Changing your Social Security card back to your name after a divorce
Social Security accepts a certified copy of your divorce decree as your name-change document, and the new card is free. If the decree restored your name, that's the name on your card. If it didn't state your name, you can still go back to a former or maiden name using your birth certificate, a prior record of a card in that name, or a prior marriage document — usually with no new court order. Do this first, before your driver's license, REAL ID, or passport.
The steps to update your card
Get a certified copy of your divorce decree
Contact the clerk of the county or city where your divorce was granted to order certified copies. Social Security needs an original or an issuing-agency-certified copy of your decree as evidence of the name change — not a photocopy.
SourceBring your decree to Social Security as your name-change document
Social Security accepts a U.S. divorce, annulment, or dissolution decree as evidence of a legal name change. If the decree states your restored name, that's the name used on your card.
SourceIf the decree is silent, restore your former name with supporting documents
If the decree doesn't state your name, Social Security can still restore a former or maiden name using your birth certificate, a prior record of a card issued in that name, or a prior marriage document — no new court order needed for a former name. Bring an original or agency-certified copy of the supporting document.
SourceApply for your free corrected card, then do the rest
There's no fee to change the name on your Social Security card. Once it's updated, move on to your driver's license / REAL ID, then your passport, then everything else — Social Security goes first so the DMV doesn't reject you on a name mismatch.
Source
What if my decree didn't restore my name?
This is common, and it's usually fine. If you're returning to a former name, Social Security can restore it from your birth certificate, a prior record of a card issued in that name, or a prior marriage document — even when the decree says nothing about your name. The one case that generally needs a court order is a brand-new name that's neither your maiden nor your married name; for that you file a petition at your county court, and Social Security then accepts the signed court order.
Your decree didn't restore your name — what to do →Official sources
Every step is backed by an official government page — confirm the current rules on the source before you act.
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
- Does Social Security accept a divorce decree as a name-change document?
- Yes. Social Security accepts a U.S. divorce, annulment, or dissolution decree as evidence of a legal name change. It must be an original or a copy certified by the issuing agency, not a photocopy.
- My decree didn't restore my maiden name. Can Social Security still change it?
- Often yes, if you're going back to a former name. When the decree is silent, Social Security can restore a former or maiden name using your birth certificate, a prior record of a card issued in that name, or a prior marriage document — usually without a new court order.
- Is changing my Social Security card back to my name free?
- Yes. Social Security doesn't charge to change the name on your card. You only need the right documents — your decree, or the supporting documents above, plus proof of identity.
- What if I want a brand-new name after my divorce?
- A brand-new name that's neither your maiden nor your married name generally needs a court-ordered name change. File a petition at your county or local court; once a judge signs the order, Social Security accepts that court order — but not a petition on its own.
Not legal advice · Not a government service · Not affiliated with any government agency.