Social Security Name Change: How to Update Your Name After Marriage, Divorce or a Court Order

When your legal name changes, the Social Security Administration (SSA) record must change too, and it must change first. The DMV, the IRS, your employer's payroll system and the Social Security Number verification that banks and insurers run all check against SSA's file. Update them in the wrong order and the new name bounces.

A name change is handled as an application for a corrected Social Security card. It is free, it does not count against the replacement-card limits, and your number stays the same. This guide covers the documents, the order of operations and the parts people most often get wrong.

Why SSA has to be first

• The IRS matches your tax return to SSA. If the name on your return does not match SSA's record for your number, e-filed returns are rejected and paper returns are delayed, which can hold up a refund.
• Employers verify names through SSA. A mismatch generates an error in the Social Security Number Verification Service and can trigger a "no-match" inquiry from payroll.
• Most DMVs require the SSA record to be updated before they issue a license in the new name, because they verify your number electronically.
• Benefits and Medicare are paid under the name on the SSA record.

Change SSA, wait a day or two for the record to propagate, then do the DMV, passport, bank and everything else.

Can you change your name online?

Partly. SSA lets you start the name-change application inside a my Social Security account: you answer the questions online, and the system gives you a confirmation and tells you which office to visit. What you cannot do online is skip the office, because SSA must examine your original name-change document. Think of the online step as filling in the form in advance; it saves time at the window but does not replace the visit.

If you prefer, you can skip the online start and simply bring a completed Form SS-5 to the office. Mailing originals is also allowed, but SSA advises against mailing a passport or birth certificate, and most people are not comfortable doing it.

Documents you need

SSA needs proof of three things. Everything must be an original or a copy certified by the agency that issued it. Photocopies and notarized copies are refused.

1. Proof of the name change (one document)

The document must show both the old and the new name. If it was issued more than two years ago, or if it does not include enough identifying information, SSA may also ask for an identity document in the old name.

2. Proof of identity (one document)

A current U.S. driver's license, state ID card or U.S. passport in either name. If your only ID is in the old name, that is acceptable together with the name-change document.

3. Proof of citizenship or immigration status

Only needed if SSA has never verified it or if your status changed. A U.S. birth certificate or passport for citizens; a current DHS document (Permanent Resident Card, Employment Authorization Document, or I-94 with passport) for non-citizens.

Step by step

1. Fill in Form SS-5, either by starting online in my Social Security or by downloading the PDF. Enter the new name exactly as it appears on the marriage certificate or court order.
2. Book an appointment. Call the local office or 1-800-772-1213, or follow the appointment guide. Walk-ins are taken, but appointment holders go first.
3. Visit the office with the form and originals. In New York City, Philadelphia, Orlando and the Twin Cities, name changes are done at the Social Security Card Center, not the field office; each office page on this site tells you which applies.
4. Get your documents back. Staff review them at the window and return them immediately.
5. Wait for the card. The corrected card is mailed within about 14 business days. The record itself usually updates within 24–48 hours, which is what the IRS and DMV check.

Find the right office with the ZIP locator or by state.

After SSA: the order that works

1. Social Security (this guide).
2. Driver's license or state ID at the DMV, which verifies your number electronically.
3. Passport (Form DS-82 or DS-5504, depending on how recently it was issued).
4. Employer and payroll, so Form W-2 matches your tax return.
5. Banks, credit cards, insurance, voter registration, utilities.
6. IRS: nothing to file. Your next return simply uses the new name, and because SSA has already updated, it will match.

Special cases

• Children: a parent or guardian applies with the child's name-change document and proof of their own identity. A court order or amended birth certificate is the usual evidence.
• Hyphenated or combined names: the certificate must show the exact combination. Some states allow either spouse to adopt any combination of the two surnames; SSA follows what the certificate says.
• Divorce without a decree clause: if the decree does not mention a name, SSA may ask for a court order, or accept the marriage certificate plus identity documents in the pre-marriage name.
• Gender marker: SSA updates the sex field on your record on request; no medical documentation is required. It can be done at the same visit.
• Name change abroad: a foreign marriage certificate is accepted if it is the original issued by the foreign authority; bring a certified translation if it is not in English.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a Social Security name change take?

The record is usually updated within two business days of the visit; the new card arrives in roughly two weeks. Do not wait for the card before visiting the DMV; the electronic record is what the DMV checks.

Does a name change count toward the replacement-card limit?

No. Name changes are exempt from the 3-per-year and 10-per-lifetime limits.

Is there a deadline?

No, but tax season is the practical one. If you married in a given year, update SSA before filing that year's return so the IRS match succeeds.

Can I change my name by phone?

No. SSA must see the original document, so the change requires a visit or mailing the original.

Will my Social Security number change?

No. Only the name on the record changes.

Related

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• NYC Card Centers vs field offices
• Social Security office phone numbers by state