Many people who changed their name when they got married consider changing it back after a divorce. Because names are an incredibly personal, foundational part of our identity, the question of whether to change back can be difficult.
Factors to consider
These name change considerations are common among divorcing people:
- Professional and social recognition: When you’ve made professional strides under a married name, like earning degrees and moving up the career ladder, changing your name may impede future opportunities simply because people may not recognize your “new” name. Similarly, some people wish to avoid social confusion when they’ve had their married name for a long time.
- Sharing a name with the kids: Many parents like to share the same surname as their children, so they decide to keep their married name.
- Ex-spouse: If you’re divorcing amicably, you may want to consider your ex’s preference, even though you have the final say. On the other hand, changing your name after a difficult divorce is often a way to psychologically separate yourself from the experience, especially if you harbor resentment toward your ex.
- Paperwork: Changing your name when you divorce can involve a lot of time, hassle and paperwork. Some people simply don’t want to deal with updating their drivers’ licenses, credit cards, Social Security cards, insurance policies and more.
If you want to separate your identity from your ex while avoiding the social and practical ramifications of a name change, consider hyphenating your name. You can keep Robin Jones as your legal name, for example, but introduce yourself as Robin Smith-Jones on a social and professional basis.
Should you choose to change your name, your attorney can include it in your divorce filing. They can also direct you to helpful resources which will guide you through which documents and government agencies you’ll need to update after the divorce is final.
For help with your divorce and related questions, call the knowledgeable divorce lawyers at Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A. in St. Paul, MN.
