City is clarifying document protocol for license renewal

By June Watanabe

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Apr 18, 2012

~~QUESTION: A segment on local TV evening news on Friday seemed to raise further confusion as to what documents are accepted for the new Hawaii driver’s licenses, specifically as they apply to married women who changed their names. The TV commentary seemed to indicate that any woman who is or has been married must provide a marriage certificate regardless of presenting other approved documents proving “legal presence." The state Department of Transportation website appears to indicate an additional document such as a marriage certificate would be needed ONLY if documents being presented have a different name from a current driver’s license or among the documents presented. Therefore, if one has a current Hawaii driver’s license, current U.S. passport and Social Security card all in the same name, it should not be necessary to also present a marriage certificate. Would this be correct?
ANSWER: Yes.
~~

QUESTION: A segment on local TV evening news on Friday seemed to raise further confusion as to what documents are accepted for the new Hawaii driver’s licenses, specifically as they apply to married women who changed their names. The TV commentary seemed to indicate that any woman who is or has been married must provide a marriage certificate regardless of presenting other approved documents proving “legal presence." The state Department of Transportation website appears to indicate an additional document such as a marriage certificate would be needed ONLY if documents being presented have a different name from a current driver’s license or among the documents presented. Therefore, if one has a current Hawaii driver’s license, current U.S. passport and Social Security card all in the same name, it should not be necessary to also present a marriage certificate. Would this be correct?