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

Verified against Kentucky Court of Justice and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

In Kentucky, 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

No separate name-change fee — restoration is requested inside the divorce case

Court

Circuit Court / Family Court (through the dissolution decree)

District Court in the county where you live (petitions are filed through the Circuit Court Clerk's office, which serves both courts)

Timeline

1–4 weeks

Step by step

1
Ask the court to restore your former or maiden name inside your Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (Form AOC-252A) — under KRS 403.230 the court shall restore it if you have no children of the marriage and may restore it if you do.
2
The restoration is granted in the dissolution decree; no separate name-change petition is required.
3
Get a certified copy of the decree from the Circuit Court Clerk.
4
Use the certified decree to update Social Security, then your driver's license, passport, and accounts.

Official forms

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

Form	Code	Official link
Petition for Dissolution of Marriage	AOC-252A	Open ↗

Newspaper publication: Not required

Background check: No background check

Good to know in Kentucky:

• Request the name restoration before the decree is final; if you miss it, you would have to file a separate District Court name-change petition under KRS 401.010.

Then update your IDs

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

Who to notify →Build my checklist →See my timeline →

Divorce name change in nearby states

Louisiana →Oregon →Alabama →Oklahoma →

Restoring Your Name After Divorce in Kentucky: FAQ

Can I restore my maiden name without paying again in Kentucky?

Usually yes. If you asked to restore your former name in your divorce, the decree is your proof at no extra cost. In Kentucky you can also request it after the fact.

What if I forgot to ask for my former name in the divorce in Kentucky?

You can still restore it. Kentucky 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 Kentucky?

No. Restoring a former name through a divorce decree does not require newspaper publication in Kentucky.

What's the first ID to update after a divorce name change in Kentucky?

Social Security first (free, Form SS-5), then your Kentucky 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.

We're re-confirming some fee details for this state against the county court. Always confirm the exact current fee with your court clerk before you file.