III. Social Security Administration Name Change We recommend that after you obtain your court order, you next go to the Social Security Administration (SSA) to change your records and get a new social security card. Having your Social Security information changed will make changing your California driver’s license or state ID easier. Additionally, changing your name and gender with the Social Security Administration may alleviate some workplace issues. The SSA now requires an individual to have a “legal” name change in order to change your name on your Social Security records. This is a change in policy that was put into place in late 2005. Although California still honors common law name changes, many state and federal agencies, as well as many financial institutions, will not change your name on your records unless you have a court order because they cannot verify the link between your old and new identities. (For more on Common Law Name Changes, see page 28). In most cases, a “legal” name change means a court order. Generally, the only other methods of name change that the SSA will accept are: by marriage, adoption, divorce, or Certificate of Naturalization. The following information about name changes comes directly from the SSA website. 6 1. Complete an Application For A Social Security Card (Form SS-5); 7 2. Show us proof of your: •
U.S. citizenship (if you have not previously established your citizenship with us) or immigration status;
•
Legal name change; and
•
Identity*
3. Take your completed application and documents to your local SSA office (you can find a list at https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps6z/FOLO/fo001.jsp). You can also mail you to the SSA. 6
http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=315. In case this link has changed, an individual can also go to www.ssa.gov and look under “Marriage, Divorce and Name Changes.” 7 The SS-5 form is available at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.html or an individual may be able to get one at a Social Security office.
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