Social Security Name Change After Divorce: Form SS-5 and What You Need

The Social Security Administration is the first stop for a post-divorce name change — not the DMV, not the passport office. The SSA database is the primary verification source for every other government agency's identity systems. If you try to update your driver's license or passport first, those applications will be rejected because your Social Security record will not match.

What You Need

Form SS-5 (Application for a Social Security Card). Download it from ssa.gov or pick one up at your local SSA office.

Required documents:

• Certified copy of your divorce decree showing the name restoration language. The SSA requires original court-certified documents with the official seal or ink stamp. Photocopies, digital printouts, and notarized copies are not accepted.
• Proof of identity: current driver's license, state ID, or U.S. passport.
• Proof of citizenship if the SSA has not previously verified it (birth certificate or U.S. passport).

All documents must be originals or court-certified copies. The SSA will return your documents by mail after processing.

How to Submit

In person: Visit any Social Security office. In Alaska, the two main offices are at 222 W. 8th Avenue in Anchorage and 101 12th Avenue in Fairbanks. No appointment is required, but wait times are shorter early in the morning and mid-week.

By mail: Mail your completed SS-5 and original documents to your local SSA office. This adds mailing time in both directions and means your original documents are out of your hands for several weeks.

Online: Available only if you are a U.S. citizen, have a valid driver's license or state ID from a participating state, and are only requesting a name update (no other changes). Check ssa.gov to see if your state qualifies.

Cost and Timeline

The name correction is free. Your Social Security number does not change — you receive a new card with your restored name and the same number.

Processing takes approximately 10 to 14 business days. The new physical card arrives by mail. You will not receive a tracking number.

What to Do While You Wait

You do not need to wait for the physical card to arrive before taking your next steps. The SSA can provide a receipt or confirmation letter at the office visit confirming the name change has been submitted. Some state DMVs accept this receipt as proof that the SSA database has been updated.

In Alaska, the DMV accepts either the new physical Social Security card or the official SSA receipt. Given the 30-day statutory deadline to notify the DMV of a name change under AS § 28.05.071, using the receipt rather than waiting for the card can save you critical time.

After SSA: The Sequence

Once the SSA database reflects your new name:

1. Alaska DMV — Form D1, in person only, $35 fee (waived if 60+)
2. U.S. Passport — Form DS-82 (if passport is under 1 year old) or DS-11 (if older)
3. Banks, credit cards, employers, insurance — each will want a certified copy of your divorce decree
4. Voter registration, professional licenses, utility accounts

The SSA update unlocks all downstream changes. Without it, every other agency's name change process stalls.

The Alaska After-Divorce Checklist maps out the complete name change sequence with every form number, fee, and Alaska-specific deadline.

See more Alaska guides →