Divorced Philadelphia woman goes to DMV for a REAL ID but is allegedly turned away for not having her marriage certificate

If you follow the instructions issued by your state and get the listed documents, getting a REAL ID is supposed to be a straightforward process. When Hattie Hawks went to the DMV, however, she alleged she was turned away for not having an additional document: her marriage certificate. The Philadelphia resident then took to Instagram to vent about her experience in a video that has racked up over 250K views. In it, she asked if any man would face the same issue.

In her post, Hawks claimed, “So I was just in the DMV to get a REAL ID. I’ve got all of my information, you know. Proof of where you live. You’ve got your social, you’ve got your birth certificate. I’m in there. And the guy at the counter says, ‘Do you have your marriage certificate?’ And I was like, ‘No, I’m not married.’ And he goes, ‘Well, you were married, and you still have your same last name.’ 

Hawks told her viewers that she pointed to her Social Security card as proof of her last name. She alleged, “He’s like, ‘Yeah, but you need your marriage certificate because you kept your last name.’ And I’m like, ‘What does the marriage certificate do?’ And he’s like, ‘Well, the REAL ID is the whole purpose of it. It needs to know everything.’ And I’m like, ‘I could give you the divorce papers.’” However, even as she offered that compromise, she was really bothered. 

Hawks saw this as patriarchal discrimination

In her video, Hawks questioned the entire situation. She alleged, “So in what world would a man have to provide any kind of further information outside of what is listed on the website, and why in the world would proof that I was married at some point even be relevant in this discussion? Do people not change their names for other reasons? What are we doing? That is so dumb.”

As a state, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania only requires proof of a legal name change if the name on your identity document differs from your current legal name. So, a marriage certificate or court order only comes into play if you have changed your name due to marriage or other legal reasons and it isn’t reflected on any other ID, like a passport. A REAL ID is a state-issued ID, like an updated driver’s license, that has become a required document to fly domestically.

Interestingly, the guidelines specify that divorce papers are only needed if you returned to your maiden name. However, as Hawks allegedly discovered, the process at the DMV can be slightly different than what the checklist suggests. She even claimed that another woman at the DMV was asked for a marriage certificate despite having been divorced for 20 years. Of course, all we have is her perspective of the interaction, which cannot be verified. 

The reaction to her video has been overwhelming. Many came to the comments with similar stories. One user shared, “OMG! I not only got turned away but the process was horrific! I had the marriage license and the passport. Despite that, they wanted proof of my divorce and that I was allowed to use my new name DESPITE having the above along with all other proof. It was a horrible experience. I love NJ but shame on this location for treating making women as inferiors.” 

Another user shared advice along with her story. She wrote, “I went through the same thing. Plus, it had been over 35 years since I divorced my first husband. I was married to my second husband for over 34 yrs when he passed away. I had to get a copy of my first marriage certificate from Nevada & think god I kept my divorce papers because I needed that for my passport too! At DMV I had to show both marriage certs, divorce record & birth certificate. LADIES, KEEP YOUR MAIDEN NAME WHEN YOU MARRY.”

A large group of commenters saw Hawk’s experience as a deeper systemic issue that disproportionately affects women. One user alleged, “This is a great example of how women would be affected by the Save Act.” 

Another claimed, “Anyone (including this lady) who thinks that this ISN’t about making it more difficult for women to vote is absolutely fooling themselves. Especially when we have men running for office openly calling for nonsense like repealing the 19th or adopting ‘household’ voting. Wake up, ladies.”

Hawks herself reflected on the broader implications in her caption, writing, “Sometimes inequity isn’t loud. Sometimes it looks like an extra form, another hoop, another hour, or a process that assumes everyone has the same access to time, resources and support.” She emphasized that expressing these experiences is vital for creating healthier systems.