Bucco Bill Helping Widows with Name Change Advances

Senator Anthony M. Bucco’s bill to make it easier for widows to change back to their maiden name on their driver’s license cleared the Senate Transportation Committee today.

The legislation (S3421) would allow spouses to provide the Motor Vehicle Commission with a marriage certificate and death certificate as proof for the name change.

“After the loss of a spouse, grieving widows shouldn’t have to go to court just to change the name on their driver’s license,” said Bucco (R-25). “They have enough to worry about dealing with paperwork, legalities and financial issues associated with their loved one’s estate. This is a common sense correction to what is an unnecessarily complex process.”

Currently, the only documents accepted by MVC for name changes are marriage license and divorce decrees.

To be eligible under the bill, license holders must have a clean criminal record with no charges pending, and they cannot be avoiding prosecution or creditors.

Bucco also sponsors the identical bill in the Assembly (A1389). It was approved unanimously earlier this session.