Marriage Name Change in Kentucky

Agency: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Driver Licensing (DRIVE). Deadline: Kentucky does not publish a fixed number of days for a voluntary name update; update promptly.

To update your name on a Kentucky driver's license, visit a Driver Licensing Regional Office — or use the state's online portal for eligible transactions — with your certified marriage certificate and other proof documents. Credential fees follow the Transportation Cabinet's published schedule.

Bring these documents:

• Updated Social Security card (must display your current name; no photocopies)
• Certified marriage certificate (original)
• Current Kentucky driver's license or ID card
• Proof of Kentucky residential address

Open the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Driver Licensing (DRIVE) →

The one order that matters is Social Security first, then your driver license — state offices verify your new name against SSA records. Your U.S. passport can be updated whenever it suits you; it is not required before your license.

Update Social Security first, then your Kentucky driver license — Kentucky agencies verify your new name against Social Security records, so going the other way causes rejections and wasted trips. Your U.S. passport is a separate, independent update: you do not need a new passport to get your license, and you can renew it whenever it suits your travel plans. Banks, employer, insurance, and the rest come after your license.