Crying over Name Change Difficulties

Ok, first if you have a passport keep booking your flight and rooms in your old name until you sort this out so you can still travel.

Secondly 10 days sounds ridiculous, many people aren't even back from their honeymoon yet. Go on Monday and see what they say, because there may be an additional fee, but they should have a procedure for "late" name changes. FWIW in Utah I changed my name 1.5 years after my divorce with no issues. 10 days is ridiculously short.

You don’t have to do it after 10 days. That’s not enforced at all, and they don’t check anything. Just say you need to update your license.

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I thought so too! I was trying super hard to be on top of everything and was just crushed to see that I had missed the 10 day window. Unfortunately my passport expired, so I'm more stressed than usual about this.

I'll be dismayed about the fee, but as long as I walk out with a new license I'll deal. I just can't afford to take off work to go back to the DMV. I'm so busy and I can't keep going again and again.

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Oh gosh, thank you! I was so afraid I'd just be turned away with a shrug or get given a whole other set of paperwork. I'm going after work so I'm already stressed about getting there so late (at about 3 PM). I so appreciate the reassurance. That ten day thing had me so panicked.

That doesn't sound right to me. I'm not sure what state you are in, but I can't imagine they actually expect anyone to do a full name change that quickly. The first thing you have to change is your SS# information, and sometimes that takes longer than 10 days! I know mine did. I know in Illinois you don't have a limit of time - as long as you have the right documentation and fill out the proper forms/answer the right questions, changing a name is no different than changing an address. And in IL they say the same thing about changing your address "within a certain amount of days" but I have slacked on that for a LONG time and no one gave me any kind of hassle changing my name OR address.

I think the best thing you can do is ignore the "time frame.". Get all of the proper documentation in order. Go into your local DMV and tell them there was no way you could get this done in 10 days with the proper paperwork. As long as you have all of your documentation, they should let you do what needs to be done.

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Thanks so much. I've gathered all the paperwork they MIGHT need (including that for a real ID) and pre-filled out all the forms so hopefully it's fine. Ten CALENDAR days does sound crazy. I mean, I started the process only three days after my Saturday wedding but I have a job, and things like running to the bank before it closes, vet appointments, and LIFE!

Did you book your flight under your married name? Just make sure your ticket and a valid ID match and have the same name. TSA isn’t going to know that you got married and are going through a name change. Don’t book under your new name until you have new IDs. If you accidentally booked under the married name try calling the airline and explaining and see if they can correct the name for you to match your current ID. I’ve never walked out of a DMV or passport office with my new ID same day, isnt it usually processed and printed offsite and mailed to you?

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I haven't booked travel yet, it would be through work so it would be closer to the date. I'll keep that in mind. I thought I recalled getting my last driver's license in hand the day of but... that does seem suspiciously easy.

View Quoted Comment The only state I have lived in where I haven't gotten my license same day is California. But have you gotten a license since the Real ID thing? That could have changed things.

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Ah, that's right. Okay, good call! The real ID thing probably takes longer. I'll look into how long that'll take and how that's handled. I assume they have to leave you with your old license intact if they can't give you something new?

Now I remember last time, I changed from an MA to SC license they put a hole in my old MA license there and handed it back after giving me the new one- so I did have in hand same day back in like...2014.

The TSA doesn’t require a compliant drivers license until October 2020.

View Quoted Comment I’ve always walked out with a new license same day. This includes Real ID (in DC) a couple years ago. If you have all your paperwork in order, you shouldn’t have to wait for a new ID.

Also, I agree with PPs that they can’t be requiring a name change within 10 days of the marriage, that seems impossible in most cases! Many people wait months after the wedding to complete the name change process. Are you sure you’re understanding the meaning of their policy correctly? You could always call DMV to clarify before you can get there in person, if it would give you peace of mind.

Either way, I wouldn’t worry!

You can change your name for no reason. You can decide to change your name without getting married, so there's no reason you wouldn't be able to change your name now just because you missed the 10 day window. It's probably and old rule that they never bothered changing.

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I think maybe I'm thinking ten days from the marriage but the site means ten days from filing the new name change with the social security administration. In both cases I missed the window, but I think maybe it means don't file your name change with Social Security and then pop in here 6 months later, which might be what they are trying to prevent?

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Yeah, I think they meant you have 10 days from the legal name change to update your license, not from the marriage.

My husband booked our honeymoon tickets under my married name even though I warned him not to. It took 2 1/2 weeks for Social Security to mail me my new card, and I couldn't apply for a new license without that (which makes it seem really weird that your DMV says 10 day limit???). Anyways, then I went to the DMV for my license change and it took TWO MONTHS for them to get me my new ID!!!

I had to call the airline, bring my SS card/old license/temporary license, and go through additional screening... but I was able to get on my flight!

So, don't panic. Go to the DMV and see what's up, because 10 days just really seems incorrect.

DMV had a similar warning to register my car when I moved from IL to WI... almost 2 years later when I finally went to do it no one said a word. I think most of those time tables are idol threats. I know in WI they put a void punch on your old license and give you a printed copy of your new one until the real new one is sent in the mail within 2 weeks. The flight thing dose make it a bit stickier situation, but as long as you have the paperwork you need, you should be fine.

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At least in KS, for the real ID, you get a paper receipt looking thing for a temporary license. It takes up to 40 days (most people get theirs within two weeks) to get the new one in the mail. I would book your travel under your maiden name and travel with your current license since there is a chance you won't get your new one in the mail in time.

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Wow, I guess I'm extremely lucky- I'm in SC and went today and am relieved to report I walked out with my new real ID same da and everything. No one said anything about the ten day rule and I didn't need half of the things I thought I would!

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It ended up being fine and no one even utter the words "ten days" ! I also got the actual license on the same day!