Restoring Your Name After Divorce in Iowa: Steps, Cost & Forms
Verified against Iowa District Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.
In Iowa, 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 free when requested inside the dissolution case; no separate name-change filing fee
District Court in the county where you live
Step by step
- 1
Under Iowa Code § 598.37, ask the court to restore your former name — request it in your petition for dissolution of marriage if you are the petitioner, or in your answer if you are the respondent.
- 2
The restored name is written into the final dissolution decree, so no separate Chapter 674 name-change petition is needed.
- 3
Get a certified copy of the dissolution decree from the district court clerk.
- 4
Use the certified decree to update Social Security first, then the Iowa DOT, your US passport, and your accounts.
Official forms
Every link goes to the official court or government host — never a paid re-host.
| Form | Code | Official link |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa dissolution (divorce) self-help — restoring a former name | — | Open ↗ |
- • You do not need a separate name-change case to return to a former name after divorce — the dissolution case handles it under Iowa Code § 598.37.
Then update your IDs
Once you have the signed order, update Social Security first, then your Iowa license, then your passport and accounts.
Divorce name change in nearby states
Restoring Your Name After Divorce in Iowa: FAQ
Can I restore my maiden name without paying again in Iowa?
What if I forgot to ask for my former name in the divorce in Iowa?
Do I need to publish a notice to restore my name after divorce in Iowa?
What's the first ID to update after a divorce name change in Iowa?
Sources
Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:
- www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/divorce
- www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/representing-yourself/name-change
- iowadot.gov/drivers-licenses-ids/other-services/change-information
See our verification methodology and themaster source list.