Quick Answer
Changing your name with Social Security is free. There are three ways to do it:
- Online: if you married in one of 21 participating states, are a U.S. citizen 18 or older, and are changing only your last name, finish in your my Social Security account at least 30 days after the wedding.
- Online, then an office: everyone else can start at ssa.gov and finish at an office within 45 days.
- By mail: send Form SS-5 with your original documents.
Your new card arrives 5 to 10 business days after SSA completes your request.
Checked against SSA's policy manual and ssa.gov on November 2, 2026.
On this page
Did you recently get married or divorced and need to change the name on your Social Security card? You've come to the right place.
The name change process can be a pain without proper guidance. It all starts with your Social Security name change, because every federal and state agency links your identity to your SSA record. Knowing what documents you need — and how to submit them — is the crucial first step.
This guide outlines the right way to change or correct your name on your Social Security card. Let's get started!
Key Takeaways
- ✓ Social Security comes first: update it before your driver's license, passport, or any other ID.
- ✓ You need three documents: proof of identity, proof of citizenship (if SSA doesn't already have it), and original or certified proof of your name change.
- ✓ It's free, and your Social Security number won't change.
- ✓ Appointments aren't required, but booking one cuts your wait at the office.
How Do I Change My Name With Social Security?
The first thing you need to do after your legal name change (through marriage, divorce, or court order) is to update your name with the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA is the United States issuing agency for Social Security cards, and your updated card is the gateway to every other step in your name change. Every federal and state entity links your identity to your SSA record, so you need to update it before you can get a new driver's license, passport, or any other form of photo ID.
Most people use a name change kit to prepare the SS-5 application, certified-copy requests, and follow-up DMV and passport paperwork in one step. If you married in one of 21 participating states, you may be able to finish online. Everyone else starts online and then visits an office or mails the application.
Which Application Method Should You Use?
Online Simple
Who it's for: U.S. citizens 18+ married in one of 21 participating states and only changing their last name.
No office visit; card mailed 5–10 business days after SSA completes your request.
In Person Extra step
Who it's for: Anyone, including name changes that don't qualify online.
Start online first; appointments are optional but cut the wait.
By Mail Slowest
Who it's for: Anyone who can't get to an office and doesn't qualify online.
You mail your original documents; SSA returns them.
Can I Change My Name With Social Security Online?
Yes, if you married in one of 21 states and you're changing only your last name. You can finish the whole request in your my Social Security account, with no office visit, when all of these are true:
- You're a U.S. citizen, 18 or older, with a U.S. mailing address.
- Your marriage certificate or license was issued in one of the 21 participating states below.
- You're changing only your last name, such as taking your spouse's name or hyphenating. Changing your middle name, including moving your maiden name there, doesn't qualify.
- You have a valid driver's license or state ID from any state except Alaska. In Delaware, Nevada, and Wisconsin, only driver's licenses work.
- At least 30 days have passed since the wedding, so your state's records show the marriage.
Participating states: Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Where you got married is what counts, not where you live. Married in Virginia and living in Texas? You can apply online. Married in Texas? You'll start online and then visit an office or apply by mail.
How to apply online
- Sign in to (or create) your my Social Security account.
- Select "Replace Your Social Security Card" and answer the screening questions.
- Enter your driver's license or state ID details.
- Enter your marriage details as they appear on your certificate: date, place, and each spouse's name before marriage.
- Submit. Your card arrives by mail 5 to 10 business days after SSA completes your request.
If SSA's online check can't confirm your marriage or ID, it will tell you to finish at an office. Bring your SS-5, certified marriage certificate, and ID.
Social Security Name Change: Step-by-Step
1Gather the required documents
You'll need proof of identity, citizenship, and your legal name change. These must be originals or certified copies (with raised seals). Photocopies are not accepted.
Identity: U.S. driver's license, state-issued identification card, U.S. passport, employer, school, or health insurance ID, or U.S. military ID.
U.S. citizenship: U.S. birth certificate, U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad, U.S. passport, Certificate of Naturalization, or Certificate of Citizenship. A U.S. passport covers both identity and citizenship.
