Name change via mail?

pristinedemon

So I'm looking into changing my name via mail, and I can't for the life of me find out (on Social Security's website or anywhere else for that matter) the particulars on what documents you need to mail in with your name change form for a new Social Security card. I get that you need to mail in a 1) birth certificate and 2) marriage license, but as far as proving identity, can you just mail in a copy of your drivers' license/passport/ID card? Anyone done this?

Brie2010

I just did mine the other day, and had to go in in person.  They looked at my driver's license and marriage certificate, and that's it.  I think they need originals.

katiewhompus

I had to go to the office in person, mailing was not an option. I had to bring my current SS card, driver's license, marriage certificate.
You would not want that information to get intercepted in the mail.

pristinedemon

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_name-change-via-mail?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:edbf35bf-8118-4955-990f-fe970421ea77Post:9a710608-5543-4eb4-9825-553c21938d9b">Re: Name change via mail?</a>:
[QUOTE]I had to go to the office in person, mailing was not an option. I had to bring my current SS card, driver's license, marriage certificate. You would not want that information to get intercepted in the mail.
Posted by katiewhompus[/QUOTE]

Yeah, good point. If only I weren't so damn lazy...

Brie2010

I went the other day and it took less than 10 minutes, probably.  Just go--it's really easy.

goheels05

I didn't wait long, either.  If I remember correctly, the way the website read, if you do it by mail you have to mail in your birth certificate, marriage license, and drivers license--not copies, but originals.  Yeah, not mailing those.  Sorry. 

katiewhompus

Yeah, I went to an office just outside of DC (hello massive people) and I was in and out in about 20 minutes. I think the risks far outweigh the benefits on this one. You do not want to be without a license for up to 30 days (5 days mailing to them, a day or so to process, they then send info to DMV, DMV then mails back to you, etc etc) as well as your SSC.

pristinedemon

Oh hell, there's no way I'm mailing my original drivers' license, that's why I wanted to know if you could mail copies. Although as Katie pointed out, probably not the most secure thing to do. I was mainly concerned with how long it would take (since I'm gonna have to skip out on some amount of the workday to get it done), and my local SS office all seem to have their collective heads up their asses. But, it sounds like was an in-and-out thing for you guys so hopefully I'll be lucky...