Baltimore & Towson Lawyer Discusses Restoring Your Last Name Upon Divorce
The divorce process can be a stressful time for both parties. Any number of disputes and/or issues may arise prior to the divorce being finalized, and if a couple shares children, that can bring about a whole different set of problems for the parties to deal with. That is why it is important for individuals who are seeking a divorce to work with a skilled Baltimore and Towson divorce lawyer who can help to ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible.
One question that is often on the minds of divorcing individuals concerns restoring their maiden or pre-marriage last names after the divorce is complete. In Maryland, women have the right to get their maiden names back after a divorce. The only reason that a judge might deny a person’s request to restore her maiden name is if the change would be illegal in some way.
What Steps Do You Need to Take?
When going through the divorce process, individuals can seek to obtain a court order that will allow them to restore their maiden names. The request can be made within the complaint for divorce, and will likely be granted so long as the individual is not asking for the name change in an effort to defraud someone or hide from creditors. Your Baltimore and Towson divorce lawyer will tell you that if you are interested in restoring your name, it is best to ask for the change at the time of the divorce because doing it later will likely be more time consuming and costly as well.
One of the first steps an individual seeking a post-divorce name change can take is to complete Maryland’s Form DOM REL 60, which is a Petition for Change of Name document. The individual should indicate both the married name and the maiden name on the document, include a copy of the birth certificate and list as the reason for wanting the change as “divorce.”
As noted above, the document can be included as part of the divorce documentation; however, if the divorce has already been filed, the individual can seek to amend the filing within a 30-day period. Individuals should also note that under Maryland law, people can simply start using their maiden (or pre-marriage) names again--even if they have not filed for an official name change in the divorce documentation. Just be sure to regularly use your maiden name and make changes to certain personal documents, such as a Social Security card and/or driver’s license.
Divorce is typically a life-changing event that often brings about many changes for all involved. For some individuals, it may be important for them to be able to revert to their maiden names, while others may choose to keep their married names. Any individuals who have questions or concerns about their ability to change their names after a divorce should contact a Baltimore and Towson divorce lawyer at the Law Offices of Amar Weisman, LLC as soon as possible to learn more about their legal options and the laws pertaining to name changes as part of the divorce process.
Call (410) 321-4994 For a Free Consultation
Call The Law Offices of Amar S. Weisman at (410) 321-4994 to schedule a Free Consultation. The Purpose of the consultation is to determine whether you want to retain this law firm as your Baltimore County & Harford County Family Lawyer. If you do wish to proceed, then you must pay a retainer. See Our Policy on Fees and Costs. The family firm is located next to The Circuit Court for Baltimore County, at 1018 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson, MD 21204.
