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

Verified against Alabama Probate Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

In Alabama, 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 case; divorce itself is heard in Circuit Court, not Probate Court

Court
Circuit Court (through the divorce judgment)

Probate Court in the county where you live

Timeline
1–4 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Ask the Circuit Court to restore your former or maiden name inside your divorce complaint or the final divorce judgment — there is no extra fee to include this request.

  2. 2

    If the divorce is already final and the decree did not restore your name, ask the same Circuit Court clerk about filing a motion or petition to amend the judgment to restore your former name.

  3. 3

    Get a certified copy of the divorce judgment (or the order restoring your name) from the Circuit Court clerk.

  4. 4

    Use the certified judgment to update Social Security first, then your ALEA driver license, 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
Alabama divorce judgment / decree — obtained from the Circuit Court clerk—Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Not required
Background check: No background check
Good to know in Alabama:
  • • Divorce is filed in Circuit Court in Alabama, while a standalone name change is filed in Probate Court — restoring a former name through the divorce avoids a separate probate petition and its filing fee.

Then update your IDs

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

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

Divorce name change in nearby states

South Carolina →Louisiana →Minnesota →Kentucky →

Restoring Your Name After Divorce in Alabama: FAQ

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