Restoring Your Name After Divorce in Virginia: Steps, Cost & Forms
Verified against Virginia Circuit Court and .gov sources · Last verified July 16, 2026.
In Virginia, 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.
What it costs
Restoring a former name is free when requested inside the divorce; no separate name-change petition is required
Circuit Court in the county or city where you live
Step by step
- 1
Ask the court to restore your former name inside your divorce case — under Virginia Code § 20-121.4 the court will restore a former or maiden name at your request in the final decree, at no extra cost.
- 2
Make sure the restoration language naming your former name is written into the final decree of divorce before the judge signs it.
- 3
Get a certified copy of the signed final divorce decree from the Circuit Court clerk.
- 4
Use the certified decree to update Social Security first, then the Virginia DMV, then your passport and financial accounts.
Official forms
Every link goes to the official court or government host — never a paid re-host.
| Form | Code | Official link |
|---|---|---|
| Final Decree of Divorce (restoration of former name requested in the decree) | — | Open ↗ |
- • You do not need a separate name-change petition to return to a former name after divorce — request it in the divorce and it is handled in the final decree.
- • If you did not request restoration during the divorce, you can still file a standard adult name-change application (Form CC-1411) later.
Then update your IDs
Once you have the signed order, update Social Security first, then your Virginia license, then your passport and accounts.
Divorce name change in nearby states
Restoring Your Name After Divorce in Virginia: FAQ
Can I restore my maiden name without paying again in Virginia?
What if I forgot to ask for my former name in the divorce in Virginia?
Do I need to publish a notice to restore my name after divorce in Virginia?
What's the first ID to update after a divorce name change in Virginia?
Sources
Every fee, court, rule, and form on this page traces to an official government source:
- selfhelp.vacourts.gov/page/42/change-name-forms
- www.dmv.virginia.gov/records/personal-information-updates
See our verification methodology and themaster source list.