If you took your spouse’s surname when you married, divorce may cause you to think about changing it again. Legally, you are free to do this if you wish, and it is something that many people do.
You could change back to your former name. You could also pick another name completely, to celebrate a new stage of life or simply because you never really like your original surname.
Some things to consider
The choice to change it or not is entirely yours to make. Before you rush ahead, it is important to understand what it might affect.
First, you will need to fill out some paperwork to change your name. This is necessarily not just to make the change legal, but to update all the documents you hold under that name such as your driver’s license, passport and Social Security card.
Second, you need to think about what value you have tied to that name. If you are an author, for example, publishing your books under a new name might confuse people and cost you readers? If your married name is associated with your business, it may be preferable to keep it. However, a name change just mean reminding your colleagues and clients of the change until they get used to it.
Do you have children?
If you have children under 18, retaining the same surname could make things a little easier for you and them. Even though plenty of people have different last names than their children, having the same last name as your children can sometimes make things easier for them.
Despite the complications, many people find discarding their married name worth it. As with all aspects of divorce, learning more about the steps you need to take is wise.