Name change after marriage in Georgia
To change your name after marriage in Georgia, update Social Security first, then your Georgia driver's license / REAL ID, then your passport. Do it in that order and you won't get turned away at the counter on a name mismatch. Below are Georgia's exact DMV steps and fees, each linked to the real .gov page it came from, then the federal steps that apply in every state.
Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS)
Georgia DMV name-change steps
Change your name with the Social Security Administration FIRST
Georgia DDS requires that all applicants who changed their surname due to marriage present a Social Security card or an official letter from the Social Security Administration verifying the name change. Because DDS requires SSA-verified proof, you must update your name with SSA before going to DDS.
SourceGather required documents (certified marriage certificate + SSA proof)
Bring a certified copy of your marriage certificate/license supporting the name change, plus your Social Security card or SSA letter verifying the new name. For REAL ID holders, you present the original or certified document supporting the MOST RECENT name change.
SourceSubmit the required Online License/ID/Permit Form before your visit
DDS states all customers must submit the required Online License/ID/Permit Form prior to visiting a Customer Service Center.
SourceGo IN PERSON to a DDS Customer Service Center to process the name change
Name changes must be processed in person at a Customer Service Center. Online or mail options are not available for a name change. This must be completed within 60 days of the name change.
Source
What you need to bring
- Certified copy of your marriage certificate / marriage license supporting the name change
- Social Security card OR an official letter from the Social Security Administration verifying the name change
- (For hyphenated names from a Georgia marriage after 1982) a certified copy of the marriage license application stating the hyphenated name
- (REAL ID, existing GA license holders) original or certified document supporting the most recent name change
Georgia fees
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Name change on existing license/ID | No name-change fee is stated on the official DDS Update License page. A 'one free name or address change during the license term' policy appeared in a Google search snippet but could NOT be confirmed in the body of any official DDS page fetched, so treat as unconfirmed. Replacement/duplicate card (if applicable) is $10.00 when at least 150 days remain on the license/ID. Fee varies — see source. | dds.georgia.gov |
Watch out for these in Georgia
SSA FIRST: DDS requires a Social Security card or official SSA letter verifying the name change. You must update your name with the Social Security Administration BEFORE your DDS visit, or you will be turned away.
IN PERSON ONLY: A name change CANNOT be done online or by mail. It must be processed in person at a DDS Customer Service Center. This is the most common time-wasting mistake.
60-DAY DEADLINE: By Georgia law you must update the name on your license/permit/ID within 60 days of the name change.
CERTIFIED marriage certificate required — a photocopy is not sufficient; bring a certified copy.
REAL ID NAME MATCH: For a REAL ID, existing GA holders must present the original or certified document supporting the MOST RECENT name change; the name trail must support your current legal name.
PRE-VISIT FORM: DDS requires submitting the Online License/ID/Permit Form before visiting the center.
HYPHENATED NAMES (GA marriages after 1982): to hyphenate, you must present a certified copy of the marriage license APPLICATION stating the hyphenated name.
The federal steps (every state)
Your Georgia DMV step sits between Social Security and your passport. The three steps below are the same wherever you live.
Official Georgia & federal sources
Every step is backed by an official government page — confirm the current rules on the source before you act.
- https://dds.georgia.gov/georgia-licenseid/existing-licenseid/how-do-i-update-license
- https://dds.georgia.gov/georgia-licenseid/general-license-topics/real-id
- https://dds.georgia.gov/license-faqs
- https://dds.georgia.gov/real-id-faqs
- https://dds.georgia.gov/georgia-licenseid/existing-licenseid/how-do-i-replace-license
See your exact steps free
Answer a few quick questions and we'll tell you what to do first, second, and third for your exact situation — each step linked to the real .gov page. No account, no card.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a deadline to update my license name after marriage in Georgia?
- 60-DAY DEADLINE: By Georgia law you must update the name on your license/permit/ID within 60 days of the name change.
- Do I change my name at the Georgia DMV or Social Security first?
- Social Security first. Georgia's DMV verifies your name and SSN against SSA's records, so updating SSA before the DMV prevents your license or REAL ID from being rejected on a mismatch.
- What documents does Georgia need to change my license name after marriage?
- Certified copy of your marriage certificate / marriage license supporting the name change See the full .gov-verified list below, each linked to its official Georgia page.
- How much does a Georgia name change cost?
- Name change on existing license/ID: No name-change fee is stated on the official DDS Update License page. A 'one free name or address change during the license term' policy appeared in a Google search snippet but could NOT be confirmed in the body of any official DDS page fetched, so treat as unconfirmed. Replacement/duplicate card (if applicable) is $10.00 when at least 150 days remain on the license/ID. Fee varies — see source.. The federal Social Security update is always free.
- When was this Georgia guidance last checked?
- 2026-06-14. We checked every step against Georgia's official pages and show you the date so you know it's current — and we link every step to the real .gov page it came from.
Not legal advice · Not a government service · Not affiliated with any government agency.