How to Change Your Name After Marriage in South Carolina

The winning sequence in South Carolina is: certified marriage certificate → Social Security (free, first) → wait 24–48 hours → South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) → passport → notify everyone. Each step verifies against the one before it, so order matters.

Order 3–5 certified copies from the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH), Vital Records Section, Columbia, SC. Photocopies aren't accepted.

Good to know for South Carolina: 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.

File the free SS-5 with Social Security first, wait 24–48 hours, then update your license at the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) (typically $10–$25 (varies; confirm with the agency)). Bring:

• 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)

Update your passport, then your South Carolina voter registration (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.), and finally your bank, employer, and insurers.