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

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

Verified against Colorado County Court and District Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

In Colorado, 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 prior full name in the dissolution (divorce) decree is free — no separate name-change petition or fee

Court
District Court (through the dissolution of marriage decree)

County Court or District Court in the county where you live

Timeline
1–4 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Ask the court to restore your prior full name inside your dissolution of marriage (divorce) case — Colorado lets the decree restore a former name at no extra cost.

  2. 2

    If the divorce is already final and restoration was not included, contact the clerk of the District Court that handled your case about amending the decree to restore your former name.

  3. 3

    Get a certified copy of the dissolution decree (or the order restoring your name) from the clerk of court.

  4. 4

    Use the certified decree to update Social Security with Form SS-5, then the Colorado DMV, then your US 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 Colorado:
  • • You do not need a separate JDF 433 name-change petition to return to a former name after divorce — the dissolution decree handles it, and the Colorado DMV accepts a certified divorce decree with the name restored.

Then update your IDs

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

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

Divorce name change in nearby states

Wisconsin →Minnesota →Maryland →South Carolina →

Restoring Your Name After Divorce in Colorado: FAQ

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