Restoring Your Name After Divorce in Illinois: Steps, Cost & Forms
Verified against Illinois Circuit Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.
In Illinois, 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 or maiden name is included in the divorce judgment at no separate cost under 750 ILCS 5/413(b)
Circuit Court (Circuit Clerk's office) in the county where you live
Step by step
- 1
Ask the court to restore your former or maiden name inside your dissolution of marriage case — under 750 ILCS 5/413(b) the judgment authorizes you to resume a former name unless you request otherwise, with no separate petition and no publication.
- 2
If the judgment did not include the restoration provision, file a short motion to amend the dissolution judgment to add it.
- 3
Obtain a certified copy of the dissolution judgment showing the restored name from the Circuit Clerk.
- 4
Use the certified judgment to update Social Security with Form SS-5, then the Secretary of State (driver's license/ID), then your passport and accounts.
Official forms
Every link goes to the official court or government host — never a paid re-host.
| Form | Code | Official link |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy of the Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage (Circuit Clerk) | — | Open ↗ |
- • Under 750 ILCS 5/413 you do not have to file a separate Request for Name Change if your former name is restored by the divorce judgment, and no newspaper publication is required.
Then update your IDs
Once you have the signed order, update Social Security first, then your Illinois license, then your passport and accounts.
Divorce name change in nearby states
Restoring Your Name After Divorce in Illinois: FAQ
Can I restore my maiden name without paying again in Illinois?
What if I forgot to ask for my former name in the divorce in Illinois?
Do I need to publish a notice to restore my name after divorce in Illinois?
What's the first ID to update after a divorce name change in Illinois?
Sources
Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:
- www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=075000050HPt%2E+V&ActID=2086
- www.illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/circuit-court-standardized-forms-suites/name-change
- www.ilsos.gov/departments/drivers/home.html
See our verification methodology and themaster source list.