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

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

Verified against Delaware Court of Common Pleas and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

In Delaware, 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 is free when requested in the divorce; the divorce filing itself is $165 plus a $10 Court Security Assessment

Court
Delaware Family Court (through the divorce decree under 13 Del. C. § 1514)

Court of Common Pleas in the county where you live (adults); Family Court for minor and divorce-related name changes

Timeline
1–4 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Request restoration of your former or maiden name in your Delaware divorce — under 13 Del. C. § 1514 the Family Court, on a party's request by pleading or motion, may order that you resume a maiden or former name.

  2. 2

    Include the request in your Petition for Divorce or your Answer, or file a separate motion in the Family Court before the divorce is final; a spouse cannot block the request.

  3. 3

    There is no extra charge to restore your name and no newspaper publication is required for the restoration.

  4. 4

    Obtain a certified copy of the divorce decree containing the name-restoration order and use it to update Social Security, then the Delaware 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
Delaware Family Court — divorce and name restoration information—Open ↗
13 Del. C. § 1514 (resume former name in divorce)—Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Not required
Background check: No background check
Good to know in Delaware:
  • • You do not need a separate Court of Common Pleas name-change petition to return to a former name after divorce — the Family Court divorce case handles it at no additional cost.

Then update your IDs

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

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

Divorce name change in nearby states

Rhode Island →South Dakota →Montana →North Dakota →

Restoring Your Name After Divorce in Delaware: FAQ

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