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

Verified against Maryland Circuit Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

In Maryland, 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 name is free when requested in the divorce; a separate CC-DR-097 request after judgment is also free

Court
Circuit Court (through the divorce decree or Form CC-DR-097)

Circuit Court in the county (or Baltimore City) where you live, work, or were born

Timeline
1–4 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Ask the court to restore your former name inside your complaint for absolute divorce — a Maryland absolute divorce decree can restore a former (including maiden) name at no extra cost.

  2. 2

    If the divorce is already final and you did not request it, file the Restoration of Former Name form (CC-DR-097) in the Circuit Court that handled your divorce.

  3. 3

    Get a certified copy of the divorce decree or the signed restoration order from the clerk.

  4. 4

    Use the certified order to update Social Security first (Form SS-5), then the MVA, then your passport and accounts.

Official forms

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

FormCodeOfficial link
Restoration of Former NameCC-DR-097Open ↗
Application for a Social Security CardSS-5Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Not required
Background check: No background check
Good to know in Maryland:
  • • You do not need a separate name-change petition to return to a former name after divorce — restoration is handled inside the divorce case, or by Form CC-DR-097 afterward.

Then update your IDs

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

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

Divorce name change in nearby states

Missouri →Wisconsin →Indiana →Colorado →

Restoring Your Name After Divorce in Maryland: FAQ

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