69-year-old woman denied Real ID over missing 50-year-old marriage record

INTERLACHEN, Fla. (WFOX) – Jane Schleppenbach is 69 years old and a veteran.

She has a stack of documents to prove she is who she says she is. However, the state of Florida said it is not enough to get a real ID.

“I had everything except a copy of my first marriage license from 50 years ago,” she said.

From May 7 on, U.S. citizens will need a Real ID to board domestic flights, access military bases and enter certain federal buildings.

A gold star in the corner of your license means you are good to go.

However, women, particularly seniors, often run into problems because of name changes tied to marriage or divorce.

“Don’t change your name. Because if anything gets messed up, I look at it kind of as harassment,” Schleppenbach said.

Schleppenbach said she was married in Colorado at the age of 18 and that it is likely the marriage certificate was never filed.

She has searched military records, called counties and even checked microfilm to find it.

“I called the county and they looked in their microfilm and they didn’t have it. They didn’t have anything like that,” she said.

Without proof of her name change, the Department of Motor Vehicles won’t issue her a Real ID.

“It makes me feel kind of oppressed. It’s a very cumbersome thing, that you have to have all these different things,” she said.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles have not yet responded to a request for comment about the process, which makes it more difficult for women and seniors due to changes in marital status.