Do I Have to Change My Name in Person?

Changing your name after marriage, divorce, or court order sounds simple—until you realize some updates can be done by mail, while others require showing up in person.

Skip the trip or stand in line?

Here's what you can do from home—and what requires a trip:

• Social security card — You can change your name by mail or in person.
• Driver's license or REAL ID — Most states require an in-person name change, but a few (like New York, Kentucky, and Texas in certain cases) allow mail-in changes.
• Passport — You must change your name in person if your passport is more than 15 years old, or if it's lost, stolen, or damaged; otherwise, you must change it by mail.
• USPS — To change your name and address, pick up a free Mover's Guide packet at any post office. Fill it out at home and drop it in the mail—no counter visit needed. Or skip the paper and do it online at usps.com.

No one wants to go, but if you must…

If you need to change your name in person, book an appointment early—slots fill up weeks in advance, sometimes even months.

Start with the Social Security Administration (SSA), then the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)—the order matters.

Your "local" office isn't your only option

You can usually go to any SSA or DMV office in your state for a name change. There's no rule assigning you to one—it's not like a school district.

When booking, check the 3 to 5 nearest offices and choose the soonest available slot.

Walk in with no appointment

Walking into the SSA or DMV without an appointment is a bold move—but sometimes you're racing the clock and have no choice.

In many states, there are deadlines between your social security and driver's license name changes—miss them and risk penalties.

So here's what to do…

Get there before the doors open—there's often a line already. Even then, you might be turned away if they hit capacity or reach a daily cutoff.

• SSA — Quietest Tuesday through Thursday mornings.
• DMV — For walk-ins, arrive before the doors open. With an appointment, midweek late mornings tend to be quieter. Avoid Mondays and lunch hours either way.
• Passport offices — Appointments are strongly recommended—not all locations allow walk-ins, and those that do are often limited to a one-hour window per day.
• USPS — Mover's Guide packets are walk-in only. Pick up and drop off at any post office—no appointment needed.

Social security: mail it or show up?

Changing the name on your social security card is one of the few cases where you're offered a true choice:

• You could change it by mail.
• Or you can go in person.

Why go in person if you don't have to?

What makes people avoid mailing their documents:

• They don't want to mail their ID.
• They don't want to mail their marriage certificate.

Maybe they can live without their marriage certificate for a short time—SSA's turnaround is usually just 1 to 2 weeks.

• That's doable.
• That's reasonable.

But mailing your driver's license or REAL ID? Or even your passport? That's riskier:

• What if it gets lost?
• Dare you drive without a license in the meantime?
• What if you have to fly internationally?

And if it does get lost?

If you can't order a replacement license online, good luck getting a DMV appointment anytime soon. The days of simple walk-ins are long gone.

And replacing a lost passport is a whole different headache:

1. You'll need an in-person appointment.
2. It'll cost a whopping $165.
3. Routine processing takes 4 to 6 weeks.

It's just safer to go in person… right?

That risk-averse mindset is probably the #1 reason people go to the SSA in person instead of mailing it. But what if that fear is based on a false assumption?

Here's a little-known fact: if you got married within the past two years, your marriage certificate can serve as both proof of name change and identification.

That's right…

• You don't need to mail your ID.
• You'll get your marriage certificate back by mail.

See our social security name change guide for more—especially the section titled maybe you don't need ID.

So the option was always there—people just didn't know it.

Still planning that trip to the SSA office?

One good reason to go in person

Like voting on election day instead of mailing it in—there's something satisfying about handing over your paperwork and knowing it's done.

You skip the uncertainty of your documents getting shredded by a high-speed USPS sorter and dumped in the dead letter office—where time and deliveries go to disappear.

Going in person means your application isn't stuck in limbo. It's logged, scanned, and you might even walk out with a receipt confirming it was processed.

Passport: the choice is made for you

You can change the name on your U.S. passport by mail if it's

• in your possession
• undamaged
• and less than 15 years old

Not can mail it—must mail it:

• If you're eligible to mail it, that's your only option.
• You can't go in person, even if you want to.

Otherwise, yes—you'll need to go in person.

That includes if your passport is:

• over 15 years old
• lost
• stolen
• badly damaged
• or you've never had one

Scheduling a passport appointment

USPS option (recommended): Use the USPS scheduling tool to book your passport appointment online. Most locations fill up 2 to 3 weeks out, so don't wait.

Wider search option: Can't find a convenient USPS slot? The State Department's facility finder lists all authorized locations, but you'll need to call or visit to book.

Driver's license: you're (probably) going in

Unlike social security, where you have a choice—and passports, where the choice is out of your hands—driver's license and REAL ID name changes almost always require a trip to the DMV.

(Wait, what? Almost?)

Any way to skip the line?

Here's the surprising truth: in three states—New York, Kentucky, and Texas—you can change your name on your driver's license by mail, without setting foot in the DMV.

And yes, your new license gets mailed to you—reusing your old photo from their system (not everyone minds that part).

Unsurprisingly, most people assume this isn't possible—but at AliasFlip, we dig into details like this every day.

The notable exceptions

• New York allows name changes by mail for standard driver's licenses, learner permits, and non-driver IDs, but not for REAL IDs or Enhanced documents.
• Kentucky allows name changes by mail for both standard driver's licenses and REAL IDs, but not for CDL holders, permit holders, or non-U.S. citizens.
• Texas allows name changes by mail for both standard driver's licenses and REAL IDs, but only for individuals temporarily living out of state (e.g., military or college). In-state residents must appear in person.

The 47 other states and D.C.? It's in-person or nothing.

When you gotta go, you gotta go

Even if your state lets you change the name on your driver's license by mail, you might still prefer to go in person—or have to, depending on your license type.

DMV appointments are often harder to get and farther out than social security. Some states book weeks—or even months—in advance.

So if you know your wedding date, or you've already updated your name with the SSA, consider locking in a DMV appointment now—even if you're not ready to go yet.

Also, update your name with the SSA first and wait 24 to 72 hours before going to the DMV. If they can't verify your new name, they may reject your application.

USPS: no counter, no appointment, no problem

To change your name and address with USPS, you don't need to go in person—and there's no such thing as an appointment for it.

Here's how to do it by mail:

1. Grab a free Mover's Guide packet at any post office.
2. Fill it out at home.
3. Drop it in any mailbox.

Or skip the paperwork and handle it online at usps.com.

Want to see exactly how it works? Check out our USPS name change walkthrough.

What about everyone else?

Once your government records are updated, you'll still need to notify banks, employers, airlines, and others.

Most of these updates can be done online or by phone, but it's worth checking each organization's policy, just to be safe.

The bottom line

Changing your name doesn't always mean standing in line.

Social security and passports can often be done by mail. The DMV? Usually in person. USPS? Just a simple packet or quick online form.

Now you know where you do—and don't—need to show up.

Want to save time and skip the paperwork maze? Our online name change kit walks you through every step. Just answer a few questions—we'll handle the rest.

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