Change of last name

You need to go online to the long island dmv website. They should have info on what's required.

I'm not in NY but generally you must change through SSA first. I know in the past it didn't matter which one you went to first, but I know Maryland requires you to change through SSA and then MVA. I recently did mine last month!

I believe you have to change it with SSA first. You need to do it at the federal level before you can do it on the state level.

I actually just did mine this week! I always thought I needed SS first, so I did that. I was worried it wouldn’t arrive by my DMV appt so I called NYS DMV and they told me I did not need my new SS card. I ended up getting it in time, but will tell you that the woman I dealt with when I was in person at the DMV made it seem like it was in fact required. She was very confused. I would say in order to be safe, I would try to obtain that first! My SS card took about 3 weeks from the time I sent everything in to the time I received my new card.

I'm not from NY but in most states you have to change your name through Social Security first. When I got married I went to the SSA office and changed my name with them. They gave me a print out with my old name and new name on it that I could take to the DMV with my marriage license, birth certificate, and old social security card because they told me my new card wouldn't come in for 2-3 weeks. I had to wait 72 hours for everything to update in the system, and then I was told I could take the paper and everything else I needed to the DMV to get my new license.

Hi Perla! You have to start with social security first, and wait until they've updated your name before you start doing it anywhere else!!

If local social security offices aren't open near you, they are still processing name changes by mail! Here's a recent discussion where you can connect with other newlyweds who've recently changed their name: COVID brides- how has the name change process been for you?

I’m not in New York but I just changed my name in the past month. I started with social which you have to mail everything in. It came back in the time frame they gave. I then went on my mini moon and the day I came back I went to the BMV (DMV) it’s called bmv in Indiana. I received my license in about a week. From that all my credit cards, I just called and they asked for the new name. I signed up for a new bank online, I didn’t have to provide any documentation. The only place besides BMV & SSA was my “license” for medical assisting and my job.