Is it too Late to Change Back to My Maiden Name After My Divorce?

You can revert to your maiden name any time after your divorce.

Divorce is difficult enough without having to worry about reverting back to your maiden name and all that entails. The good news is you can make the change at any time.

Divorce Decree

If you want to have your name changed back to your maiden name during a divorce, the judge presiding over your divorce should be notified to make it part of the divorce decree. Once your divorce is final, you can still have your name changed back to your maiden name by requesting a modification to the divorce decree through your county clerk's office.

Court

Depending on the state you live in, you may have to appear before a judge to have your divorce decree officially modified to include a name-change back to your maiden name. Your county clerk can tell you about the steps you must take and what forms you need to fill out.

Time Limit

There is typically no time limit on changing your name, no matter what your original divorce decree says. You can decide at any time post-divorce to revert to your maiden name and have the divorce decree amended to reflect the change.

Other Steps

Just as you did after you were married, you will also need to officially change your name with several government agencies including the United States Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Postal Service. You will also need to make the change on your driver's license and with your bank, any creditors and insurance companies, to name a few. You will need a court order r divorce decree to do this in most cases.

References

• Woman's Divorce: Reverting to Maiden Name
• Divorce Source.com: Name Change and Divorce