Changing Name In Georgia Driver's License

New federal requirements may prevent you from renewing your Georgia driver's license if the name on your birth certificate does not exactly match your driver's license, even if you have been renewing your license without issue for years. Suppose the name on the birth certificate does not exactly match the name desired on the new Georgia driver's license. In that case, those same requirements may prevent a new resident from obtaining a Georgia driver's license. Drivers must visit a DDS Customer Service Center within 60 days of changing their legal name to apply for a driver's license name change. Name change applicants generally need to provide a signature for the new driver's license and submit original or certified documentation, so they cannot apply for a DMV name change online or mail.

REAL ID Law In Georgia

The REAL ID Act was enacted due to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to make identification documents more secure and consistent across the United States. If you do not have a valid Georgia Secure License or ID, you must produce government-approved identity documents to renew your driver's license. Check your current driver's license to see if it has a gold or black star in the top right corner to see if you have a valid Georgia Secure License or ID. If this is the case, your current driver's license is a Georgia Secure License. If your license does not have a gold or black star, you may be required to file a name change petition to legally change your name if the name on your birth certificate and your driver's license does not match. Your Georgia driver's license must be Real ID-compliant because, beginning October 1, 2020, the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) will require that your driver's license be Real ID compliant or be denied entry through airport security.

Filing A Petition For Name Change In Georgia

To change your name on your driver's license, you must first file a petition for a legal name change in the Superior Court of your county of residence. This is typically a two-month process that requires you to file a petition and affidavit stating that you are not attempting to defraud others, followed by publishing a legal notice of your name change in the county legal newspaper. After the four-week notice period has expired and the judge signs an order granting the name change, you must take a certified copy of the judge's order to the DDS office to have your license updated. To change one's gender, a separate legal action is required, but Georgia law makes the process relatively simple. You must file a petition in the Superior Court for the county you live in to amend your birth certificate, but you must include a certified letter from your doctor attesting that you have undergone irreversible sex reassignment surgery (SRS). A judge can sign an order amending the sex designation on your birth certificate a month after you file the petition, though it may take a little longer depending on the county in which you reside. A certified copy of the judge's order amending your birth certificate is acceptable at the Office of Vital Records, the Department of Driver Services, and any other government agency where your sex designation needs to be updated.

Changing Name With The SSA

If you need to change your name for any reason, please notify the Social Security Administration first, followed by the GA DDS; name changes can only be made in person or by mail. You cannot change your name online. You must provide the following information:
  • Completed Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card
  • Certified name change documents such as:
    • Marriage certificate
    • Divorce Decree
    • Court document
  • Proof of identity such as:
    • Driver's license
    • State ID
  • Proof of citizenship such as:
    • Birth certificate
    • Certificate of citizenship
    • Certificate of naturalization
All documents you submit must be originals or certified copies. After completing your name change, your SSN will not change.

Change Name With Georgia DDS

After legally changing your name and receiving the SSA's name change document, you can visit the nearest GA DDS location within 60 days. This portion is only available in person. You must bring the following items with you to your appointment:
  • Completed online application using the GA Skip a Step process.
  • Your driver's license or ID
  • Evidence of name change such as:
  • Birth certificate
  • Marriage license
  • Adoption papers
  • Divorce Decree
  • Payment if necessary. The first name change is free.

Steps To Follow

Georgia law requires that you visit a service center and obtain an updated new license with your new name no later than sixty (60) days after legally changing your name. The only way to change this with the DDS is to visit them. The steps are as follows:

In-Person:

  • Be prepared to show your identification documents.
  • Please go to your nearest DDS customer service center.
  • You can plan ahead of time by viewing the wait times at each location.
  • You will be given your updated license. The expiration date will remain the same as before.

Fees

There is no charge to have your name updated once during the original validity period of your license. If you have less than one hundred and fifty (150) days before your license expires, you must pay a fee. If you fall into this category, you cannot change your name; instead, you must apply for a Georgia license renewal and pay the appropriate renewal fee. Examine the front face of your license to determine its expiration date. There will also be a fee if you need to change your name more than once during the active life of your license.

Required Documents

Please bring the following documents with you before visiting a customer service center, or you will not be able to update your name:
  • If your new name differs from the one on your birth certificate or passport, you must provide proof of the change. Documents permitted include a divorce decree, marriage certificate, adoption documents, and court-ordered name change documents.
  • If you want to add a hyphen to your surname and married in Georgia after November 1, 1982, you must show the marriage license application (a certified copy will suffice).
  • Name changes due to same-sex marriages are not permitted under Georgia law.
  • You must have your name change documents (marriage license, marriage application, court-ordered name change document, divorce decree) officially translated if they are not in English. Only use these companies; all other individuals or businesses will be rejected.