After Divorce Name Change
Oklahoma Senate Bill 1887 opens with discussion of restoration of former names to the service member and military spouse (or after divorce name changes), if so desired.
If you know someone with a pending divorce, you might remind them that should they wish to return to their maiden name, there is less cost and paperwork if the language declaring the name change is included in the divorce decree. When included, the divorce decree acts as back-up for name-change forms such as Social Security, IRS 8822, Passport, Postal address, state driver’s license, deeds, insurance, credit cards. (Realize that if you sign a court order to change your name, you are now legally obligated to do so.)
If name change is important to you, then don’t forget about the kids. Changing the children’s last names might be added to your discussion list of pending divorce issues.
Top 3 Reasons to Change Your Name after Divorce
- You want no reminders of the marriage, especially not every time you sign your name.
- You think it will help you feel like you are starting anew.
- You see it as part of the acceptance or recovery process.
Top 3 Reasons Not to Change Your Name after Divorce
- The paperwork and cost are just too much trouble. You have more important things to spend time on.
- You’ve had it for ‘x’ number of years and people just know you as Mr. or Mrs. (last name).
- If you change your name after divorce, your children’s friends will still call you Mr. or Mrs. (child’s last name). Do you really want to have to correct their friends? When you say, “Please call me…,” you are really saying, Ï’m divorced, please call me ….” How will your child feel?
Changing Your Name after Finalized Divorce
Don’t interpret the above discussion to say that you cannot change your name after divorce. You can. Run a Google search for your state with the words ‘name change’ and follow the steps required.
If your divorce decree did not order (authorize) a name change, a little more paperwork is required.
Changing Name After Divorce – Horror Story
The language of Oklahoma Senate Bill 1887 reminds me of a Fall 2011 article where a father wanted his ex-wife to stop using his name after divorce.
I found Can I Please Have My Name Back? a bit petty and wondered if the article was intended to be humorous.
However, a quick Google search will reveal that couples should not ignore the importance of making a decision concerning change of name after divorce. Consider the following:
- Ex-spouses threaten to sue to force a last name change.
- A judge believes the entire family should have the same last name (no change permitted).
Did you keep your ex-spouse’s last name after divorce? Why or why not?
I don’t think the article was at all petty & not intended to be humorous. My husband – a retired USMC 1st Sgt – is appalled that his ex-wife of 18 years has kept his name.
She lost custody of their 14-year-old daughter, owes him almost $10,500 for child support & her actions have inflicted lifelong damage on their two children. He feels, by keeping his name, she is bringing shame & dishonor to his last time & family.
As such, I understand why some men want their last name back.
After divorcing, I went back to my maiden name. It was very simple. In the Final Judgment form, there was/is an option for restoring Petitioner or Respondent’s last name to Petitioner or Reapondent’s maiden name. If you want your maiden name restored, all you do is make sure to check the box.
However, despite numerous reminders, every time my ex’s attorney revised the draft of our Final Judgment, she always left the box unchecked. I believe that was at the request of my ex – he wanted me to have to pay to get my name changed. In the end, it just cost him more money. Because, every time she did t check the box, I’d see it & he would have to pay for the 0.25 billable hours she would charge to make the change. At his attorney’s rate of $450/hour, every time she has to redo the form to include checking the box for restoration of my maiden name, it cost him $112.50. Not too smart on his part. Ha!