Change of Name' box.

Step by step

1. 1

   Get the certified name-change document first[1]

   Marriage: certified marriage certificate from the county clerk where the license was issued. Divorce: certified divorce decree (some courts use a separate name-restoration order — check yours). Court-ordered change: certified court order. SSA accepts no photocopies, no notarized copies.

   Open official page Source: ssa.gov
2. 2

   Complete Form SS-5[2]

   Check the 'Change of Name' box at the top. List both your old and new name exactly as they appear on the certified document. Sign in your NEW name.

   Form SS-5 (PDF) → Source: ssa.gov
3. 3

   Visit your local SSA office or mail it[5]

   Online name change is NOT available — SSA requires either in-person submission with originals or mailed originals. Walk-ins are accepted; appointments shorten the wait. Find your nearest office at ssa.gov/locator.

   Find your SSA office → Source: ssa.gov
4. 4

   Bring all originals — they're returned at the counter[1]

   SSA reviews documents in front of you and hands them back. If mailing, SSA returns originals separately within ~60 days.

   Open official page Source: ssa.gov
5. 5

   Wait for the SSA database to update before touching DMV / passport[1]

   Updates to the SSA record post within 24–48 hours, but DMV and the State Department check against SSA in batches. Wait 2–4 weeks after the SSA visit before applying for a new license or passport, or you'll hit a 'name mismatch' hold.

   Open official page Source: ssa.gov
6. 6

   After SSA: update DMV, then passport, then everything else[1]

   Standard order: SSA → DMV → passport (Form DS-5504 free if issued <1 yr ago, otherwise DS-82) → employer payroll → bank → credit cards → voter registration → professional licenses. Each downstream agency verifies against SSA, so SSA MUST come first.

   Open official page Source: ssa.gov

Common reasons this gets rejected

• Updating DMV or passport before SSA

  DMV and the State Department check against the SSA database. If your name change isn't on file with SSA yet, both will reject the application or place it on hold. SSA first, always.

• Bringing photocopies of the marriage certificate / court order

  SSA requires originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. Notarized copies are NOT accepted. Get certified copies from the county clerk or court that issued the document.

• Using a divorce decree that doesn't restore your prior name

  If your divorce decree didn't explicitly restore your maiden name, you need a separate court order to make the change. Check the decree before going to SSA.

• Trying the online card-replacement tool for a name change

  The online replacement tool ONLY works for an identical card with the same name. Name changes must be done in person or by mail.

Talk to a human

Sources

1. [1]Change your name — SSA
2. [2]Form SS-5
3. [3]SSA office locator
4. [4]State Department name change after marriage
5. [5]https://www.ssa.gov/locator