How Do I Change My Social Security Name After Marriage

You can legally change the name on your social security carte after marriage, divorce, or court guild through the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Getting a new social security carte paves the way for other name changes, such as your commuter's license and passport.

Your social security number (SSN) will stay the aforementioned after changing your name.

Name change requirements

Yous tin modify the name on your social security carte du jour past completing the SS-5 application and providing:

1. Proof of name change
2. Proof of historic period
3. Proof of identity
4. Proof of citizenship or lawful immigrant condition

Any evidence y'all offer—ID, records, certificates—must be original or certified copies. Photocopies, notarized copies, photos, and receipts are unacceptable.

Does this mean you're obliged to post your driver'southward license and unearth your birth certificate? Maybe non. You may only have to satisfy the first status (explained subsequently).

What's allowed in your legal proper noun change?

Your legal name is your get-go and last name only. The SSA will still impress your middle name and suffix on your social security menu if plenty infinite is bachelor.

Your name may only contain letters, spaces, hyphens, and apostrophes. Suffixes are okay. Omit your personal title, such as Mr., Ms., Mrs., Dr., Esq., Sister, or Father.

Don't use a nickname or abbreviation, such as Liz for Elizabeth or Deb for Deborah, unless it'south your actual legal proper name.

Use Form SS-5 (Awarding for a Social Security Menu) to:

• Change your name.
• Become a new social security number.
• Right a flawed social security record.
• Asking a replacement social security card.

The form will ask you to spell out your:

• Nascence name
• Electric current proper noun
• Other names used
• New proper name to be shown on bill of fare
• Social security number
• Date of birth
• Birthplace
• Sex
• Race
• Ethnicity
• Citizenship
• Parents' names
• Parents' social security numbers
• Daytime telephone number
• Mailing address
• Today'south date
• Signature

Sign your new proper name on the application. Make information technology legible. And no initials. You can omit your parent's social security number if you're 18 years sometime or older.

You can fill out the social security course using our name modify kit. Be prepared to download, print, sign, and mail your auto-filled PDF form.

Proof of name change

There are 4 unique name change events:

1. Marriage
2. Divorce
3. Court lodge
4. Naturalization

Proven past their respective name change documents:

1. Marriage certificate
2. Divorce decree
3. Court order
4. Certificate of naturalization

Let's unpack each event, starting with the most common…

Spousal relationship proper noun change

Alter your name after marriage via your marriage certificate.

Thirteen states volition permit you to cull your new married name when applying for a marriage license, which shows up on your marriage document:

• California
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New York
• Due north Dakota
• Oklahoma
• Oregon

The following map illustrates how almost states (representing 70% of the U.Due south. population) won't ask that you option out your new proper noun when applying to get married.

New proper noun chosen on the marriage application in xiii states.

For the remaining 37 states and D.C., you lot can "derive" your new name in four ways:

1. Full last proper name
2. Partial last proper name
3. Hyphenated last proper name
4. Double-barreled concluding name

These rules use to same-sexual practice marriages, civil unions, and domestic partnerships too.

1. Full last proper noun

Accept your spouse's entire last proper name, as-is. This is the "traditional" arroyo.

2. Fractional terminal name

Take one whole office of your spouse's hyphenated or infinite-separated terminal name. (Assuming such proper noun exists.)

3. Hyphenated final proper name

Combine your and your spouse's final names with a hyphen (-), in either order.

4. Double-barreled terminal name

Join your and your spouse's final names, separated by a infinite, in either order. Space is mandatory; names can't be flush.

Married name change examples

The post-obit exhibits your choices if your terminal proper name were Adams and spouse'due south Baker.

Selection	New last name
Full	Baker
Hyphenated	Adams-Baker
Hyphenated	Bakery-Adams
Double-barreled	Adams Baker
Double-barreled	Baker Adams

Here's an example using Adams and Baker-Smith…

Selection	New last name
Full	Baker-Smith
Partial	Baker
Partial	Smith
Hyphenated	Adams-Baker-Smith
Hyphenated	Baker-Smith-Adams
Double-barreled	Adams Baker-Smith
Double-barreled	Baker Smith-Adams

You can't modify your first name through matrimony; petition the court instead.

Divorce name change

Alter your proper name subsequently divorce via your divorce decree.

You lot tin return to your maiden proper name using your divorce decree. Or any prior legal name. Men and women. Merely inquire the approximate to include the written society.

If your decree has a name restoration order:

• You lot tin simply return to that name.
• It will exist accepted by all government agencies.

