Name Change After Divorce: Complete Checklist
Every agency you need to notify, the exact order to do it in, costs for each step, and the fastest way to get it done — whether you do it yourself or use a name change service.
A complete guide to filing an uncontested divorce without an attorney. Includes a step-by-step state-specific checklist, asset/debt inventory worksheet, and marital settlement agreement outline — everything you need before you walk into the courthouse.
See exactly what you get- State-specific filing checklist for all 50 states
- Asset & debt inventory worksheet — prevents disputes later
- Marital settlement agreement outline
- Service of process guide — how to legally serve your spouse
- Fillable HTML + editable Word (.docx) — fill in browser or Microsoft Word
HTML, Word (.docx)
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Let Easy Name Change Do the Forms For You
Easy Name Change pre-fills every government form — Social Security, DMV, passport, bank, employer, and 40+ more agencies — in under 20 minutes. Used by 500,000+ people across the US.
Before You Start — What You Need
You need two things in hand before you can update anything.
The court judgment must specifically contain a name restoration order — a clause that restores your maiden or prior legal name. Without this clause, a separate court petition is required.
Get several certified copies from the court clerk (the clerk sets the price). Every agency you visit will want its own copy — originals only, not photocopies.
You cannot walk into the DMV with just your divorce decree. The correct sequence is:
- Social Security Administration — updates federal database
- DMV / State ID office — requires updated SS card
- Passport — send a certified copy of the decree with the form
- Everything else — bank, employer, voter reg, etc.
Step-by-Step Name Change Checklist
Work through these in order. Each step is a prerequisite for the next.
File Form SS-5 (Application for a Social Security Card) at your local SSA office or by mail. Bring your certified divorce decree + current government-issued ID. Your SSN stays the same — only the name on record changes.
- Certified divorce decree (original)
- Current driver's license or state ID
- Completed Form SS-5 (free at ssa.gov)
Visit your state DMV in person (most states do not allow name changes by mail for license). Bring your updated Social Security card, certified divorce decree, and current license. Most states issue a temporary paper license same day; the plastic card arrives in 2–4 weeks.
- Updated Social Security card
- Certified divorce decree
- Current driver's license
- Proof of address (utility bill or bank statement)
Which form you use depends on when your passport was issued: Form DS-5504 (by mail, no fee unless you pay to expedite) if it was issued less than a year ago, Form DS-82 (renewal by mail) if it was issued less than 15 years ago when you were 16 or older, and Form DS-11 (in person) if neither applies. The section below the checklist walks through the rules.
- Completed Form DS-5504, DS-82 or DS-11
- Current passport
- Certified divorce decree
- Passport photo (2x2 inches)
Notify HR with your updated SS card and driver's license. Request updates to: payroll records, company email address, benefits enrollment, 401(k) beneficiary designations, and employee directory. For self-employed individuals, update your business bank accounts and invoicing software.
Visit each bank in person with your updated driver's license and certified divorce decree. Most banks will reissue your debit/credit cards under the new name at no charge. Also update: investment accounts (brokerage, IRA, 401k), credit cards, and any automatic payment accounts.
Update via vote.org or your state's election board website. In most states you can do this online in under 5 minutes with your updated driver's license number.
Name Change Cost Breakdown
Government fees are unavoidable. Service fees are optional shortcuts.
| Agency / Step | Fee | Typical Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Security Card | Free | 1–2 weeks | Walk in or mail; must go first |
| Driver's License / State ID | $10–$50 | 2–4 weeks | Requires updated SS card |
| US Passport (renewal) | $130–$165 | 6–8 weeks routine / 2–3 weeks expedited | Form depends on passport age: DS-5504, DS-82 or DS-11 |
| Certified Divorce Decree Copies | Set by the clerk | Ask the clerk | Order several: each agency wants its own certified copy |
| Voter Registration | Free | 1–2 weeks | Online in most states |
| Bank / Credit Union | Free | 1–5 business days | Each institution is separate |
Passport fee shown is for routine renewal (Form DS-82). In-person new passport (DS-11) costs $165 + $35 execution fee.
