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

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

Quick answer

In North Dakota, 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 divorce judgment; a divorce case itself carries the district court civil filing fee

Court

North Dakota District Court (through the divorce judgment)

District Court in the North Dakota county where you have lived for at least 6 months

Timeline

1–4 weeks

Step by step

1
Ask the District Court to restore your former or maiden name in the divorce complaint or the final judgment — North Dakota courts can order restoration as part of the divorce with no separate petition.
2
If the divorce is already final, ask the court that handled your case to amend the judgment to restore your former name.
3
Get a certified copy of the divorce decree, which must carry the court seal, from the clerk of district court.
4
Use the certified decree to update Social Security, then the North Dakota DOT, then your passport and accounts.

Official forms

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

Form	Code	Official link
North Dakota District Court divorce self-help resources	—	Open ↗

Newspaper publication: Not required

Background check: No background check

Good to know in North Dakota:

• You do not need a full separate name-change petition (and no newspaper publication) to return to a former name when it is handled through the divorce.

Then update your IDs

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

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

Divorce name change in nearby states

South Dakota →Alaska →Delaware →Vermont →

Restoring Your Name After Divorce in North Dakota: FAQ

Can I restore my maiden name without paying again in North Dakota?

Usually yes. If you asked to restore your former name in your divorce, the decree is your proof at no extra cost. In North Dakota you can also request it after the fact.

What if I forgot to ask for my former name in the divorce in North Dakota?

You can still restore it. North Dakota 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 North Dakota?

No. Restoring a former name through a divorce decree does not require newspaper publication in North Dakota.

What's the first ID to update after a divorce name change in North Dakota?

Social Security first (free, Form SS-5), then your North Dakota 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.