A Plastic Question

[Venus Pax]

Two years ago, I got a divorce, moved, and legally changed my name back to maiden name. I updated my driver's license, but never changed my CHL. It still has the old address and old name.
I'm getting married and moving again next month. Can I wait until after I get married to fix this, or will having three different last names in two years cause a problem?

[DocV]

§411.181

GC §411.181. NOTICE OF CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR NAME. (a) If a person who is a current license holder moves from any residence address stated on the license, if the name of the person is changed by marriage or otherwise, or if the person's status becomes inapplicable for purposes of the information required to be displayed on the license under Section 411.179, the person shall, not later than the 30th day after the date of the address, name, or status change, notify the department and provide the department with the number of the person's license and, as applicable, the person's:
(1) former and new addresses; (2) former and new names; or (3) former and new status.
(b) If the name of the license holder is changed by marriage or otherwise, or if the person's status becomes inapplicable as described by Subsection (a), the person shall apply for a duplicate license. The duplicate license must reflect the person's current name, residence address, and status.
(c) If a license holder moves from the address stated on the license, the person shall apply for a duplicate license.
(d) The department shall charge a license holder a fee of $25 for a duplicate license.
(e) The department shall make the forms available on request.
(f) On request of a local law enforcement agency, the department shall notify the agency of changes made under Subsection (a) by license holders who reside in the county in which the agency is located.
(g) If a license is lost, stolen, or destroyed, the license holder shall apply for a duplicate license not later than the 30th day after the date of the loss, theft, or destruction of the license.
(h) If a license holder is required under this section to apply for a duplicate license and the license expires not later than the 60th day after the date of the loss, theft, or destruction of the license, the applicant may renew the license with the modified information included on the new license. The applicant must pay only the nonrefundable renewal fee.
(i) A license holder whose application fee for a duplicate license under this section is dishonored or reversed may reapply for a duplicate license at any time, provided the application fee and a dishonored payment charge of $25 is paid by cashier's check or money order made payable to the “Texas Department of Public Safety.”

Based on the above, you need to get a duplicate license now and then another when you move again.

[jmra]

According to DPS you have to make that change within 30 days. I assume your current CHL is invalid as it has been 2 years. Will be interesting to see if they will give you a duplicate at this point.
ETA:
GC §411.187. SUSPENSION OF LICENSE. (a) The department shall suspend a license under this section if the license holder:
(2) fails to notify the department of a c hange of address, name, or status as required by Section 411.181;

(c) The department shall suspend a license under this section:
(1) for 30 days, if the person's license is subject to suspension for a reason listed in Subsection (a)(2), (3), or (4), except as provided by
Subdivision (2);
(2) for not less than one year and not more than three years, if the
person's license:
(A) is subject to suspension for a reason listed in Subsection (a),
other than the reason listed in Subsection (a)(1); and
(B) has been previously suspended for the same reason;

[MoJo]

Venus Pax You have opened a big can of worms. By law you MUST change your name and address on your license within 30 days. I wish I had a solution for you . . . Maybe Charles will chime in with his wonderful knowledge and advise.

Good luck. I am happy for you in you pending marriage.

[sunny beach]

Others already said you are long past the grace period for the name and address change two years ago. I say, waiting another month at this point doesn't seem like a big deal in the grand scheme of things. IANAL.

[flechero]

I wonder if it would be advantageous to just "start over" next month. Based on the info above, your CHL isn't valid anyway (and hasn't been for longer than any grace period) so if you start over, you might avoid any issues that come up from not changing name and address when required. ??

[Venus Pax]

Thanks, everyone. I filled out the application and included a copy of my old CHL, updated driver's license that I just renewed about a week ago , and a peace-offering of $25. And I hope I have not angered the state powers too much.
If I run into problems, I will let you know so that anyone reading can remember to update their information in a more timely fashion than I have.

[MasterOfNone]

I wonder if it would be advantageous to just "start over" next month. Based on the info above, your CHL isn't valid anyway (and hasn't been for longer than any grace period) so if you start over, you might avoid any issues that come up from not changing name and address when required. ??

I'm not sure I see this. When she failed to notify of the change, DPS was supposed to suspend her CHL for 30 days. Since she didn't mention it, I assume they never did. But had they, why would her CHL not be valid again after the 30-day suspension? Since she only failed to notify once, by the letter of the statute, they only suspend it for 30 days. Nothing in the statutes indicates that the CHL is invalid until corrected.

[jmra]

I wonder if it would be advantageous to just "start over" next month. Based on the info above, your CHL isn't valid anyway (and hasn't been for longer than any grace period) so if you start over, you might avoid any issues that come up from not changing name and address when required. ??

I'm not sure I see this. When she failed to notify of the change, DPS was supposed to suspend her CHL for 30 days. Since she didn't mention it, I assume they never did. But had they, why would her CHL not be valid again after the 30-day suspension? Since she only failed to notify once, by the letter of the statute, they only suspend it for 30 days. Nothing in the statutes indicates that the CHL is invalid until corrected.