Easy Name Change — All 40+ Forms Pre-Filled
Their kit generates pre-filled forms for every agency on this checklist — Social Security, DMV, passport, banks, employer, and 40 more — based on your answers to a short questionnaire. Takes 20 minutes instead of 6+ hours.
State-Specific Rules to Know
The federal steps (SSA, passport) are the same in all 50 states. These state differences affect the DMV and court steps.
Some divorce decrees — particularly default judgments or those finalized quickly — don't include a name restoration order. In this case you must file a separate civil name change petition in your county court. Filing fees range from $150 to $400 depending on the state.
States where this is most common: Texas, Florida, and Nevada have courts that may omit the name restoration clause unless specifically requested.
Most states now issue REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses. When updating your name, bring extra documentation: birth certificate (or US passport) + Social Security card + two proofs of address. This is more documentation than was previously required — check your state DMV website before your visit.
If you hold a state-issued professional license (nursing, teaching, real estate, law, CPA, etc.), notify your state licensing board. Most require a certified decree + a small administrative fee ($20–$100). Failure to update can cause compliance issues at renewal.
Your name change does not automatically change your children's names. A child's legal name change requires a separate court petition (with both parents' consent in most states, or a court hearing if one parent objects). This is a separate legal proceeding from the divorce.
Changing Your Name on a Passport After Divorce: Which Form Applies
The passport form you need depends on one date: when your current passport was issued. Each State Department form states its own eligibility test, and a divorce decree is one of the documents they accept as proof of the name change.
Form DS-5504 is for a name change made less than a year after your most recent passport was issued, when that passport was issued less than a year ago. It is sent by mail, there is no fee to use it unless you pay to expedite, and you send a certified copy of the divorce decree (or marriage certificate or court order) showing the court's seal and the judge's or official's signature. If you cannot document the change that way, the form says to apply on Form DS-11 instead.
Form DS-82 is the renewal-by-mail form. You can use it if you were at least 16 when your latest passport was issued and it was issued less than 15 years ago, and it accepts a name change when you send a certified marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order with it. It has no execution fee. Form DS-11 is the in-person application, used when you do not meet those tests, or when you cannot document the name change with a certified copy. Current passport fees are set by the State Department and change, so check the fee page before you send a payment.
Sources: Form DS-5504 instructions (State Department), Form DS-82 instructions (State Department) (checked November 2026)
What Order to Follow: Social Security Before the Driver's License Office
Social Security's own advice, in a recent post on name changes, is to update your Social Security record before you visit the motor vehicle office. The agency says you must tell it when you change your name because of marriage, divorce or a court order, so the replacement card carries your new legal name. Most requests can be made online, and in some states you can ask for the corrected card from your personal my Social Security account.
To get the corrected card you show proof of your identity, your new legal name and the name-change event, and you may also need to prove citizenship or lawful immigration status. Social Security accepts original documents or copies certified by the agency that issued them. It does not accept photocopies or notarized copies, so a decree copied at a print shop will not work.
A workable order, then: get certified copies of the decree, update Social Security, update your driver's license or state ID, then the passport and the accounts that depend on those documents. Both passport forms ask for your Social Security number, which is another reason to settle that record first.
Sources: Social Security: change or correct your name on your card, Social Security: name change steps and documents (checked November 2026)
Certified Copies: Order Enough Before You Start
Every step above asks for a certified copy, not a photocopy. Social Security rejects photocopies and notarized copies outright, and the passport forms ask for a certified decree showing the court's seal and signature. A single certified decree is not enough if you want to run the applications side by side, since the passport form is mailed with its documents and Social Security wants to see its own.
Ask the clerk of the court that granted your divorce how many certified copies you can get at once and what each costs, because clerk fees are set locally. Read the decree before you leave the clerk's office: the passport and Social Security steps work from the name stated in the court's own document, so confirm it says what you need.
Sources: Social Security: documents for a corrected card, Form DS-82 instructions (State Department) (checked November 2026)
Frequently Asked Questions
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