Driver's license name change after marriage.

Every state DMV verifies your name against the SSA's file at issuance. Even after your physical Social Security card arrives, the reconciliation batch runs overnight — give it 48 hours before your DMV appointment to avoid a bounce. It's the single most common cause of a repeat trip.

• Your updated, physical Social Security card (not a screenshot, not a printout).
• U.S. passport or original birth certificate as proof of identity and citizenship.
• Certified marriage certificate as proof of the legal name change.
• Two proofs of residency — a utility bill, lease, or bank statement is fine, and it's perfectly acceptable if these are still addressed in your maiden name.

If you don't already have a Real ID-compliant license, the name change appointment is the ideal moment to upgrade — the document requirements overlap almost entirely. Bring your birth certificate rather than your passport if your state uses that as the primary Real ID citizenship document.

With an updated license in hand, you're clear to update Global Entry, voter registration, and every financial account that requires a current government ID. The rest of the sequence is administrative, not legal — the hard part is done.