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

Verified against Georgia Superior Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

In Georgia, 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 or maiden name is free when requested inside the divorce case under O.C.G.A. § 19-5-16

Court
Superior Court (through the divorce decree)

Superior Court in the county where you live

Timeline
1–4 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Ask the court to restore your maiden or former name inside your divorce complaint or final decree — Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 19-5-16) lets the judge order this as part of the divorce, at no extra cost.

  2. 2

    If the divorce is already final and the decree did not restore your name, you generally must file a separate Superior Court name-change petition under O.C.G.A. § 19-12-1.

  3. 3

    Obtain a certified copy of the final divorce decree from the Clerk of Superior Court.

  4. 4

    Use the certified decree to update Social Security first, then the Georgia DDS, then your passport, banks, and accounts.

Official forms

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

FormCodeOfficial link
Georgia divorce decree — Clerk of Superior Court (county-specific)—Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Not required
Background check: No background check
Good to know in Georgia:
  • • Restoring your former name during the divorce is the simplest path; requesting it after the decree is final usually requires a full name-change petition.

Then update your IDs

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

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Divorce name change in nearby states

Ohio →North Carolina →Illinois →Michigan →

Restoring Your Name After Divorce in Georgia: FAQ

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

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Last verified July 16, 2026Reviewed by the Name Change Atlas Editorial Team against official court and .gov sources.