Name change after marriage in South Carolina
To change your name after marriage in South Carolina, update Social Security first, then your South Carolina 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 South Carolina'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.
South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV)
South Carolina DMV name-change steps
Change your name with the Social Security Administration (SSA) FIRST
The SCDMV requires you to change your name with the Social Security Administration at least 48 hours BEFORE visiting the SCDMV to change your name. Official wording: "You must change your name with the Social Security Administration at least 48 hours before visiting the SCDMV to change your name."
SourceGather your proof-of-name-change document(s)
Bring an original or government-issued (not copied/scanned) marriage license/certificate showing your new legal name. If your name has changed multiple times, you must show a complete name-change history that links your birth-certificate name to your current name. A valid US Passport or US Passport Card in your current legal name may also serve as a name-change document. The complete document list is in the United States Citizens' Checklist (SCDMV Form MV-93).
SourceComplete SCDMV Form 447-NC (Application for a Beginner's Permit, Driver's License, or Identification Card)
Official wording: "Complete the Application for a Beginner's Permit, Driver's License, or Identification Card (SCDMV Form 447-NC)."
SourceVisit an SCDMV branch office in person to process the name change
A name change must be done in person at an SCDMV branch (it cannot be completed online or by mail the way an address change can). Bring your completed Form 447-NC and your marriage license/name-change document(s). A new license/ID is issued reflecting the updated name.
SourcePay the applicable fee
Official wording: "It's $10 for a new license that reflects your updated name unless you're interested in a REAL ID. Your first REAL ID is $25 since it's considered renewing your license."
Source
What you need to bring
- Marriage license/certificate (original or government-issued copy; the SCDMV does not accept copied or scanned versions) showing your new legal name
- Complete name-change history linking your birth-certificate name to your current name, if your name has changed more than once (e.g., prior marriage license, divorce decree, or court order) — per Form MV-93
- Completed SCDMV Form 447-NC (Application for a Beginner's Permit, Driver's License, or Identification Card)
- Proof that your name was already updated with the Social Security Administration (must be done at least 48 hours before your SCDMV visit)
- For a REAL ID specifically: proof of identity/citizenship, proof of Social Security number, and two proofs of current SC physical address (see Form MV-93)
South Carolina fees
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New driver's license/ID reflecting updated name (standard, non-REAL ID) | $10 | South Carolina DMV |
| First REAL ID (treated as a license renewal) | $25 | South Carolina DMV |
Watch out for these in South Carolina
SSA FIRST: You must change your name with the Social Security Administration at least 48 hours BEFORE visiting the SCDMV. The SCDMV verifies against SSA records, so your name must already match SSA before your DMV visit.
IN PERSON REQUIRED: A name change must be done at an SCDMV branch office in person. Unlike an address change, it cannot be completed online or by mail.
CERTIFIED/ORIGINAL DOCUMENT REQUIRED: The SCDMV will not accept copied or scanned documents — bring the original or a government-issued copy of your marriage license/certificate.
FULL NAME-CHANGE HISTORY: If your name has changed more than once, you must present documents that link your birth-certificate name all the way to your current legal name.
ONE-TIME MARRIAGE NAME CHANGE: Official wording — "You only have one opportunity to change your name when you get married. You may not change your name again to a different variation of your married name without a court order." A marriage license cannot be used to change your FIRST name.
REAL ID NAME MATCH: For a REAL ID, all your documents (license, SSA record, name-change documents) must reflect a consistent legal name; mismatches will require additional proof.
The '10 days' deadline shown on the SCDMV page applies to updating your ADDRESS after a move, not specifically to a marriage name change; confirm any time requirement directly with the SCDMV.
The federal steps (every state)
Your South Carolina DMV step sits between Social Security and your passport. The three steps below are the same wherever you live.
Official South Carolina & federal sources
Every step is backed by an official government page — confirm the current rules on the source before you act.
- https://dmv.sc.gov/driver-services/drivers-license/address-or-name-change
- https://dmv.sc.gov/driver-services/drivers-license
- https://dmv.sc.gov/sites/scdmv/files/2026-01/447-NC_0.pdf
- https://dmv.sc.gov/sites/scdmv/files/2026-01/MV-93.pdf
- https://dmv.sc.gov/driver-services/identification-cards
- https://dmv.sc.gov/sites/scdmv/files/2026-01/4057.pdf
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 South Carolina?
- The '10 days' deadline shown on the SCDMV page applies to updating your ADDRESS after a move, not specifically to a marriage name change; confirm any time requirement directly with the SCDMV.
- Do I change my name at the South Carolina DMV or Social Security first?
- Social Security first. South Carolina'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 South Carolina need to change my license name after marriage?
- Marriage license/certificate (original or government-issued copy; the SCDMV does not accept copied or scanned versions) showing your new legal name See the full .gov-verified list below, each linked to its official South Carolina page.
- How much does a South Carolina name change cost?
- New driver's license/ID reflecting updated name (standard, non-REAL ID): $10; First REAL ID (treated as a license renewal): $25. The federal Social Security update is always free.
- When was this South Carolina guidance last checked?
- 2026-06-14. We checked every step against South Carolina'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.