Name change after marriage in Georgia

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Marriage certificate

• The Georgia State Office of Vital Records holds marriage applications and certificates only from June 1952 to August 1996; for other years, the probate office of the county that issued the license has them.⁶
• Georgia Vital Records charges $10 for a marriage certificate and $5 for each additional copy.⁷
• When Georgia Vital Records finds the record, the certified certificate is included in the fee; when it does not, the office sends a not-on-file letter.⁷
• Only the two spouses can get a certified copy of a Georgia marriage application from the state office.⁶
• Georgia treats the marriage certificate from the county probate court as the legal name change document when the spouse’s name was requested on the marriage license application.⁹

Driver's license

• The Georgia Department of Driver Services says a name change on a driver’s license must be made within 60 days of the change.¹
• Georgia name changes on a license or ID card are completed in person at a DDS Customer Service Center.²
• Georgia DDS allows one free name or address change per license term; another change in the same term may require a renewal and its fees.³
• The free Georgia replacement license issued after a name change is valid for the rest of the current license term.²
• For a new surname, Georgia DDS accepts a certified copy of the marriage license application (for Georgia marriages), the marriage license, a state-issued marriage certificate or a court order.²
• Georgia DDS allows a hyphenated married surname for Georgia marriages on or after November 1, 1982, with a certified copy of the marriage license application showing that choice.²
• Holders of a valid Georgia license or ID card bring the original or certified document behind their most recent name change.⁴
• Georgia DDS checks the Social Security number through its system and asks for paper proof, such as the Social Security card, only when that check fails.⁴
• Georgia DDS warns that the TSA does not accept its temporary paper license as identification for air travel.⁴

Voter registration

• The Georgia Secretary of State says the simplest way to update a voter registration after a legal name change is a new registration application, which the county registrar matches to the existing record.¹⁰
• Georgia’s online voter registration requires a valid Georgia driver’s license or DDS-issued ID card with a signature on file at DDS.¹¹
• Georgia DDS can start a voter registration during a license transaction and forwards the application to the Secretary of State.¹
• Georgia voters must be registered at least 30 days before an election to vote in it.¹⁰

Agencies

• A Georgia newlywed who took the spouse’s name on the marriage license application does not need a separate name change petition in Superior Court.⁹

Social Security

• The Social Security Administration recommends updating your Social Security record before you go to your state motor vehicle office.⁵
• Social Security suggests waiting until the state has recorded the marriage, which takes about 30 days in most cases.⁵
• For proof of identity, Social Security prefers a U.S. driver license and also accepts a state ID card or a U.S. passport.⁵
• Social Security treats a marriage certificate as the ideal proof of both the new legal name and the marriage.⁵
• Social Security accepts only original documents or copies certified by the issuing agency, never photocopies or notarized copies.⁵
• Social Security does not charge for a card with the new name.⁸
• Once Social Security completes the request, the replacement card arrives by mail in 5 to 10 business days.¹²
• People who cannot use Social Security’s online services fill in the paper Form SS-5 and show the required documents.¹³

Passport

• USAGov says to report a name change to the U.S. Department of State as soon as possible to get an updated passport.¹⁴
• Form DS-5504 covers a name change by marriage when the passport was issued less than one year ago and the name changed within that year.¹⁵
• The U.S. Department of State charges no fee for Form DS-5504 unless the applicant asks for expedited service or 1–2 day delivery.¹⁵
• Form DS-82, the mail-in passport renewal, accepts a married name when the applicant sends certified proof such as a certified copy of the marriage certificate.¹⁶
• Renewing with Form DS-82 requires sending the most recent passport, issued when the applicant was at least 16 and less than 15 years ago.¹⁶
• An applicant who cannot document the name change with a certified marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order must apply on Form DS-11 instead.¹⁶
• Form DS-11 is filed in person at a passport acceptance facility, at a passport agency by appointment, or at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.¹⁷

Voter registration

• A voter registration can be updated online through vote.gov or by mail with the National Mail Voter Registration Form.¹⁴

Agencies

• USAGov advises telling Social Security early because other agencies learn of name changes through the SSA.¹⁴
• Every name on a federal tax return must match Social Security records.¹⁴

• Form SS-5 filled in from your answersYou print it, sign it and bring it to Social Security with your documents. The form itself is free on ssa.gov.
• The passport application for your case, filled inPicked from your answers about your current passport; the State Department’s fees are paid to the State Department. The application also needs a recent color photo, which the kit doesn’t include: U.S. passport photo rules, and a photo from a selfie.
• The Georgia checklistThe steps above in order, with the deadline, the fee and the official page for each one.
• Notification lettersFor your bank, employer, insurer and other accounts, with your old and new names.

The kit does not file anything for you and is not legal advice. Government fees, like the license fee and the county copy of your marriage record, are paid directly to each office.