Restoring Your Name After Divorce in Florida: Steps, Cost & Forms
Verified against Florida Circuit Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.
In Florida, 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.
What it costs
Restoring a former name is handled inside the divorce; there is no separate name-change fee, and restoring a former name is the statutory exception to the fingerprint requirement
Circuit Court in the county where you live
Step by step
- 1
Request restoration of your former name in the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage so the court can grant it in the final judgment.
- 2
The court restores a former name through the Final Judgment of Dissolution (for example Form 12.990(b)(1) when there are minor children); no separate name-change petition is needed.
- 3
Because you are restoring a former name, the fingerprint/background-check requirement of Fla. Stat. 68.07 does not apply.
- 4
Get a certified copy of the final judgment and use it to update Social Security, then FLHSMV, then your passport and accounts.
Official forms
Every link goes to the official court or government host — never a paid re-host.
- • Restoration through a divorce returns you to a former name only; to adopt an entirely new name, file the adult petition (Form 12.982(a)) instead.
Then update your IDs
Once you have the signed order, update Social Security first, then your Florida license, then your passport and accounts.
Divorce name change in nearby states
Restoring Your Name After Divorce in Florida: FAQ
Can I restore my maiden name without paying again in Florida?
What if I forgot to ask for my former name in the divorce in Florida?
Do I need to publish a notice to restore my name after divorce in Florida?
What's the first ID to update after a divorce name change in Florida?
Sources
Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:
- www.flcourts.gov/Services/Family-Courts/domestic-relations-court-resources/family-law-forms/Dissolution-Final-Judgments-12.990-Forms-A-C2
- www.flcourts.gov/Resources-Services/Office-of-Family-Courts/Family-Court-in-Florida/Family-Law-Forms/12.982-Forms-A-G
- www.flhsmv.gov/name-and-address-changes
See our verification methodology and themaster source list.