How to change your legal name on file with va | veterans affairs

If you're a Veteran, spouse, dependent, or caregiver and you get VA health care or direct benefit payments, you'll need to tell us if you have a legal name change so we can change

your name on file with VA. You must contact your VA medical center, each VA program office that you receive direct benefit payments from, and the DEERS support office. Keep reading to find

out how to change your name with each of these offices.  CHANGE YOUR NAME FOR VA HEALTH CARE DOCUMENTS YOU'LL NEED TO SEND US If you receive VA health care and want to request that we

change your name, send us both of these documents: * A letter asking us to update your VA health care records with your new legal name, AND * A copy of your unexpired government-issued photo

ID that shows your date of birth and your new legal name. We accept a passport, driver's license, or government ID (federal, state, or local ID). If you receive VA health care and want

to request that we completely remove any part of your name or change any full part of your name to an initial, send us all of these documents: * A letter asking us to update your VA health

care records with your new legal name, AND * One form of unexpired primary identification, AND * One form of secondary identification that displays your requested name.  All identity traits

must match on the document provided. WHAT WE ACCEPT AS PRIMARY IDENTIFICATION * A state-issued driver's license with your new name, photo, and date of birth * A passport with your new

name, photo, and date of birth * A federal, state, or local government-issued photo ID with your new name and date of birth WHAT WE ACCEPT AS SECONDARY IDENTIFICATION * A Social Security

card or a letter from the Social Security Administration with your requested name * A court order for a name change  * A certificate of naturalization that includes an official name change

WHERE TO SEND YOUR REQUEST Send your letter and the required documents listed above to your VA medical center. Find contact information for your VA medical center NOTE: You can also call 

your VA medical center to get help changing your name on file with VA. Ask for the eligibility department. CHANGE YOUR NAME FOR VA BENEFIT PAYMENTS DOCUMENTS YOU'LL NEED TO SEND US If

you receive direct benefit payments and want to request that we change your name, please send us both of these documents: * A letter requesting that your VA benefit records be updated with

your new legal name, AND  * A copy of your unexpired government-issued photo ID (like a passport or driver’s license) that shows your date of birth and your new or old legal name You'll

also need to send us one of the documents listed below, depending on the reason for your name change. IF YOUR NAME CHANGE IS BECAUSE OF MARRIAGE, DIVORCE, OR AN ANNULMENT, send us 1 of

these 2 documents along with your letter and photo ID: * A copy of your marriage certificate, OR * A copy of your divorce or annulment decree IF YOUR NAME CHANGE IS FOR ANY OTHER REASON (NOT

BECAUSE OF MARRIAGE, DIVORCE, OR AN ANNULMENT), send us 1 of these 2 documents along with your letter and photo ID: * A copy of your Social Security card with your new legal name, OR * A

copy of a court order showing your name change WHERE TO SEND YOUR REQUEST Send your letter and the required documents to each program office that you get payments from. Find the instructions

for each benefit program here. NOTE: You can also call your regional office to get help changing your name on file with VA. Find your regional office