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

Verified against Michigan Circuit Court (Family Division) and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

In Michigan, 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 it is included in the judgment of divorce under MCL 552.391

Court
Circuit Court (through the divorce judgment)

Family Division of the Circuit Court in the county where you live

Timeline
1–4 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Ask the court to restore your prior name in your complaint for divorce or in the judgment of divorce — Michigan law (MCL 552.391) lets the judge order this as part of the divorce at no extra cost.

  2. 2

    If the divorce is already final and the judgment did not restore your name, you generally must file a separate circuit-court name-change petition (Form PC 51).

  3. 3

    Obtain a certified copy of the judgment of divorce from the county clerk.

  4. 4

    Use the certified judgment to update Social Security first, then the Michigan SOS, 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
Judgment of Divorce — Michigan circuit court (restores former name)—Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Not required
Background check: No background check
Good to know in Michigan:
  • • Requesting your former name during the divorce is the simplest path; doing it after the judgment is final usually requires a full PC 51 name-change petition.

Then update your IDs

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

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Divorce name change in nearby states

North Carolina →New Jersey →Georgia →Virginia →

Restoring Your Name After Divorce in Michigan: FAQ

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