South Carolina Name Change Checklist After Marriage
Everything you need to change your name in South Carolina, in the exact order that keeps you from getting turned away. Build your personalized version free.
Checked against official South Carolina and federal sources in August 2026. Sources are listed at the bottom of this page.
The correct order in South Carolina
Follow this sequence in South Carolina:
- 1. Certified marriage certificate: order copies from the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH), Vital Records Section, Columbia, SC.
- 2. Social Security (SS-5): free, and always first.
- 3. Wait 24–48 hours for the SSA record to sync.
- 4. South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV): update your license ($10 for a standard license reflecting the new name; $25 for a first REAL ID).
- 5. Passport: DS-82, DS-11, or DS-5504.
- 6. Voter registration & everyone else: bank, employer, insurers.
Every South Carolina step, in the right order
This page covers name change checklist. Your free checklist puts it with the other agencies, sequenced for South Carolina, so nothing gets done out of order.
South Carolina documents to gather
- 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)
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.
What a name change costs in South Carolina
- Certified marriage certificate (3 copies, at typical prices): $30–$90
- Social Security card (Form SS-5): Free
- Driver's license update (South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV)): Varies, see the South Carolina license page
- Passport (only if you update it): Free–$165
- Voter registration: Free
The South Carolina DMV fee depends on your situation, so it isn't included here. Not counting it, most people spend roughly $30 to $255, depending on certificate copies and whether they renew a passport.
South Carolina FAQs
Sources
We checked the details on this page against the official sources below in August 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm anything you are about to act on at the agency's own page. The legal citations were last re-read against their sources in October 2026. How we verify.
- State agencySouth Carolina: ordering a certified marriage certificate
- State agencySouth Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV): name change on a license or ID
- State agencySouth Carolina official voter registration page
- The lawS.C. Code Ann. § 7-5-150Registration books close 30 days before each election.
- FederalSocial Security Administration: change your name
- FederalSocial Security Administration: Form SS-5
- FederalU.S. Department of State: change or correct a passport
NameWright is not a government agency and this is not legal advice. We prepare your paperwork; you file it.
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