Change your name in South Carolina
The exact steps, documents, and official South Carolina links to change your name after marriage or divorce, in the correct order.
DMV / license agency
South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV)License update fee
$10 for a standard license reflecting the new name; $25 for a first REAL ID
Marriage certificate
South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH), Vital Records Section, Columbia, SCVoter deadline
Online/mail voter registration updates (including name changes) must be submitted at least 30 days before an election; online registration requires an SC DMV-issued driver's license or ID card number.
Instructions verified August 2026 against official South Carolina government sites. How we verify
Book a DMV appointmentWhat South Carolina asks you to bring
Documents for the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV)
- Certified marriage certificate (or divorce decree/family court order)
- Completed SCDMV Form 4057 (Application for Name and/or Address Change)
- Completed SCDMV Form 447-NC (Application for Beginner's Permit, Driver's License, or ID Card)
- Proof of Social Security Administration name update (must update with SSA at least 48 hours before visiting SCDMV)
- Current driver's license/ID and proof of residency (for REAL ID)
Online or in person
South Carolina does not accept the license name change online. A visit to South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) is required.
REAL ID in South Carolina
Name changes cannot be done online or by mail; must be done in person at an SCDMV branch. Must wait at least 48 hours after updating name with SSA before visiting SCDMV. Only one name-change opportunity is allowed at marriage without a court order for further changes.
Ordering your South Carolina marriage certificate
State fee $12 standard (4 weeks) or $17 expedited (5-7 business days) via VitalChek, plus VitalChek service charge (~$12.85); $3 for additional copies. Covers marriages July 1950-December 2023; earlier/later records require the county Probate Court. In-person office pickup temporarily unavailable as of 6/19/2025.
South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH), Vital Records Section, Columbia, SCUpdating your South Carolina voter registration
South Carolina lets you update your registration online. Online/mail voter registration updates (including name changes) must be submitted at least 30 days before an election; online registration requires an SC DMV-issued driver's license or ID card number.
Update your registrationSouth Carolina step-by-step guides
Ready to change your name in South Carolina?
Build your free, personalized checklist, sequenced correctly for your state.