Skip to content
Name Change Atlas
All StatesToolsWho to NotifyGuidesCost & Steps Calculator

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

Verified against Rhode Island Municipal Probate Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

In Rhode Island, 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.

Free · no signup

Showing your state. Change the situation below to compare.

Your situation

What it costs

Filing fee
$0 court fee

Restoring a former name costs nothing when it is requested as part of the divorce; obtaining a certified copy of the decree runs about $25

Court
Rhode Island Family Court (through the divorce judgment/decree)

The Probate Court of the city or town where you live

Timeline
1–4 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Ask the Rhode Island Family Court to restore your former name as part of the divorce — the request must be stated in the divorce complaint and written into the final judgment/decree so the court orders the restoration.

  2. 2

    If the divorce is already final and the name restoration was not included, file a motion in the Family Court that granted the divorce to restore your former name.

  3. 3

    Obtain a certified copy of the final judgment/decree (about $25) from the Family Court clerk in the county where the case was heard.

  4. 4

    Use the certified decree to update Social Security, then the DMV, 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
Rhode Island Judiciary — Family Court forms search (divorce)—Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Not required
Background check: No background check
Good to know in Rhode Island:
  • • A restored former name must be a name you previously held (such as your birth name), not a brand-new name; a brand-new name requires a separate probate name-change petition.

Then update your IDs

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

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

Divorce name change in nearby states

Montana →Delaware →Maine →South Dakota →

Restoring Your Name After Divorce in Rhode Island: FAQ

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