If your prescript is missing a name restoration order:

• The SSA tin can restore your maiden name.
• The SSA tin can restore any prior proper name on file.
• It might be accustomed by other government agencies.

Divorce name modify rules employ to similar legal break-ups:

• Annulment
• Civil marriage dissolution
• Domestic partnership dissolution

Y'all can skip your divorce proper name change if you lot plan to switch it later after getting married again. This avoids a redundant, back-to-back name swap.

Courtroom order name modify

For a court-petitioned name modify, yous can only transition to the estimate-approved name shown on your courtroom gild.

A courtroom order is the most powerful proper noun alter musical instrument, permitting unbounded kickoff, middle, and terminal name revisions. Reach for this tool if all else fails.

Naturalization proper noun change

You tin ask the court for a new name during naturalization, then use your document of naturalization as proof.

Proof of age

False assumptions on name alter and nativity certificates merits mentioning that you don't accept to prove age to:

• Alter your name.
• Obtain a duplicate menu.
• Replace a lost or stolen card.

But you must prove evidence of age to:

• Utilize for your first bill of fare.
• Correct your engagement of birth on file.
• Get a brand new social security number.
• Make up for forgetting your social security number.

Yous can confirm your historic period using a:

• Nascence certificate (preferred)
• Identity document (showing historic period), or
• U.S. citizenship certificate (showing historic period)

Proof of identity

You must show one class of "primary" photo ID to change your name. If mailing identification alarms you, in that location may be a surprising workaround. Allow'southward embrace this rule first…

U.S. citizens, prove your American:

• Driver'due south license
• State-issued ID card, or
• Passport book or passport card

U.S. lawful immigrants, prove your foreign passport and:

• Greenish card
• Arrival/departure record
• Machine-readable immigrant visa, or
• Employment authorization certificate (EAD)

Culling, secondary ID

You lot can show secondary ID if primary ID is unavailable. Unavailable means you can't "easily" access or supersede it within ten business days.

The post-obit tabular array shows acceptable alternative IDs, which must contain your photo, age, or date of birth:

Document	U.Southward. citizens	Non-citizens	Age
U.Due south. military ID card	Aye	Yep	All
U.Due south. official passport	Yes	No	All
U.South. diplomatic passport	Aye	No	All
U.S. certificate of citizenship	Yes	No	All
U.S. document of naturalization	Yes	No	All
U.Due south. Indian tribal card	Yes	No	All
Schoolhouse record (current year)	Yes	Yes	All
Medical record	Yes	Yes	All
Religious record	Yes	Yep	Birth to 17
Life insurance policy	Yes	Yes	half dozen+
Last adoption decree	Yes	Yes	Birth to 17
Employee ID card or bluecoat	Yep	No	18+
Health insurance carte	Aye	Yes	All
Medicaid carte du jour	Yes	Yep	All
Non-citizen state-issued ID carte	No	Yes	All
Non-denizen state-issued driver'due south license	No	Yes	All

The bureau that issues your medical, religious, or school records must certify them. Insurance policies and medical cards must be current and active.

To reduce the risk of your paperwork returned asking for nonexistent primary ID, take preemptive action past attaching a notation explaining your plight…

Please accept this secondary ID, every bit I cannot access or obtain chief evidence of ID within 10 business days.

Statement complying with SSA POMS RM 10210.420

Maybe you don't need ID

Y'all can avoid relinquishing your ID nether key criteria.

Information technology may be possible to utilise your proper noun change document equally ID. This offers the convenience of mailing your application without surrendering your driver's license, passport, etc.

This works by making sure your certificate:

1. Is recently established
2. Shows biographical information
3. Matches your current name on file

Review the primary ID options if your proper noun change document doesn't authorize every bit ID.

ane. Is recently established

Yous've crossed the biggest hurdle if your proper noun change event took place within the by two years. (It extends to iv years if you're below the age of 18.)

There's no hard name change borderline. But waiting also long increases your burden—mailing ID and awaiting its render. Even and then, alternative ID options exist.

2. Shows biographical information

Your name change document must—and should—show biographical data matching your current social security record:

• Historic period
• Date of birth, or
• Parents' names (one or both)

Whatsoever of the above three details work, but aught else.

three. Matches your current name on file

Your name change document must mention the name on your current social security card. So, were your name Jane Doe before changing, your document must evidence likewise.

Proof of citizenship

In the unlikely outcome that the Social Security Assistants is unaware of your U.S. citizenship, show your:

• U.Southward. passport
• U.Southward. birth certificate
• KIC-class American Indian card
• Consular study of birth abroad (CRBA), or
• U.S. document of citizenship or naturalization

The lesser line is that yous tin skip this pace if the SSA issued you a social security carte du jour in the past with your citizenship status marked equally U.South. citizen.

