Name Change Tracker
Government agencies are the start, not the end. This is the full list of who to notify after a name change, grouped in the order that avoids repeat trips. Tick items as you go — progress stays on this device.
Need the forms filled in?
The free packet asks five questions, then generates your completed SS-5, passport form and notification letters — in your browser, nothing uploaded.
See my plan — 5 questions →How to use the tracker
Work top to bottom. The government group is ordered so that each step produces the document the next one checks: Social Security updates the record your state licensing agency verifies, the license is the ID your bank and employer photocopy, and the passport is what airlines match your ticket against. Everything below "Government" can be done in any order, and most of it can be done in one afternoon with a scan of your certificate.
Outside the US? There are separate trackers for the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. Pick your state to see your licensing agency's name in the driver's-license item. Ticks are saved in this browser only, so use the same device, or print the list when you're partway through. The four items most people forget are the airline loyalty programs (tickets must match your ID on travel day), the vet and pet microchip registry, the will and beneficiary designations, and the professional licensing board, which in several states has a 30-day deadline.
Common questions
Who do I need to notify after a name change?
Government first — Social Security, your state licensing agency, passport, voter registration — then money (banks, cards, investments, loans), work (HR, payroll, professional licenses), insurance, home and daily-life accounts, and finally travel and online programs. The tracker above lists 31 places in that order; most people need 15–20 of them.
In what order should I update my name?
Social Security first, wait 24–48 hours, then your driver's license, then passport, then everything else. Banks, employers and airlines all verify against your government ID, so the ID has to change before they will.
Is there a deadline?
Federal agencies set none, but several states expect the license update within 10–60 days of the change, payroll must match Social Security before your next W-2, and airline tickets must match your ID on the day you fly.
Does the IRS need a form?
No. The IRS pulls your name from Social Security automatically — which is exactly why Social Security goes first. Just file your next return in the new name.
Where is my progress stored?
In your browser only (localStorage). Nothing is sent to us. Clear your browser data and it's gone — print the list if you want a paper copy.