Q: I've heard I will need my marriage license, proving my name change 45 years ago, when renewing my Georgia driver's license. I have a birth certificate, passport and every other form of ID, but I can't find the old marriage license. — Charlotte Cannady, Marietta
A: If you don't have a supporting marriage document, or if your marriage document is issued by a church, the Georgia Department of Driver Services will accept alternative documents proving a name change for a license renewal. According to www.dds.ga.gov, you must have a document from the Social Security Administration showing the name change and one of the following documents:
- Financial statement for a bank/credit union account showing the married name. This can be a joint account showing both names or an individual account.
- Death certificate of the spouse can be original, certified copy or photocopy
- W-2 form showing the married name
- Federal or state tax return
- Medicaid card
- Medicare card
- Property tax bill or property deed showing the married name
- Military dependent ID card
- Military ID card
The DDS provides an online checklist at www.dds.ga.gov/secureid/index.aspx.
Q: Why do the Gwinnett County transit buses have the county's name spelled incorrectly as "Gwinnet" on the back of the bus but correctly on the side of the bus? — Mary Long, Lawrenceville
A: A letter might have rubbed off or been blackened out by exhaust fumes on that particular bus, but the buses have the correct spelling on all sides, Rae George, the customer service manager for Gwinnett County Transit, told Q&A on the News.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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