Getting a Driver's License When Your Legal Name Doesn't Match Your Birth Certificate

I have no idea about your last question. A quick google shows some commercial entities that say they can replace a lost passport in 24 hours.

Anyone know anything about these places?

There are three levels of processing at the State Department really. There's a normal application which you put the date you're travelling and they do a pretty good job of attempting to make. It doesn't typically run more than a month, though they officially claim six weeks. Expedited processing takes 8 business days to process (and you can elect to fedex stuff both ways to shorten the delivery time). Then there are private companies who can shave time off that by hand carrying it into the system.

Read this: https://travel.state.gov/content/pas...expedited.html

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Quoting flyingron

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There are three levels of processing at the State Department really. There's a normal application which you put the date you're travelling and they do a pretty good job of attempting to make. It doesn't typically run more than a month, though they officially claim six weeks. Expedited processing takes 8 business days to process (and you can elect to fedex stuff both ways to shorten the delivery time). Then there are private companies who can shave time off that by hand carrying it into the system.

Read this: https://travel.state.gov/content/pas...expedited.html

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I looked into this on a few websites and it seems like most of them want you to prove that you need it by providing a copy of a flight itinerary or tickets; something I don't have.

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Quoting PLFern

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I contacted the registrar for the town we are married in and it can take 6 months to get a new copy of the divorce decree - so I am hoping that my sister can find the original copy that was mailed to my parents house originally.

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The court where you got your divorce should have the case file available for immediate review by anybody walking in the door and for a few bucks make a certified copy of the decree. Call that court and see if you can arrange for the clerk to overnight you a certified copy. You can probably pay by credit card.

If that's not possible (and you don't know anybody there who can do it for you) look up "court record copy service" for the town where you were divorced and hire them to go get it for you and overnight it to you. You'll pay some for that expedited service but you'll have it fast.

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Quoting PLFern

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My license expires on Tuesday.

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Make sure you don't drive after Tuesday.

You don't want to add traffic violation to your troubles.

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Quoting adjusterjack

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The court where you got your divorce should have the case file available for immediate review by anybody walking in the door and for a few bucks make a certified copy of the decree. Call that court and see if you can arrange for the clerk to overnight you a certified copy. You can probably pay by credit card.

If that's not possible (and you don't know anybody there who can do it for you) look up "court record copy service" for the town where you were divorced and hire them to go get it for you and overnight it to you. You'll pay some for that expedited service but you'll have it fast.



Make sure you don't drive after Tuesday.

You don't want to add traffic violation to your troubles.

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So I found the copy of my divorce decree that was mailed to me by my ex-MIL after the divorce. I am also filing to get a copy of the marriage certificate so I can have both on hand. Once I have the new license, my new birth certificate, and my new social security card I should be ok to renew my license. I think maybe I can hopefully get it done by the end of the month, if all goes well.

It's so frustrating, though. It was a bad divorce and a lot of my documents were left behind because I left in a hurry due to him being arrested and charged with domestic violence charges. My original birth certificate and marriage license were still in California and I packed bags and went to Illinois. I was so focused on leaving I didn't think to grab them. Hindsight is 20/20, though.

So now I will have:

1. Expired drivers license with married name.
2. Birth certificate with maiden name.
3. Marriage license with maiden name.
4. Divorce decree with married name.
5. W-2 with married name.
6. Bills with married name.
7. Social Security Card with married name.
8. Pay stubs with married name.
Does this seem like it will be enough?

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Quoting adjusterjack

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Make sure you don't drive after Tuesday.

You don't want to add traffic violation to your troubles.

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Also my fiance will be doing the driving. I am not looking to get a traffic violation!

I would try to take the divorce decree to the DMV to show the name change. You cannot have gotten divorced if you weren't married. Pain in the rear if they say no, but you've only taken some time out of your day. I could be wrong, but it is listed in the name change section as an acceptable document. It doesn't say for what sort of name change (only to go from married to maiden, for example).

If they say no, then you go back when you have all of the documents lined up.

Here is a link to the required documents...it appears you have it covered.

http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=805&Q=244772&PM=1

I hope you get it worked out soon.

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Quoting Cocoabean

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I would try to take the divorce decree to the DMV to show the name change. You cannot have gotten divorced if you weren't married. Pain in the rear if they say no, but you've only taken some time out of your day. I could be wrong, but it is listed in the name change section as an acceptable document. It doesn't say for what sort of name change (only to go from married to maiden, for example).

If they say no, then you go back when you have all of the documents lined up.

I hope you get it worked out soon.

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Me too. Thank you for your help and encouragement!