The Name Game: What to Do if You Change Your Name

The Name Game: What to Do if You Change Your Name

You got married, and you’re taking your wife’s name. Or you entered the witness protection program, and your name is now changed from Hu to Wu. Or you’ve just always felt more like a “Martha” than a “Ben.” You’ll have to be sure to change your name with the Social Security Administration before heading to the BMV.

Once you’ve taken care of that, you have to get back to the BMV, where you’ll provide your license and the paperwork that verifies the name change, as well as a completed Driver License Identification Card application and possible fee. Just be grateful you’re not doing this in the olden days, because they used to also require that you fork over your first-born.

The BMV will then check over the ol’ interwebs to make sure that everything is on the up-and-up. They’ll snap a new photo, make sure your fingerprints haven’t changed, and get your autograph, and you’ll be all set. Good luck out there, Mr. or Mrs. Whatever Your Name Is.