Still divorcing? The easiest time to restore your name is now — it's a checkbox in the paperwork. Our free 3-minute eligibility check starts your uncontested divorce, and Amicably includes the name-restoration request.
The easiest way: ask for it in the divorce
Florida lets you request the restoration of a former name — your maiden name or a prior last name — as part of your divorce. You check the box and state the name in the petition, and the judge includes it in the Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage. That final judgment is your legal proof of the change — there's no separate court case, no extra filing fee, and no background check. It's the single easiest way to do it, which is why you should decide before you file.
Your two paths
During the divorce (easy)
- • Request it in the petition
- • Restores a former/maiden name
- • Granted in the final judgment
- • Free · no separate case
After / a brand-new name
- • Separate name-change petition
- • Its own filing fee
- • Fingerprints / background check
- • A short court process
One important limit: the divorce can restore a former name you've actually used — it's not the route to invent a brand-new last name. For a name you've never had, you file the separate petition described below.
If your divorce is already final
If you didn't ask for restoration and your divorce is done, you have two options. If the final judgment can be reopened or amended to add the restoration, that's simplest — but often the cleaner route is a separate petition for a name change under Florida's name-change statute. That's a short, standalone court process: you file a petition, pay a filing fee, and — because it's not tied to a divorce — Florida generally requires fingerprints and a background check before a judge signs the order. It's not difficult, just more steps than checking the box during the divorce.
Updating your name everywhere
Whichever path you take, the court order (or final judgment) is just step one — you then update your name with everyone else. Do it in this order, because each step often needs the one before it:
Social Security Administration
do this first — most other agencies verify against SSA records
Driver's license / state ID
at the DMV, with your updated Social Security card + court order
Passport
update before any travel booked in your new name
Banks, credit cards & employer/payroll
accounts, direct deposit, and tax withholding records
Insurance, titles/deeds, voter reg & utilities
everything else, once your core IDs match
Keep several certified copies of your final judgment or name-change order on hand — many institutions want to see one. A certified copy from the clerk usually costs only a few dollars.
Loose ends people forget
Beyond the big IDs, a few things routinely slip through the cracks after a name change:
- Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, life insurance, and payable-on-death accounts — update both the name and, after a divorce, who you actually want as beneficiary.
- Professional licenses and memberships, plus any business registrations.
- Digital accounts — email display name, frequent-flyer and loyalty programs, subscriptions, and app stores. (A name that doesn't match your ID on an airline ticket can cause real headaches.)
- Medical and school records, including your children's emergency-contact forms.
- Your will and estate documents — a divorce is a good moment to revisit these anyway.
Knock these out while you still have certified copies of your judgment on hand.
Can you change a child's name?
Changing a child's name is a different, harder process. It's not part of restoring your own name, both parents are typically involved, and the court decides based on the child's best interest — not a parent's preference. If that's your goal, treat it as its own petition and expect more scrutiny, especially if the other parent objects.
Restore your name as part of your divorce
If you're divorcing in Florida, do it the easy way. Check if you qualify in about 3 minutes — Amicably includes your name restoration in a flat $99 divorce.
Check if you qualifyFrequently asked questions
How do you change your name back after a divorce in Florida?
The easiest way is to request restoration of your former name in the divorce petition; the judge then includes it in the Final Judgment of Dissolution, which is your legal proof — no separate case or fee. If the divorce is already final, you generally file a separate name-change petition instead.
Can you restore your maiden name in the divorce?
Yes. Florida lets you ask to restore a former name — such as your maiden name or a prior last name — as part of the dissolution. You state it in the petition and the final judgment grants it, for free, with no extra proceeding.
What if my divorce is already final — can I still change my name?
Yes. If you didn't request restoration during the divorce, you can file a separate name-change petition under Florida's name-change statute. It's a short standalone court process with its own filing fee, and because it isn't tied to a divorce it usually requires fingerprints and a background check.
How much does a name change after divorce cost in Florida?
If you restore your former name as part of the divorce, there's no separate cost — it's included in the final judgment. A standalone name-change petition after the fact has its own court filing fee plus a fingerprinting/background-check cost, and you'll also pay a few dollars for certified copies of the order.
Who do I need to notify after a name change?
Start with the Social Security Administration, then your driver's license/state ID, then your passport, then banks, credit cards, and your employer/payroll, and finally insurance, property titles, voter registration, and utilities. Do the Social Security card first, since other agencies verify against it.
Can I change my child's name after divorce in Florida?
Changing a child's name is a separate, more involved process. Both parents are typically involved and the court decides based on the child's best interest, not a parent's preference — so expect more scrutiny, especially if the other parent objects.
Do I need a lawyer to change my name after divorce?
Usually not. Restoring a former name in the divorce is just a request in the paperwork. A standalone name-change petition is a straightforward self-represented process in most cases. A lawyer is only worth it if there's a dispute or an unusual complication.
Official sources
Florida Statutes § 68.07 — Change of name
Florida Courts — Dissolution of Marriage forms (name restoration)
Social Security Administration — Change your name
Reviewed by the Amicably document team
Amicably is a Florida registered legal document preparation service. We prepare uncontested Florida divorce packets — including a request to restore a former name — using the official Florida Supreme Court–approved family law forms. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice.