NOTIFYING GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AFTER YOUR ARKANSAS NAME CHANGE PETITION IS GRANTED:

After your name change petition is granted, you will need to contact several government offices to inform them of your new name. Our forms kits include instructions about those notification procedures.

1. CHANGING YOUR NAME ON YOUR ARKANSAS DRIVER'S LICENSE AFTER YOUR COURT NAME CHANGE PETITION IS GRANTED:
   
   One the first things you should do is change the name that is on your driver's license. You are required, under the Arkansas Code, to notify the Office of Driver Services in writing, within 10 days after the issuance of the court order approving your name change petition. The text of the applicable Arkansas Code provision is as follows:
   
   
   27-16-506. Notice of change of address or name.
   
   

   1. Whenever any person after applying for or receiving a driver's license shall move from the address named in such application or in the license issued to him or her or when the name of a licensee is changed by marriage or otherwise, such person shall within ten (10) days thereafter notify the Office of Driver Services in writing of his or her old and new addresses or of his or her former and new names and of the number of any license then held by him or her.
   2. An application submitted by a licensee to change the licensee's name on the licensee's driver's license must be accompanied by the original or a certified copy of one (1) of the following official documents that provides evidence of the change of the licensee's name:
      1. A recorded marriage license;
      2. A court order;
      3. A divorce decree; or
      4. Any other document, including a document issued by the Department of Homeland Security, that is deemed to be satisfactory by the office as evidence that the name change is in accordance with state and federal laws.
   
   
2. IF YOU ARE A NOTARY:
   
   
   21-14-103. Change in personal information.
   
   

   1. If any notary public has a change in his or her mailing address or status in life that alters the information on record with the Secretary of State and the circuit clerk for the county where the notary public resides or if the notary public is a resident of an adjoining state, the circuit clerk for the county in Arkansas where he or she is employed, the notary public shall be responsible for providing that change of information to the Secretary of State and the circuit clerk within thirty (30) calendar days of the change.
   2. If the change in status involves a court order, the notary public shall be responsible for providing the Secretary of State with a certified copy of the court order within thirty (30) calendar days of the filing of the court order with the clerk.
   
   
3. NOTIFYING SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION OF YOUR ARKANSAS NAME CHANGE ORDER:
   
   You will also need to inform the Social Security Administration of your name change. You should do this as soon as you receive your name change order from the Arkansas court. The importance of doing this quickly is demonstrated by the following information is from the Social Security Administration's website:
   
   
   If you legally change your name because of marriage, divorce, court order or any other reason, tell Social Security so that you can get a corrected card. If you are working, also tell your employer. If you do not tell us when your name changes, it may:
   
   

   • Delay your tax refund; and
   • Prevent your wages from being posted correctly to your Social Security record, which may lower the amount of your future Social Security benefits.

   
   To change (or correct) your name on your Social Security card:
   
   

   • Complete an Application For A Social Security Card (Form SS-5);
   • Show us proof of your:
     • U.S. citizenship (if you have not previously established your citizenship with us) or immigration status;
     • Legal name change; and
     • Identity.
   • Take (or mail) your completed application and documents to your local Social Security office. If you live in the New York City metropolitan area, Las Vegas NV, Orlando FL, Sacramento, CA or Phoenix AZ you may need to apply in person at your local Social Security Card Center. All documents must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents.
   
   
   Documents for a name change: If you need to change your name on your Social Security card, you must show us a recently issued document as proof of your legal name change. Documents Social Security may accept to prove a legal name change include:
   
   • Marriage document;
   • Divorce decree;
   • Certificate of Naturalization showing a new name; or
   • Court order for a name change.

SOME OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION'S OFFICES IN ARKANSAS:

Jonesboro District Office

2608 Fairpark
Jonesboro, AR 72401
(870) 972-4620
Fax: (870) 931-5943

Serves Clay, Craighead, Greene, Lawrence, Poinsett and Randolph counties

Blytheville Social Security Administration

1403 S. Division
Blytheville, AR 72315
(870) 763-4976
Fax: (870) 763-9577

Serves Mississippi County

Forrest City Social Security Administration District Office

200 N. Forrest Street
Forrest City, AR 72335
(870) 633-3018
Fax: (870) 633-0622

Serves Cross, Lee, Phillips and St. Francis counties

West Memphis Social Security Administration

202-B Shoppingway
West Memphis, AR 72301
(870) 735-7772
Fax: (870) 735-3058

Serves Crittenden County