Divorce comes with a great many changes, and some people are loath to add one more change to the mix. If you do want to change your name following a divorce, there are some steps you can take to make the transition somewhat smoother. Bear in mind that the law allows you to change your name because you are divorcing, and therefore your name change is limited to your maiden name or a name you have used previously.
Your attorney can file a petition
Your divorce lawyer can file for your name change while processing your divorce petition. This saves time and paperwork and prevents you from needing to file these requests separately. The judge usually grants a name change request if you have filed the petition in a timely fashion and there are no unforeseen legal issues connected to your name change. As with a divorce petition, you must live in Illinois for at least six months prior to filing for a name change.
Changing other official documents
Once you have your divorce decree in hand, you can continue to change other official documents. Make sure to request a certified copy of your divorce judgment from the circuit court office with an official seal. This official copy allows you to change your name with other government offices.
- Illinois ID card or driver license — Go to the office of the state secretary along with your judgment within 30 days of your divorce hearing.
- Social Security card — There is no time limit on this change, but you need to fill out form SS-5 and bring a photo ID.
Once you have officially changed your name, you can take some time to consider what other name changes make sense for you. Some people keep their married name on their children’s school records or professional licenses. If you decide to change your professional name as well, it might be helpful to keep both names on social media sites and professional registers so the search engines can still find you.
Your divorce attorney can assist you with any other paperwork related to your post-divorce name change. Just remember to mention it early on in the process.
Born in Havana, Cuba, Paul Chatzky is fluent in Spanish and English, enabling him to effectively represent a wider range of individuals and families. He is AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®, and is listed among Illinois Super Lawyers, which is a reflection of his high ethical standards and exceptional legal knowledge. As a…
Prior to joining the firm as a paralegal, Debbie was employed by major banking institutions as a loan processor and as an executive secretary. Debbie was also employed as an administrative assistant for the Board of Jewish Education. Having majored in Sociology, Debbie graduated from the University of Florida in 1980. Debbie completed her studies…
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