Divorces are difficult, emotionally and legally. One of the most difficult decisions is whether to change back to your maiden name or not, to maintain your married identity or return to who you were prior to marriage. It is a decision that should not be taken lightly and may take some time to adjust to.
So, should you change your name after a divorce?
There is a myriad of elements to consider before making this decision. For instance, how will changing your name affect your children? Will a name change affect your career? What are your feelings toward your maiden name versus your married name? The rest of this article with discuss the questions that go into the decision to change your name as well as the process of doing so.
Should You Change Your Name?
Will a Name Change Affect Your Children?
Divorces are a difficult time for children with a lot of emotions and questions. Many children do not understand what a divorce means, why it is happening, or if they are to blame. Your decisions and how you act during this time will reflect in your children’s perceptions of you for many years.
Some children may understand the reasoning behind you changing your name from theirs, but it will be more difficult for some to accept, especially younger children. Some children may view a name change as a type of abandonment from the family. Before making this decision, be sure to talk to your children and understand their feelings and point of view. Remember that you can always change your last name at a later date when the children are older to make the divorce transition easier on them.
Will a Name Change Affect Your Career?
Many individuals strive for years to make themselves known in their industry and set up a financial future for themselves. Often, this is based on them being either easy to find on a search engine or from others identifying their credentials based on their name. If your future career depends on your name, you may consider not changing it. Below are some questions to ask yourself if you are thinking about a name change:
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- Did you establish a firm or practice named after your married self?
- Are you an industry expert whose name easily identifies your credentials?
- Does your career depend on search engines finding you or your business by your married name?
- Does your career depend on you being easily identified?
Is a Name Change a Part of the Divorce Negotiations?
While you might not care about your last name, your spouse might. During a divorce, some spouses prefer for names to be separated for either emotional reasons or other. As such, they may make a name change a part of the divorce negotiations.
What Are Your Feelings Toward Your Name?
Divorces can be messy and complicated with leftover feelings toward the other person. Ask yourself how you feel towards your last name. Do you want to hold onto it as you could not hold on to the other person; do you want to let the married name go so you can start anew; or do you just like the sound of your first name combined with your married name more than you like your maiden name?
The Process of Changing Your Name
The steps to changing your name is to first finalize it with the court and then to change it with all necessary institutions. Finalizing with the court often occurs during divorce proceedings. File a name change request and make sure that the name change is included in the final divorce decree.
The easiest next step is to change your name with the DMV and get a new driver’s license followed by the Social Security Administration. Changing with the DMV first will make it easier to change with the SSA and other institutions. For the SSA, you must first file a new card application, present a copy of the divorce decree and finalized name change, prove your citizenship, and then prove your age and identity. After the DMV and SSA have acknowledged the name change, below are other institutions you should change your name with:
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- Banking and other financial institutions
- Credit cards
- Employer
- Children’s Schools
- Post office
- Doctor’s office
Overall Choice
The decision to change your name is a tough one and should not be taken lightly. It can affect your children, your career, as well as your perception of yourself. Make sure to weigh all the pros and cons and make the decision that works best for you and your family.
Legal Representation for your Divorce
Since divorce is about starting over or rather a new beginning, it is crucial to have an experienced and reputable attorney. The divorce and family lawyers at Tower Karson in Livonia have both the experience and compassion to help navigate your divorce or family law issue. We handle all aspects of divorce and family law and will be there to make sure your voice is heard. Our goal is to get results that benefits everyone involved, especially children so that you can move on with assurance.
If you are thinking of divorce or have questions before you move forward, call our divorce law firm to schedule a Free Consultation.