Changing Your Name After Divorce

If you are getting a divorce or have already obtained a decree in divorce, and if you want to change your name back to your maiden name, it may be easier than you think.

A spouse can elect to resume their prior name in Pennsylvania either before or after the entry of a divorce decree so long as divorce proceedings are pending. A Notice of Intention to Retake Prior Name is signed in the presence of a notary and is filed with the court. Once a certified copy of that notice is received, it can be used to change one’s name on identifications and other documents as needed.

If you are getting a divorce and you do not want your spouse to continue to use your last name, the court will not allow you to force them to make that change. Resuming one’s name prior to marriage is an elective decision to be made by the individual and the other spouse will not have the ability to control whether or not this occurs.

If you are in the process of getting divorced, we can be of help regarding this and any other issue that arises. Click or Call 610-892-3877