DPS may not be aware she has moved or they may have sent the notice of suspension to her last address.
I doubt seriously that a CHL in violation due to incorrect address would be reinstated after a 30 day suspension if it still had the wrong address.

[Venus Pax]

I wonder if it would be advantageous to just "start over" next month. Based on the info above, your CHL isn't valid anyway (and hasn't been for longer than any grace period) so if you start over, you might avoid any issues that come up from not changing name and address when required. ??

I'm not sure I see this. When she failed to notify of the change, DPS was supposed to suspend her CHL for 30 days. Since she didn't mention it, I assume they never did. But had they, why would her CHL not be valid again after the 30-day suspension? Since she only failed to notify once, by the letter of the statute, they only suspend it for 30 days. Nothing in the statutes indicates that the CHL is invalid until corrected.

DPS may not be aware she has moved or they may have sent the notice of suspension to her last address.
I doubt seriously that a CHL in violation due to incorrect address would be reinstated after a 30 day suspension if it still had the wrong address.

Just curious--how would they know I moved? I'm not up for renewal, and I haven't needed to show my CHL to an officer.

[Dirthawking]

Drivers license, vehicle registration

[MoJo]

I wonder if it would be advantageous to just "start over" next month. Based on the info above, your CHL isn't valid anyway (and hasn't been for longer than any grace period) so if you start over, you might avoid any issues that come up from not changing name and address when required. ??

I'm not sure I see this. When she failed to notify of the change, DPS was supposed to suspend her CHL for 30 days. Since she didn't mention it, I assume they never did. But had they, why would her CHL not be valid again after the 30-day suspension? Since she only failed to notify once, by the letter of the statute, they only suspend it for 30 days. Nothing in the statutes indicates that the CHL is invalid until corrected.

DPS may not be aware she has moved or they may have sent the notice of suspension to her last address.
I doubt seriously that a CHL in violation due to incorrect address would be reinstated after a 30 day suspension if it still had the wrong address.

Just curious--how would they know I moved? I'm not up for renewal, and I haven't needed to show my CHL to an officer.

Are you moving out of our little corner of Texas? If you are staying in this area and you need an instructor get in touch.

[jmra]

I wonder if it would be advantageous to just "start over" next month. Based on the info above, your CHL isn't valid anyway (and hasn't been for longer than any grace period) so if you start over, you might avoid any issues that come up from not changing name and address when required. ??

I'm not sure I see this. When she failed to notify of the change, DPS was supposed to suspend her CHL for 30 days. Since she didn't mention it, I assume they never did. But had they, why would her CHL not be valid again after the 30-day suspension? Since she only failed to notify once, by the letter of the statute, they only suspend it for 30 days. Nothing in the statutes indicates that the CHL is invalid until corrected.

DPS may not be aware she has moved or they may have sent the notice of suspension to her last address.
I doubt seriously that a CHL in violation due to incorrect address would be reinstated after a 30 day suspension if it still had the wrong address.

Just curious--how would they know I moved? I'm not up for renewal, and I haven't needed to show my CHL to an officer.

Well, I don't know their procedures but that info should be readily available. I'm sure when you send in a change of name/address request they are going to compare that info with your DL. I'm sure they would be able to see that you had made changes to your DL that should have also been made to your CHL.
If I knew your current name and current address, $19.95 and a few mins on the web and I could tell you everywhere you've lived, worked, who you've married and divorced. I bet they don't even have to spend the $19.95.

[srothstein]

Well, I don't know their procedures but that info should be readily available. I'm sure when you send in a change of name/address request they are going to compare that info with your DL.

This is certainly possible, but I sincerely doubt that the DPS really cares enough to make those checks on everyone. As much as I distrust the government sometimes, I do not think that DPS is really out to trap everyone who moves for not updating everything on their records. I would bet that they have the DL and CHL systems set up as two completely separate systems and about the only time the two are combined is that both systems are checked when someone is run.

Somehow, this is one of those times when I see the government as more of a benign giant than someone who is doing things to move us more into a police state where all records are kept up to the minute . . . or else.

[jmra]

Well, I don't know their procedures but that info should be readily available. I'm sure when you send in a change of name/address request they are going to compare that info with your DL.

This is certainly possible, but I sincerely doubt that the DPS really cares enough to make those checks on everyone. As much as I distrust the government sometimes, I do not think that DPS is really out to trap everyone who moves for not updating everything on their records. I would bet that they have the DL and CHL systems set up as two completely separate systems and about the only time the two are combined is that both systems are checked when someone is run.

Somehow, this is one of those times when I see the government as more of a benign giant than someone who is doing things to move us more into a police state where all records are kept up to the minute . . . or else.

I doubt she will have an issue, I was just responding to her question of how they would know she had moved.