Legal name change: your marriage certificate, divorce decree (see our divorce name change guide), court order, or Certificate of Naturalization with your new name.
2Complete the SSA's online name change questionnaire
Go to the SSA's name change page and fill out the questionnaire (select 'Answer a few questions'). This will help you determine if you can start online and what documents you'll need.
If you qualify for the online option (see "Can I change my name with Social Security online?" above), you can finish here and skip steps 3 and 4. Otherwise, SSA gives you an Online Control Number. Bring your original documents to an office or Card Center within 45 days. Appointments are optional, but booking one cuts your wait.
3Complete Form SS-5
Form SS-5 is the application for a Social Security card. Download it, print it, and sign using your new name.
If you'd rather skip printing the form entirely, the NewlyNamed Box ships your SS-5 pre-filled with your information.
4Mail your application or take it to your local SSA office
Find your nearest SSA office via the SSA locator. Enter your ZIP code and choose to either mail your application or visit in person. If you mail it, send original or certified documents; SSA returns them. Visiting in person avoids mailing sensitive documents and provides a receipt you can use for other updates.
Your new card should arrive by mail 5 to 10 business days after SSA completes your request. Your Social Security number won't change.
Bonus: The Social Security Administration (SSA) automatically notifies the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of your name change, so you don't need to file a separate update with the IRS.
5Be patient
If you mailed your application, wait for your new card before making other changes. If you applied in person, ask for a receipt showing your new name. Most DMVs check your name against SSA's records, so wait until SSA has finished your request before you go.
Important: If you update documents before receiving your new SSA card, bring your SSA receipt that includes your new name and SSN.
6Start changing your name everywhere else
Update your driver's license and passport first. Then update your bank accounts, credit cards, and travel rewards. A complete name change kit handles all of these in one organized checklist, so nothing slips through the cracks.
Social Security is only step one. After it, your new name still has to reach your driver's license, passport, voter registration, bank accounts, credit cards, employer, insurance, and every other account with your name on it.
A NewlyNamed name change kit covers all of it. We pre-fill your Social Security (SS-5), passport, and voter registration forms with your information, include your state's driver's license steps, and give you step-by-step instructions for every other account, in the right order. You review, sign, and submit each form yourself. More than 500,000 newlyweds have used NewlyNamed to change their names.
Print at Home ($49) for instant access, or the NewlyNamed Box ($99) for printed forms shipped to you with pre-paid postage. → Compare kits
Just married? The Newlywed Starter Set ($219) pairs the NewlyNamed Box with a couples will, so your new name and your new family are both covered.
What to Bring to Your Social Security Name Change Appointment
Appointment Checklist
If you're visiting an SSA office in person, arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time with these items in hand:
- Your completed Form SS-5 (printed and signed using your new name)
- One original or certified copy of your proof of name change (marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order)
- One photo ID (U.S. driver's license, state ID, or U.S. passport); an expired ID in your old name is accepted
- Proof of U.S. citizenship if SSA doesn't already have it on file (birth certificate or passport)
- Your appointment confirmation number
- Your Online Control Number if you started the application on the SSA website
- A pen
Do not bring photocopies or notarized copies of your name change document -- the SSA only accepts originals or certified copies with raised seals. If you're unsure whether your documents qualify, call your local office before your appointment.
How Do I Get Certified Copies of My Marriage Certificate or Divorce Decree?
Most organizations, including the SSA, require certified copies of the legal document that supports your name change. Here's how to get them:
1Identify where to get your legal document
If you changed your name due to marriage, the proof will typically be your marriage certificate (sometimes your marriage license and marriage certificate are included on the same document). If your name was changed due to divorce, the required document will be your divorce decree. For other types of name changes (like a court-ordered change), you'll need a certified copy of the court order.
2Request certified copies from the issuing agency
You can request certified copies of your marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order from the issuing agency, such as the county clerk's office, state court, or local government office. Some places allow you to request copies online, while others may require you to request them by mail or in person.
3Be prepared to pay for copies
Certified copies of legal documents usually come with a fee, which varies by state or county. The price is often small, typically ranging from $5 to $25 per copy. If you plan on updating multiple documents, consider getting more than one certified copy so you're not making multiple trips.