Proof of lawful immigrant status

If yous're a U.S. lawful immigrant (not-denizen), verify your clearing condition with your:

1. Strange passport
2. Work authorization (if applicative), and
3. Unexpired U.South.-issued clearing document

Student visa holders (F-1 or Yard-1), show Course I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Condition). If employed, prove a pay stub or employer letter of the alphabet list your:

1. Chore
2. Hours
3. Start appointment
4. Supervisor's name
5. Supervisor's phone number

Exchange visitor visa holders (J-i or J-2), testify Course DS-2019 (Document of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status). If employed, your sponsor must write a letter that'southward:

1. Signed
2. On their letterhead
3. Authorizing yous to work

Submitting your paperwork

You'd normally take a big decision to make after preparing your paperwork—submit your awarding by mail or in person? The in-person experience is was clear-cutting:

1. Visit your local social security office.
2. Submit your paperwork for review and scanning.
3. Call up your documents: identification, certificates, etc.
4. Exit with your receipt of services rendered.
5. Await your new carte du jour by post.

Alas, you lot must now apply past postal service since COVID-xix's impact on social security has closed field offices to the public…

SSA prerecorded discover on Coronavirus role closings.

The Social Security Assistants is taking steps to protect the public and our employees during the Coronavirus or COVID-nineteen pandemic.

Until further notice, offices are open to provide limited, dire need, in person services past appointment only. We will continue offer services by phone and online.

Transcription of prerecorded discover on part closures.

Field offices volition not be reopening to the public on January 3, 2022 as planned.

You can't schedule an appointment to alter your name; it's non a "dire need" service.

Receiving your new bill of fare by mail

Existent-world proper name change turnaround times in 2021–2022.

It should take 7 to 14 days to receive your new social security carte past mail. But COVID-19-related delays take stretched information technology out to ii to 4 weeks. Eight weeks at worst.

Expect 2 deliveries

Supporting documents y'all ship with your application will make it earlier from your local office. The "Fundamental Office" nigh DC and Baltimore volition mail your card last.

For instance, if your mailed packet includes your:

1. Completed SS-5 form
2. Driver'southward license (proof of identity)
3. Marriage certificate (proof of name modify)

You'll get mailed two envelopes:

1. One returning your license and certificate.
2. Another containing your updated social security card.

It'due south normal for your card to make it several weeks after your personal documents.

When your new social security menu arrives by mail:

• Sign it in ink.
• Avert making photocopies.
• Seal it in a plastic purse or container.
• Store information technology at dwelling instead of your wallet or purse.

Don't laminate your bill of fare; it blocks built-in anti-counterfeiting security features.

Changing your name on other credentials

How should you order and infinite out your proper noun change to-dos beyond social security? Hither'due south the proper sequence:

1. Greenish carte du jour
2. Social security card
3. Commuter's license or Real ID
4. Military ID card
5. Passport
6. IRS
7. Employers
8. Everything else

Allow's explain each in quick succession…

1. Greenish bill of fare

Apply Course I-90 to change your light-green menu name. This precedes social security.

Social security proper noun change makes your new proper name legal.

3. Driver's license or Real ID

Look at to the lowest degree 24 hours between your social security and driver'south license name modify; enough fourth dimension for the SSA database to refresh before information technology'due south queried.

four. Military ID carte

Update your military ID via DEERS or an ID menu centre.

five. Passport

Renew or change your passport name whatever time.

6. IRS

The SSA will alert the IRS that you lot've inverse your name.

7. Employers

The name on your W-2s must match IRS records for proper social security benefits recording.

8. Everything else

Notify or update the leftovers:

• Banks
• Business cards
• Car championship and registration
• Clubs
• Credit cards
• Md's offices
• Government taxation assessors
• Insurance companies (auto, life, wellness, homeowners)
• Internet backdrop (email and website)
• Landlord
• Memberships
• Mortgage company
• Pharmacists
• Holding deeds, titles, and trusts
• Retirement plans (401k and IRA)
• Shopping accounts (Amazon, eBay, PayPal)
• Social media profiles (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn)
• Utilities (water, electric, cable, phone, internet)
• Voter registration

Conclusion

Whether yous employ this guide or our online name change kit to change your name, everything starts with updating your social security card. Expert luck to you lot.

Your questions and comments are welcome below.

Source: https://www.marriagenamechange.com/blog/social-security-name-change/

Posted by: arnoldbutile.blogspot.com

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