How to Change Your Name After a Divorce

By eHow Legal Editor

Rate: (9 Ratings)

Obtain a copy of your court order and use it when you request that agencies and creditors change your name in their records.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

  • Address Labels
  • Personalized Stationery

Step1
Be sure to tell the judge during your divorce that you want to change your name. Specify what you want to change it to. The judge will then include this in your judgment or order.
Step2
Obtain a certified copy of your judgment or order from your attorney or from the court clerk's office.
Step3
Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Social Security Administration, your employer, your bank, your creditors, your utility providers and anyone else you wish to notify. Request that they change your name in their records.
Step4
Go in person to your local Social Security office and the Department of Motor Vehicles. You'll need to bring a copy of the court order as well as other ID (it's OK if the ID uses your old name).
Step5
Send copies of the court order to anyone else who will not change your name without documentation. If it isn't required, don't send the court order (because this contains information about your divorce that you may not want to share).
Step6
Understand that you can change your child's name only if the court has ordered it.
Step7
Tell your family and friends that you've changed your name.
Step8
Correct your name on your luggage tags, stationery, checks and address labels.

Tips & Warnings

  • You may wish to notify your post office to avoid confusion about your mail.

Comments

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on 12/7/2007 I just changed my name and found all the forms and information I needed for free at http://www.newlastname.org -- very helpful.

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eHow Article:  How to Change Your Name After a Divorce

eHow Legal Editor

eHow Legal Editor

Category: Legal

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