Why are divorce papers necessary for a REAL ID? | Ask the RI DMV

Q: My mother, age 86, had an appointment with the DMV two years ago in an attempt to renew her license and obtain the REAL ID status. She had all necessary documents required at that time, however she was turned away due to the customer service person asking for a copy of my mother’s divorce certificate from her first marriage, which took place more than 65 years ago. My mother does not have that copy. Why would that be relevant today? This has caused undue distress for my mother.

I would like to take my mother to North Carolina this fall by airplane. She is a full-time caregiver for my disabled father. Will this request for documentation regarding the long-ago divorce still be a requirement for her REAL ID?

— Cyndi A.

A: I don’t know what documents your mother presented, but to obtain a REAL ID credential one must bring in one identity document and two proofs of their physical residence in Rhode Island, and their Social Security number must be verified through the Social Security Administration interface.

The REAL ID enforcement date is May 7, 2025. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration will begin enforcing it for anyone who flies domestically or enters certain federal facilities.

There are other acceptable documents – such as a valid U.S. passport or military identification card – that can be used in place of a REAL ID, driver license, or state identification card.

On our website (dmv.ri.gov), there is a whole section on REAL IDs that can be found in the “License, Permits & IDs” tab.

Below is the list of Proof of Identity documents that the federal government requires to obtain a REAL ID:

You must present one (1) document below and it must bear the applicant’s legal name and date of birth.

• A valid, unexpired U.S. passport. (Please note, if you have obtained or renewed your passport within the last six months, please bring an additional identity document, as your passport may not verify with the national database);

• A certified copy of a birth certificate filed with a State Office of Vital Statistics or equivalent agency in the individual's state of birth;

• A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) issued by the U.S. Department of State, Form FS-240, DS-1350 or FS-545;

• A valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) issued by DHS or INS;

• An unexpired Employment Authorization Document (EAD) issued by DHS, Form I-766 or Form I-688B;

• An unexpired foreign passport with a valid, unexpired U.S. visa affixed accompanied by the approved I-94 form documenting the applicant's most recent admittance into the U.S.;

• A Certificate of Naturalization issued by DHS, Form N-550 or Form N-570; or

• A Certificate of Citizenship, Form N-560 or Form N-561, issued by DHS.

Proof of a change to the name contained on the applicant’s primary identity document must be demonstrated with a document issued by an authorized government agency.

The sentence above in italics is sometimes the trickiest part for women who want a REAL ID. Original state-issued or certified copies of a marriage license, divorce decree and Family or Probate Court papers are submitted so that the path of a name change is legally documented. This is a requirement of REAL ID and it will not change.

For those who still do not have a REAL ID and want one, please do not wait until the last minute to obtain it. The hard credentials can take up to four weeks to arrive in the mail after an in-person transaction is completed. Make a reservation online to go to any of our DMV branches or AAA, if you’re a member.

Chuck Hollis is assistant administrator of the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles. Please email your questions to [email protected] with “Ask the DMV” in the subject field.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Why are divorce papers necessary for a REAL ID? | Ask the RI DMV