How to Change Your Driver's License After Divorce in Mississippi

Update Social Security First — or the DPS Will Reject You

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety Driver Service Bureau cross-references your name against the Social Security Administration database when processing a license update. If SSA still shows your married name, the DPS counter will turn you away.

Before driving to the DPS station, submit Form SS-5 to the Social Security Administration with your certified divorce decree and wait for the database update — usually 24 to 48 hours after processing.

What to Bring to the DPS Station

Mississippi requires an in-person visit. No online or mail-in option exists for a name-change update. Bring all of the following in original or certified form:

• Certified copy of the divorce decree or standalone court order specifying the name restoration
• Updated Social Security card showing your new legal name (or an official W-2 or 1099 displaying your full SSN and new name)
• Original or certified birth certificate (hospital commemorative copies don't qualify)
• Two separate residency proofs from different sources — utility bills, bank statements, or mortgage documents. P.O. boxes are not accepted. Both documents must show your current Mississippi physical address.
• Payment for the standard duplicate or renewal license fee

Where to Go

The DPS operates Driver Service Bureau stations across Mississippi — Jackson, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Meridian, Tupelo, Columbus, and others. You can find locations and hours at driverservicebureau.dps.ms.gov. Some stations accept appointments; others are walk-in only.

Plan for wait times. Bring every document listed above even if you think some are redundant — the DPS has rejected applicants for missing a single item from the checklist.

Common Reasons for Rejection

The DPS will reject your application if:

• Your Social Security name hasn't been updated yet
• Your birth certificate is a photocopy instead of an original or certified copy
• Your two residency proofs come from the same source (two utility bills from the same company don't count as "different sources")
• The name on your decree doesn't match the name you're requesting on the license

If your divorce decree restored your maiden name but you want a different name entirely, the DPS needs the separate court order from a Petition for Change of Name — the divorce decree alone won't cover it.

After the License

Once your Mississippi license shows your updated name, use it as your primary ID for every remaining update: passport, voter registration, bank accounts, vehicle titles, insurance policies, and professional licenses.

The Mississippi After-Divorce Checklist maps the full identity-update sequence from SSA through DPS and every agency after, so you handle each step in the right order without wasted trips.

See more Mississippi guides →