Restoring Your Name After Divorce in North Carolina: Steps, Cost & Forms
Verified against North Carolina Superior Court (Clerk of Superior Court, Special Proceedings) and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.
In North Carolina, 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. A separate request costs about $0–$30 (typical $10, varies by county). 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
Resuming a former name after divorce is inexpensive; some clerks charge a small filing fee for the Application/Notice of Resumption of Former Name, while restoring the name inside the divorce judgment is free. Confirm with your Clerk of Superior Court.
Clerk of Superior Court (Special Proceedings Division) in the county where you live
Step by step
- 1
You may resume a prior surname (maiden name, a prior married name, or your name before marriage) after a divorce under N.C.G.S. § 50-12 without a full name-change petition.
- 2
File Form AOC-SP-600 (Application/Notice of Resumption of Former Name) with the Clerk of Superior Court, or ask the court to restore your former name inside the absolute divorce judgment.
- 3
Obtain the certified resumption order or certified divorce judgment from the clerk.
- 4
Use the certified order to update Social Security first, then the NC DMV, then your passport, banks, and accounts.
Official forms
Every link goes to the official court or government host — never a paid re-host.
| Form | Code | Official link |
|---|---|---|
| Application/Notice Of Resumption Of Former Name | AOC-SP-600 | Open ↗ |
- • Resumption of a former name under G.S. 50-12 does not count against the once-in-a-lifetime limit that applies to a full statutory name change, and it skips the notice, background check, and character-affidavit requirements.
Then update your IDs
Once you have the signed order, update Social Security first, then your North Carolina license, then your passport and accounts.
Divorce name change in nearby states
Restoring Your Name After Divorce in North Carolina: FAQ
Can I restore my maiden name without paying again in North Carolina?
What if I forgot to ask for my former name in the divorce in North Carolina?
Do I need to publish a notice to restore my name after divorce in North Carolina?
What's the first ID to update after a divorce name change in North Carolina?
Sources
Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:
- www.nccourts.gov/documents/forms/applicationnotice-of-resumption-of-former-name
- www.nccourts.gov/help-topics/civil-and-small-claims/name-changes
- www.ncdot.gov/dmv
See our verification methodology and themaster source list.