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

Verified against West Virginia Circuit Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

In West Virginia, 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; no separate name-change petition is required

Court
Family Court (through the divorce order)

Circuit Court or Family Court in the county where you live

Timeline
1–4 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Ask the Family Court to restore your former or maiden name inside your divorce case — request it in your Petition for Divorce (Form SCA-FC-101) so it is included at no extra cost.

  2. 2

    Make sure the restoration language naming your prior name is written into the final divorce order before the judge signs it.

  3. 3

    Get a certified copy of the signed divorce order from the Family Court or Circuit Clerk's office.

  4. 4

    Use the certified order to update Social Security first, then the West Virginia 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
Petition for Divorce (request restoration of former name in the divorce)SCA-FC-101Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Not required
Background check: No background check
Good to know in West Virginia:
  • • You do not need a separate name-change petition to return to a former name after divorce — request it in the divorce and it is handled in the final order.
  • • If you did not request restoration during the divorce, you can still file a standard adult name-change petition later under West Virginia Code § 48-25-101.

Then update your IDs

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

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Divorce name change in nearby states

Idaho →Hawaii →Nebraska →New Hampshire →

Restoring Your Name After Divorce in West Virginia: FAQ

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