Hey,
Did all of the ladies who went through a divorce retain their maiden name or change it back to it? As a physician, my middle name on all official records and certificates is my maiden name. Professionally, I do not want to go by his last name, but changing it would be so difficult and different from what I do with my children. Should I hold off until after I get married again?
When a woman gets divorced, deciding whether to keep her ex-husband’s last name or revert to her maiden name is a personal choice with no universal rule. Many women choose to return to their maiden name to reclaim their identity, symbolize the end of the marriage, or simply because they prefer it. This decision varies based on individual preferences and circumstances.
Here’s a divorce attorney: Just to be clear, the divorce judgment or decree contains the clause allowing you to revert to your maiden name in US jurisdictions. You can choose to use it or not. That is the legal document that mandates the name change, and you can present your case to Social Security, the Secretary of State, or anybody else you choose. It saves you the headache and money needed to alter your name through a separate, “chancery,” proceeding. You can change your name on your marriage certificate, and you can change it back on your divorce decree. Just make sure that the magic words “Petitioner is given leave to resume the use of her maiden name: S M I T H.” appear in the judgment or decree.
I held onto it. When the divorce was finalized, I was still working and still carrying that identity from several decades ago, but I was seeking for something better. At that time, I didn’t want to lose my entire career. I didn’t care that my kids were older.
To be honest, it has never bothered me. And after the divorce, there were less things to do as a result. I was relieved that I didn’t have to deal with name changes on top of my ex’s difficult closeout.