South Carolina Name Change Checklist
A court order is the starting point, but your records do not all update automatically. Use this checklist after a legal name change or a Court-approved return to a former surname. Work through the steps that apply to you and confirm each agency’s current requirements before applying.
1. Obtain the filed order
□ Check that the order correctly states your new or restored name.
□ Obtain certified copies of the filed divorce decree, separate-maintenance order, or name-change order. If you need additional copies, contact the Clerk of Family Court where the case was filed and ask about fees.
2. Check birth-certificate requirements
□ If an amended birth certificate is needed, contact the vital-records office in the state that issued the original certificate. Requirements and processing times vary. A restored surname after divorce does not automatically mean that your birth certificate must be amended.
□ For a child’s name change, ask your attorney which records and supporting documents must be updated and who has authority to request the changes.
3. Update Social Security first
□ Use Social Security’s current name-change process to request an updated card and record. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to begin or complete the request online; an office appointment may be needed.
□ Gather the identity and legal name-change documents Social Security requests. Check the official instructions before sending originals or visiting an office. Keep a record of your request.
4. Update your South Carolina license or ID
□ Change your name with Social Security at least 48 hours before visiting SCDMV.
□ Review SCDMV’s current instructions, complete Forms 4057 and 447-NC, and bring the required proof of your legal name change. Confirm any additional identification requirements and fees before you go.
5. Update financial and employment records
□ Notify your employer, payroll and benefits providers, banks, credit-card companies, mortgage lender, and other account providers.
□ Ask each institution whether it needs a certified order, updated photo ID, or its own form. Include retirement and investment accounts, insurance policies, and beneficiary records as applicable. Keep confirmations of completed changes.
6. Review passport and travel records
□ Follow the U.S. Department of State’s name-change instructions. The correct application depends on your passport and circumstances; do not assume one form works for everyone.
□ Check that travel reservations and the identification you will use are consistent before booking or traveling. Allow time for document processing.
7. Finish your personal-records checklist
□ Review voter registration, professional licenses, school and medical records, utilities, leases, subscriptions, and any other records that use your legal name.
□ For a child, coordinate appropriate updates with schools, healthcare providers, insurance plans, and other relevant organizations.
□ Keep certified documents secure and maintain a simple list of each agency contacted, the date, and any follow-up needed.
Official instructions and printable checklist
Use the agency links below for current forms and requirements. Download the printable checklist to track your progress. A checklist helps organize updates; it does not replace the legal process needed to obtain a name-change order.
Questions about changing or restoring a name? Our Summerville family law firm serves Dorchester, Berkeley, and Charleston counties and clients statewide. Request a consultation for advice about your situation. This page provides general information, not legal advice.
Social Security name-change instructions
SCDMV name-change requirements