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

Verified against New York Supreme Court / County Court (NYC Civil Court) and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

In New York, 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

Resuming a former name is handled inside the divorce; there is no separate name-change fee

Court
Supreme Court (restored inside the divorce judgment under Domestic Relations Law § 240-a)

Supreme or County Court in the county where you live (in New York City, any NYC Civil Court)

Timeline
1–4 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Ask the court to authorize resuming a former surname in your divorce — under Domestic Relations Law § 240-a the judgment itself lets you resume a name you used before the marriage.

  2. 2

    In an uncontested divorce, check the resume-former-name box on the divorce forms (for example Form UD-10, the Findings of Fact / Judgment).

  3. 3

    You may resume any last name used before the marriage, but you cannot adopt a brand-new name through the divorce — for that, file a name-change petition.

  4. 4

    Use the divorce judgment as legal proof to update Social Security, then the NY DMV, then your passport and accounts.

Official forms

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

FormCodeOfficial link
Uncontested divorce — Findings of Fact and Judgment (contains the DRL § 240-a resume-former-name provision)UD-10Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Not required
Background check: No background check
Good to know in New York:
  • • The divorce judgment is your proof of the name change — no separate name-change petition or fee is required to resume a former name.

Then update your IDs

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

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

Divorce name change in nearby states

Florida →Pennsylvania →Texas →Illinois →

Restoring Your Name After Divorce in New York: FAQ

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