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Restoring Your Name After Divorce in District of Columbia: Steps, Cost & Forms

Verified against Superior Court of the District of Columbia — Civil Actions Branch and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

In District of Columbia, 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 inside the divorce is free; a separate name-change application later costs the standard $60 filing fee

Court
DC Superior Court — Family Court (through the divorce judgment)

Civil Actions Branch of the DC Superior Court (500 Indiana Ave. NW, Washington, DC)

Timeline
2–8 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Ask the Family Court to restore your former name as part of your divorce — a DC divorce judgment can order the return of a prior name at no extra cost.

  2. 2

    If the divorce is already final and did not restore your name, file a separate Application for Change of Name with the Civil Actions Branch.

  3. 3

    Obtain a certified copy of the divorce judgment (or the signed name-change order) from the court clerk.

  4. 4

    Use the certified order to update Social Security first, then the DC DMV, then your US passport and financial accounts.

Official forms

Every link goes to the official court or government host — never a paid re-host.

FormCodeOfficial link
Application for Change of Name (Adult) — used only if not restored in the divorce—Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Not required
Background check: No background check
Good to know in District of Columbia:
  • • Requesting your former name inside the divorce avoids a separate name-change application and its filing fee.

Then update your IDs

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

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Divorce name change in nearby states

Wyoming →Vermont →Alaska →North Dakota →

Restoring Your Name After Divorce in District of Columbia: FAQ

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