Skip to content
Name Change Atlas
All StatesToolsWho to NotifyGuidesCost & Steps Calculator

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

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

Quick answer

In Missouri, 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.

Free · no signup

Showing your state. Change the situation below to compare.

Your situation

What it costs

Filing fee
$0 court fee

Restoring a former or maiden name inside the dissolution costs nothing beyond the standard divorce filing fee

Court
Circuit Court (through the Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage)

Circuit Court in the county where you live

Timeline
1–4 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Ask the court to restore your former or maiden name inside your Petition for Dissolution of Marriage before the case is finalized — Missouri courts can order this under Chapter 452, even over the other spouse's objection, at no extra cost.

  2. 2

    Present the request at the dissolution hearing so the judge includes the name restoration in the Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage.

  3. 3

    Obtain a certified copy of the Judgment of Dissolution from the circuit clerk — that certified judgment is your legal proof of the restored name.

  4. 4

    Use the certified judgment to update Social Security (Form SS-5), then your Missouri driver license, then your US passport and financial accounts.

Official forms

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

FormCodeOfficial link
Dissolution of Marriage Forms (statewide) — Missouri Courts—Open ↗
Application for a Social Security CardSS-5Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Not required
Background check: No background check
Good to know in Missouri:
  • • You do not need a separate name-change petition to return to a former name after divorce — request it in the dissolution and no newspaper publication is required.
  • • If your divorce is already final and did not restore your name, you must file a standard adult Petition for Change of Name (CAFC401) instead.

Then update your IDs

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

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

Divorce name change in nearby states

Indiana →Maryland →Massachusetts →Wisconsin →

Restoring Your Name After Divorce in Missouri: FAQ

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