SCDMV Form 447-NC: Name Change on Your Driver's License After Divorce

You have your divorce decree with a name restoration order, you have updated Social Security, and now you need to get your driver's license changed. The SCDMV requires two specific forms to process a name change after divorce: Form 447-NC and Form 4057. Missing either one means a wasted trip to the DMV branch.

The 10-Day Deadline

South Carolina Code Section 56-1-230 requires you to notify the SCDMV within 10 calendar days of any legal name change. This countdown starts from the date the name change becomes legally effective, which is typically the date the judge signs your final divorce decree or standalone name change order.

What You Need to Bring

You must appear in person at an SCDMV branch. Name changes cannot be processed online, by mail, or at a third-party tag office.

Required documents:

• Form 4057 (Change of Address, Name, Date of Birth, and/or SSN) — this notifies the SCDMV of the legal name change
• Form 447-NC (Application for Non-Commercial Credential) — this is the actual application for your new driver's license or ID card
• Certified copy of your divorce decree or standalone Family Court Name Change Order
• Your current South Carolina driver's license

If you are upgrading to or renewing a REAL ID at the same time, you will also need to complete Form MV-93 and provide additional residency documentation (two proofs of SC address such as a utility bill and bank statement).

Fees

• Standard driver's license update: $10
• REAL ID compliant license: $25

The Critical Pre-Step: Update Social Security First

The SCDMV's identity verification system cross-references the Social Security Administration database. If your SSA record still shows your married name, the DMV cannot process the change. You must file Form SS-5 with the SSA at least 48 hours before your DMV visit. The SSA name change is free.

After the DMV

Once your license reflects your restored name, use it as your primary identity document to update your vehicle registration, auto insurance policy, bank accounts, employer payroll records, and voter registration. The license is the foundation document that most other institutions accept as proof of the name change.

The South Carolina After-Divorce Checklist includes a complete agency-by-agency sequence with form numbers and deadlines so you can work through every update without backtracking.

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