Name Change After Divorce, State by State
Restoring your former name after divorce runs on the decree's restoration clause, then the same sequence as everyone else: Social Security, wait 24–48 hours, your state license, passport, then accounts. The only state-specific piece is the license step. Pick your state for the agency and fee, or open a divorce-mode plan directly.
Before the state step
- Read the decree for the restoration clause (a line restoring your former name). No clause → amend the decree or petition; nothing below works without it.
- Order 3+ certified copies from the clerk of the court that granted the divorce.
- File the free SS-5 with one certified copy and a photo ID. Wait 24–48 hours.
Your state's license step
| State | Agency and fee | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | ALEA Driver License Division — ≈ $36.25 for a duplicate license | Divorce plan for AL → |
| Alaska | Alaska DMV — ≈ $15 for a duplicate license | Divorce plan for AK → |
| Arizona | Arizona MVD — ≈ $12 for a duplicate license | Divorce plan for AZ → |
| Arkansas | Arkansas DFA Revenue Office — ≈ $10 for a duplicate license | Divorce plan for AR → |
| California | California DMV — $37 for a driver's license change, $40 for an ID card | Divorce plan for CA → |
| Colorado | Colorado DMV driver license office — ≈ $12–$13 for a duplicate license | Divorce plan for CO → |
| Connecticut | Connecticut DMV hub or express office — $30 for the name change, plus up to $8 convenience fee at AAA or credit-union express locations | Divorce plan for CT → |
| Delaware | Delaware DMV — ≈ $20 for a duplicate license | Divorce plan for DE → |
| District of Columbia | DC DMV service center — ≈ $20 for a duplicate license | Divorce plan for DC → |
| Florida | Florida tax collector's office or FLHSMV service center — ≈ $25 for the replacement license, plus a service fee of about $6.25 at tax collector offices | Divorce plan for FL → |
| Georgia | Georgia Department of Driver Services — free for the first name or address change in the term of your license; $10 for any change after that | Divorce plan for GA → |
| Hawaii | your county driver licensing office — ≈ $6 for a duplicate license | Divorce plan for HI → |
| Idaho | Idaho DMV — ≈ $15 for a duplicate license | Divorce plan for ID → |
| Illinois | Illinois Secretary of State driver services facility — $5 for a corrected license or ID | Divorce plan for IL → |
| Indiana | Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles — ≈ around $9–$15 for an amended credential | Divorce plan for IN → |
| Iowa | Iowa DOT driver's license service center — $10 for the name change | Divorce plan for IA → |
| Kansas | Kansas driver's license office — ≈ about $16 ($8 duplicate fee plus $8 photo fee) | Divorce plan for KS → |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Driver Licensing Regional Office — $15 for the name change | Divorce plan for KY → |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles — $13 (4-year) or $17 (6-year) for the duplicate license, plus a local fee of up to $4–$8 | Divorce plan for LA → |
| Maine | Maine BMV — ≈ $5 for a duplicate license | Divorce plan for ME → |
| Maryland | Maryland MVA — ≈ $20 for a corrected license | Divorce plan for MD → |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts RMV Service Center — ≈ $25 for an amended license | Divorce plan for MA → |
| Michigan | Michigan Secretary of State office — ≈ $9 for a corrected license or state ID | Divorce plan for MI → |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services — ≈ $15–$21 for a duplicate license | Divorce plan for MN → |
| Mississippi | Mississippi DPS Driver Service Bureau — $11 for a duplicate license or ID | Divorce plan for MS → |
| Missouri | Missouri Department of Revenue — ≈ $10–$20 depending on license type | Divorce plan for MO → |
| Montana | Montana MVD driver license station — ≈ $10 for a duplicate license | Divorce plan for MT → |
| Nebraska | Nebraska DMV — ≈ roughly $15–$20 for a replacement license | Divorce plan for NE → |
| Nevada | Nevada DMV — ≈ $9.25 for a duplicate license | Divorce plan for NV → |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire DMV — ≈ $3 for a duplicate license | Divorce plan for NH → |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission — ≈ $11 for a duplicate license with the corrected name | Divorce plan for NJ → |
| New Mexico | New Mexico MVD — ≈ $18 for a duplicate license | Divorce plan for NM → |
| New York | New York DMV — ≈ $12.50 for an amended license | Divorce plan for NY → |
| North Carolina | NCDMV driver license office — ≈ $14 for a duplicate license | Divorce plan for NC → |
| North Dakota | North Dakota DOT driver license site — ≈ $8 for a duplicate license | Divorce plan for ND → |
| Ohio | Ohio BMV deputy registrar agency — ≈ $25.75 for a replacement license | Divorce plan for OH → |
| Oklahoma | Service Oklahoma — ≈ around $25 for a replacement license | Divorce plan for OK → |
| Oregon | Oregon DMV — ≈ $30 for a replacement license | Divorce plan for OR → |
| Pennsylvania | PennDOT Driver License Center — ≈ no fee to record the name change by mail on form DL-80; a new photo card, if you want one, is the regular duplicate fee | Divorce plan for PA → |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island DMV — ≈ $27.50 for a duplicate license | Divorce plan for RI → |
| South Carolina | SCDMV — ≈ $10 for a duplicate license | Divorce plan for SC → |
| South Dakota | South Dakota DPS driver licensing office — ≈ $15 for a duplicate license | Divorce plan for SD → |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Driver Services Center — $8–$16 duplicate fee, depending on your license type and how many duplicates you've had | Divorce plan for TN → |
| Texas | Texas DPS driver license office — $11 for the replacement license or ID | Divorce plan for TX → |
| Utah | Utah Driver License Division — ≈ $23 for a duplicate license | Divorce plan for UT → |
| Vermont | Vermont DMV — ≈ $20 for a duplicate license | Divorce plan for VT → |
| Virginia | Virginia DMV customer service center — ≈ $20 for a replacement license | Divorce plan for VA → |
| Washington | Washington DOL driver licensing office — ≈ $20 for a replacement license | Divorce plan for WA → |
| West Virginia | West Virginia DMV regional office — ≈ $12.50 for a duplicate license | Divorce plan for WV → |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin DMV — ≈ around $14 for a duplicate license with the new name | Divorce plan for WI → |
| Wyoming | WYDOT Driver Services — ≈ $10 for a duplicate license | Divorce plan for WY → |
Skip the forms — get them filled in 10 minutes
The Name Change Plan Packet (free — your email is the only thing we ask for) asks you the questions once, then generates your completed official forms — SS-5, the right passport form, the divorce paperwork checklist — plus notification letters for your banks and employer, and your state's exact instructions. Built entirely in your browser: your details never touch our servers.
Get the free packet →Common questions
Where do I get certified copies of my divorce decree?
From the clerk of the court that granted the divorce — the county circuit, district, superior or family court. Order three; the passport application keeps one for weeks. Cost is usually $5–$30 per certified copy.
Does the state matter for a divorce name change?
Only at the license step: your state's licensing agency, fee and deadline apply. Social Security and the passport are federal and identical everywhere, and the decree works in any state regardless of where the divorce was granted.
What if I divorced in a different state than I live in?
Order the certified decree from the court that granted it (many accept mail or online orders), then update Social Security and your current state's license as usual.
My decree has no restoration clause — does the state change anything?
The fix is with the court that issued the decree: an amended decree, or a name-change petition in your current county. See the divorce guide.