Divorce Name Change - Changing Your Name After Divorce

Divorce Name Change - Changing Your Name After Divorce

During most divorce hearings, divorce name changes are handled during the court hearing. The divorce papers will address the name that the ex-wife would prefer to use from that point on. Many women are too shaken by the end of their marriage to know if they want to keep their husband's last name, so they push it off. Later, they wish they'd reverted to their maiden name.

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Even if you've completed a divorce at any point previously, you can still request a name change. The process is pretty easy to handle, but it does require a little paperwork. Laws very from state to state, but in many areas the process is the same.

Filling Out the Forms

No matter which state you reside in, the first thing you must do is obtain the correct forms, if required. Every state will have forms for a divorce name change. In California, the form is called an Ex-Parte Application for Restoring Former Name After Entry of Court Judgment and Order. Contact a family court clerk to find out which forms are necessary.

Some state laws allow you to simply start using your maiden name without needing to go to court. If this is the case, you may need to provide evidence of your former name. An old passport or birth certificate is often accepted.

You will need to provide a copy of the divorce decree when submitting the name change request. Generally, as long as you have the divorce decree, a name change takes little time and is granted without any hassle.

Before filling out the forms, read the instructions carefully. Many states require you fill out the forms in black ink only. Any other ink color will void the form and you will have to tear them up and resubmit them.

Contacting Companies and Bureaus to Restore Your Maiden Name

Once you have reverted to using your maiden name, make sure you notify everyone of importance. You should always start with your employer, the Social Security Administration, your banks and the Department of Motor Vehicles. If you have a passport, submit that for a divorce name change.

Most bureaus require you to bring a photo ID and a copy of your divorce decree. You can visit the Social Security Administration's website to find the nearest location.

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