4Keep originals safe, but don't forget the copies
Once you've got your certified copies, keep the originals in a safe place. You'll likely need them throughout your name change process — when you update your passport, Social Security card, driver's license, and more. You'll need official certified copies, not photocopies, so hang onto those precious documents for the long haul.
Pro Tip: If your document is in a language other than English, you may need to provide a certified translation along with the original document.
The Bottom Line
Changing your name on your Social Security card is the first — and arguably most important — step in your post-marriage or post-divorce name change. The service is free, your Social Security number won't change, and your new card arrives 5 to 10 business days after SSA completes your request. If you married in one of the 21 participating states and are changing only your last name, you may not need an office visit. Everyone else should book an appointment to cut the wait. Once your SSA record is updated, every other update (DMV, passport, banks, employer) becomes straightforward. If you'd rather not navigate the forms, wait times, and certified-copy logistics on your own, NewlyNamed can handle the entire process for you. Our guided process walks you through the documents you need, in the right order, so nothing gets missed.
Read also:
- How To Change Your Name After Marriage
- Passport Name Change Guide
- How to Get a Certified Copy of Your Marriage Certificate
Written by Colie Christensen, Founder of NewlyNamed. Colie started NewlyNamed after her own name change, and the company has since helped more than 500,000 newlyweds change their names. Last reviewed November 2, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Social Security name change cost money?
No, the SSA does not charge any fee to change your name or issue a replacement card. If you encounter a service or website asking you to pay a fee directly for the name change itself, it is not affiliated with the SSA — only third-party services that help you prepare your application (like NewlyNamed kits) involve a cost, and those are separate from SSA fees.
Will I receive a new Social Security card with my new name?
Yes. SSA mails a new card with your updated name 5 to 10 business days after it completes your request. Your Social Security number stays the same; only the name on the card changes.
Can I set up an appointment for a Social Security name change?
Yes. Appointments aren't required, but SSA says booking one can significantly cut your wait. You can often self-schedule after starting your application on ssa.gov, or call 1-800-772-1213.
Can I change my name with the SSA online?
Yes, if you married in one of 21 participating states, are a U.S. citizen 18 or older, have a valid driver's license or state ID and are changing only your last name. Wait at least 30 days after the wedding, then apply in your my Social Security account. Everyone else starts online and finishes at an office or by mail.
Does it matter where I live or where I got married?
Where you got married. SSA's online option requires a marriage certificate from a participating state, so the 21-state list applies to the state on your marriage certificate, not where you live now.
How long does it take to change your name with Social Security?
Your new card arrives by mail 5 to 10 business days after SSA completes your request. If you apply online, wait at least 30 days after the wedding first so your state can update its marriage records.
Does my Social Security number change when I change my name?
No. Your Social Security number (SSN) stays the same for life, regardless of how many times you change your name. Only the name printed on your card changes. Getting married, divorced, or legally changing your name for any reason will never result in a new SSN.
What should I bring to my Social Security name change appointment?
Bring your completed Form SS-5, one original or certified copy of your proof of name change (marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order), one photo ID (driver's license, state ID, or U.S. passport), your appointment confirmation, and a pen. Do not bring photocopies or notarized copies — the SSA only accepts originals or certified copies with raised seals.
Can I use a notarized document to change my name?
No, SSA requires original or certified documents — not notarized copies.
What if I don't have identity documents in my new name?
You can still apply using documents in your old name, as long as you include proof of the legal name change.
Do I need to update my driver's license before my SSA card?
No, your SSA should be updated first. Most DMVs require it.
How recent do my identity documents need to be?
At an office or by mail, an ID in your old name can be expired. To apply online, you need a current driver's license or state ID.
Is a court order necessary for a Social Security name change?
Only if your name change is not due to marriage or divorce.
This post is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Social Security Administration procedures, appointment policies, and online availability vary by office and state and are subject to change. For questions about your specific situation, contact the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office.
1 comment
Social Security offices in my city actually REQUIRE appointments for name changes.
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