How to Change Your Last Name Back to Your Maiden Name in Minnesota
While many women still choose to take a spouse's name at marriage, some may revert back for professional reasons, or if they are widowed or divorced. State laws governing name change vary. In Minnesota, as in most states, there are two different ways for a woman to reclaim her maiden name--request a formal name change before the judge handling the divorce, or file four specific forms with the local county courthouse if the divorce has been finalized or if you are requesting the change for a different reason.
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Instructions
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Request a formal order restoring your former or birth name from the judge who is handling the divorce proceedings. A copy of the final divorce decree, showing the name change was approved, is considered legal proof that the change was made and recorded under Minnesota law. You may request certified copies to present to anyone who needs an official record, such as your bank.
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Download the four forms required by the State of Minnesota for a name change request, if you are trying to make the change after the divorce was finalized or for a different reason. These forms are the Application for Name Change form, the Order Granting Name Change form, the Criminal History Record Check Release form, and the Affidavit of Service form. These may be acquired from the Minnesota judicial branch website at MNcourts.gov.
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Fill out all four forms. Make sure to include all of the information that applies to your situation.
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Sign all of the forms. On the Application for Name Change form, you must sign it on the front page and back page. Note that your signature on the back page must be witnessed and notarized.
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Bring or mail all four completed forms to the Civil Division of the courthouse that serves the county in which you reside. You can access your county's specific information by going to Mncourts.gov, and clicking on your county to find the address and phone number of that courthouse location. You will be required to pay a filing fee, or show proof of your income to request a special waiver of the fee. A file will then be opened, and a hearing date for the name change will be scheduled.
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Present two adult witnesses at your hearing who can testify on your behalf. If approved, the judge will sign a completed "Order," noting the name change, and allowing you to begin to change your records using certified copies of the name change order. Certified copies can be purchased for a fee.
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Tips & Warnings
Your birth certificate is not changed at marriage, so reverting to your maiden name is a common and widely-accepted practice.
As of March 2010, the filing fee for a name change in Minnesota is $320, while the fee for obtaining a certified copy of your name change order is $14. Note that these fees could change at any time.
It is far less expensive to request the name change in the divorce decree than to do it later. This should be a standard process for the attorney handling your divorce.
