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

Verified against Ohio Probate Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.

Quick answer

In Ohio, 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 in the divorce decree is included at no separate cost under R.C. 3105.16

Court
Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division (through the divorce/dissolution decree)

Probate Court in the county where you live

Timeline
1–4 weeks

Step by step

  1. 1

    Ask the court to restore your former name during your divorce or dissolution — under R.C. 3105.16 the Court of Common Pleas shall, if you so desire, restore any name you had before the marriage, with no separate probate petition.

  2. 2

    If the decree did not include the restoration, ask the domestic relations court for an entry restoring your former name.

  3. 3

    Obtain a certified copy of the decree or restoration entry from the Clerk of Courts.

  4. 4

    Use the certified decree to update Social Security with Form SS-5, then the Ohio BMV, then your passport and accounts.

Official forms

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

FormCodeOfficial link
Certified copy of the divorce/dissolution decree (Clerk of Courts)—Open ↗
Newspaper publication: Not required
Background check: No background check
Good to know in Ohio:
  • • The divorce court can restore only a prior/former name; adopting an entirely new name requires a separate Probate Court petition under R.C. Chapter 2717.

Then update your IDs

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

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

Divorce name change in nearby states

Illinois →Georgia →Pennsylvania →North Carolina →

Restoring Your Name After Divorce in Ohio: FAQ

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