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

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

Quick answer

In Wisconsin, 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 legal surname in the divorce judgment is free; there is no separate name-change filing fee

Court
Wisconsin Circuit Court (through the divorce judgment under Wis. Stat. 767.395)

Circuit Court in the county where you live

Timeline
1–4 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Ask the court to restore your former legal surname during the divorce under Wis. Stat. 767.395 — at the final hearing both spouses are asked whether they wish to resume a former legal surname, and it costs nothing.

  2. 2

    Note that you may only resume a surname you have legally used before (such as a birth or prior married name); you cannot pick an entirely new surname through the divorce.

  3. 3

    Get a certified copy of the judgment of divorce from the clerk of circuit court — the restored name is effective as soon as the divorce is granted.

  4. 4

    Use the certified judgment to update Social Security (Form SS-5), then the Wisconsin 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
Application for a Social Security CardSS-5Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Not required
Background check: No background check
Good to know in Wisconsin:
  • • If you did not request the name restoration during the divorce, or you want a name you have not legally held before, you must file a separate CV-450 name-change petition and pay the $164.50 fee.

Then update your IDs

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

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Divorce name change in nearby states

Maryland →Colorado →Missouri →Minnesota →

Restoring Your Name After Divorce in Wisconsin: FAQ

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