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Restoring Your Name After Divorce in Kansas: Steps, Cost & Forms

Verified against Kansas District Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

In Kansas, you restore your former or maiden name after divorce through the divorce decree — request it in the divorce and the decree is your legal proof. There is usually no extra court fee. Then update Social Security first, then the DMV, then your passport. No newspaper notice is required.

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What it costs

Filing fee
$0 court fee

Restoring a former name is free when requested in the divorce; under K.S.A. 23-2716 the court shall restore a former name on request

Court
Kansas District Court (through the divorce decree)

District Court in the county where you live

Timeline
1–4 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Under K.S.A. 23-2716, ask the court to restore your former name — on a spouse's request the court shall order the restoration, and it may also order a different name.

  2. 2

    Make the request at the divorce hearing, because a judge generally cannot add name restoration later if it was never requested; the restored name is written into the divorce decree.

  3. 3

    Get a certified copy of the divorce decree from the district court clerk.

  4. 4

    Use the certified decree to update Social Security first, then the Kansas Division of Vehicles, your US passport, and your accounts.

Official forms

Every link goes to the official court or government host — never a paid re-host.

FormCodeOfficial link
Kansas Judicial Branch self-help — name change—Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Not required
Background check: No background check
Good to know in Kansas:
  • • Request name restoration during the divorce (K.S.A. 23-2716); it cannot reliably be added later by a correcting order.

Then update your IDs

Once you have the signed order, update Social Security first, then your Kansas license, then your passport and accounts.

Who to notify →Build my checklist →See my timeline →

Divorce name change in nearby states

Mississippi →New Mexico →Arkansas →Nebraska →

Restoring Your Name After Divorce in Kansas: FAQ

Can I restore my maiden name without paying again in Kansas?
Usually yes. If you asked to restore your former name in your divorce, the decree is your proof at no extra cost. In Kansas you can also request it after the fact.
What if I forgot to ask for my former name in the divorce in Kansas?
You can still restore it. Kansas lets you file a short request to restore your former name after the divorce is final — see the forms below.
Do I need to publish a notice to restore my name after divorce in Kansas?
No. Restoring a former name through a divorce decree does not require newspaper publication in Kansas.
What's the first ID to update after a divorce name change in Kansas?
Social Security first (free, Form SS-5), then your Kansas driver's license, then your passport and financial accounts.

Sources

Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:

See our verification methodology and themaster source list.

Last verified July 16, 2026Reviewed by the Name Change Atlas Editorial Team against official court and .gov sources.

We're re-confirming some fee details for this state against the county court. Always confirm the exact current fee with your court clerk before you file.