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

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

Quick answer

In Montana, 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 inside the dissolution; no separate name-change petition or fee is needed

Court
Montana District Court (through the Decree of Dissolution under MCA 40-4-108)

District Court in the county where you live

Timeline
1–4 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Ask the court to restore your former name inside your Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (or Joint Petition) — Montana Code Annotated 40-4-108 lets the court restore a former name at no extra cost, and once requested the court must grant it.

  2. 2

    If your Decree of Dissolution is already final and did not include the restoration, file a motion to amend the decree in the same District Court case, or file a separate adult name-change petition.

  3. 3

    Obtain a certified copy of the Decree of Dissolution (or the amended order) from the Clerk of District Court.

  4. 4

    Use the certified decree to update Social Security, then the Montana MVD, then your passport and financial accounts.

Official forms

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

FormCodeOfficial link
Montana Name Change Forms hub (District Court)—Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Not required
Background check: No background check
Good to know in Montana:
  • • You do not need a full separate name-change petition to return to a former name after divorce — request it in the dissolution and the court restores it for free.
  • • Montana courts read 'former name' broadly to include any name you previously used legally.

Then update your IDs

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

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Divorce name change in nearby states

Maine →Rhode Island →New Hampshire →Delaware →

Restoring Your Name After Divorce in Montana: FAQ

Can I restore my maiden name without paying again in Montana?
Usually yes. If you asked to restore your former name in your divorce, the decree is your proof at no extra cost. In Montana you can also request it after the fact.
What if I forgot to ask for my former name in the divorce in Montana?
You can still restore it. Montana 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 Montana?
No. Restoring a former name through a divorce decree does not require newspaper publication in Montana.
What's the first ID to update after a divorce name change in Montana?
Social Security first (free, Form SS-5), then your Montana 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.