How to restore your maiden name after a divorce
If your divorce decree restored your former name, you can use a certified copy of the decree as your name-change document and go back to your maiden name everywhere, starting with Social Security — it's free. If the decree is silent on your name, Social Security can still restore a former name using your birth certificate, a prior record of a card issued in that name, or a prior marriage document, so you usually don't need a new court order just to go back to your maiden name. Start with Social Security, then your driver's license / REAL ID, then your passport, then everything else.
The steps for your situation
Get a certified copy of your divorce decree
Contact the clerk of the county or city where your divorce was granted; they'll tell you how to order a copy, the cost, and what they need. Order a couple of certified copies — agencies require an original or an issuing-agency-certified copy, not a photocopy.
SourceRestore your name with Social Security first (free)
Social Security accepts a U.S. divorce, annulment, or dissolution decree as evidence of a legal name change, and the new card is free. If the decree states your restored name, that's the name used on your card. If the decree doesn't state it, Social Security can still restore a former or maiden name using your birth certificate, a prior record of a card issued in that name, or a prior marriage document — no new court order needed for a former name. Do this first, because the DMV checks your name against Social Security's records.
SourceUpdate your driver's license / REAL ID
Take your updated Social Security record and a certified copy of your decree to your state DMV to update your license or REAL ID. REAL ID has been enforced since May 7, 2025, and the decree is the document that traces your old name to your restored name. Exact documents vary by state.
SourceChange your passport (mind the 1-year window)
If your passport was issued less than a year ago, change the name for free with Form DS-5504 and a certified copy of your decree or court order. If it's older than a year, you renew using a certified copy of your name-change document. You mail in your current passport, so don't start right before international travel.
SourceUpdate everything else
Then update banks, your employer or payroll, insurance, voter registration, and memberships. These don't gate the others, so they come last. The notify letters do the repetitive part for you, so you're not writing the same explanation to a dozen companies.
Source
Official sources
Every step is backed by an official government page — confirm the current rules on the source before you act.
See your exact steps free
Answer a few quick questions and we'll tell you what to do first, second, and third for your exact situation — each step linked to the real .gov page. No account, no card.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a court order to go back to my maiden name after divorce?
- Usually not. Social Security accepts your divorce decree as evidence of a name change, and if the decree is silent on your name, it can still restore a former or maiden name using your birth certificate, a prior record of a card issued in that name, or a prior marriage document. A separate court order is generally only needed for a brand-new name, not a former one.
- Is restoring my maiden name with Social Security free?
- Yes. Social Security doesn't charge to update the name on your card. You show an original or agency-certified copy of your decree (or the supporting documents above), not a photocopy.
- Where do I get a copy of my divorce decree?
- From the clerk of the county or city where your divorce was granted. They'll tell you how to order a certified copy, what it costs, and what information you need to supply.
Not legal advice · Not a government service · Not affiliated with any government agency.