Restoring Your Name After Divorce in Massachusetts: Steps, Cost & Forms
Verified against Massachusetts Probate and Family Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.
In Massachusetts, 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.
Your personalized plan
Pick your state and situation for your exact filing fee, court, forms, and ordered steps.
What it costs
Restoring a former or birth name in the divorce judgment under G.L. c. 208, § 23 is free; a separate post-judgment name-change petition would cost the standard $165
Probate and Family Court in the county where you live
Step by step
- 1
Ask the Probate and Family Court to restore your former or birth name under G.L. c. 208, § 23 — state the request to the judge and, in an uncontested case, list the name you want to resume in the separation agreement; in a contested case, include it in the proposed judgment.
- 2
The court restores the name in the divorce judgment (Judgment of Divorce Nisi/Absolute) at no extra cost — no separate name-change petition is required.
- 3
Request a certified copy of the divorce judgment from the Probate and Family Court clerk as your proof of the name change.
- 4
Use the certified judgment to update Social Security (Form SS-5) first, then the RMV, then your US passport and financial accounts.
Official forms
Every link goes to the official court or government host — never a paid re-host.
| Form | Code | Official link |
|---|---|---|
| Application for a Social Security Card | SS-5 | Open ↗ |
- • You do not need a separate Chapter 210 name-change petition to return to a former name in a divorce — request it in the divorce case and the judgment restores it for free under G.L. c. 208, § 23.
- • If the divorce is already final and did not restore your name, you can still file a standard adult name-change petition (CJP-27) for the $165 fee.
Then update your IDs
Once you have the signed order, update Social Security first, then your Massachusetts license, then your passport and accounts.
Divorce name change in nearby states
Restoring Your Name After Divorce in Massachusetts: FAQ
Can I restore my maiden name without paying again in Massachusetts?
What if I forgot to ask for my former name in the divorce in Massachusetts?
Do I need to publish a notice to restore my name after divorce in Massachusetts?
What's the first ID to update after a divorce name change in Massachusetts?
Sources
Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:
- www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-law-about-name-changes
- www.mass.gov/name-changes
- www.mass.gov/how-to/change-information-on-your-drivers-license-or-id-card
See our verification methodology and themaster source list.