Name change in Michigan
These are the steps most people follow for a name change in Michigan, in order. Each links to its official source and the date we last checked it. When you're ready, build a personalized checklist that covers every document at once.
This is general information, not legal advice. Requirements change, so always confirm with the official source linked on each step, and talk to a lawyer or legal-aid organization about your specific situation.
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Step 1: Get a court order for your name change
Needs reverification, so we don't show it as current.
Check these official pages yourself
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Step 2: Update your Social Security record
Needs reverification, so we don't show it as current.
📝 Get the official form: Form SS-5 — Application for a Social Security Card
Check these official pages yourself
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Step 3: Update your driver's license or state ID
Needs reverification, so we don't show it as current.
Check these official pages yourself
- Michigan Department of State — License or ID Name Correction — We cannot check this source automatically for changes. Check it yourself before you file.
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Step 4: Update your U.S. passport
Needs reverification, so we don't show it as current.
📝 Get the official form: Form DS-82 — U.S. Passport Renewal
Check these official pages yourself
- U.S. Department of State — Change or Correct a Passport — We cannot check this source automatically for changes. Check it yourself before you file.
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Where to get help
- Michigan Legal Help — Michigan's statewide self-help legal website, including step-by-step instructions and a Do-It-Yourself Name Change tool that can help low-income residents with legal name-change filings.
- Equality Michigan — Michigan's statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization. Contact them to find current local name-change and gender-marker clinics and legal referrals in your area.
- Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) — Michigan identity documents guide — Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) keeps a plain-language guide to changing your name and gender marker on Michigan documents. Their staff write and update it. Read it alongside this checklist.
- Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) — National advocacy organization (formerly the National Center for Transgender Equality) with plain-language guides to updating federal identity documents (Social Security, passport) after a name or gender-marker change.
- Lambda Legal Help Desk — National LGBTQ+ legal organization offering a free legal help desk for questions about discrimination and legal name/gender-marker changes.