If I am recently separated and want to legally go back to my maiden name, is it possible to do before the divorce?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
If I am recently separated and want to legally go back to my maiden name, is it possible to do before the divorce?
I am a college student and am beginning to take tests for my teaching certification. I want to take all the tests in my maiden name so the situation is kind of urgent.
Asked on August 17, 2011 Massachusetts
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
If you want to have a name change back to your maiden name before any decree of separation or dissolution, you could file a petition for a name change in the superior court of the county that you reside in. The process is somewhat straight forward and relatively quick to complete from beginning to end. Most likely three to four months if you move quickly with the petition.
Most states have pre-printed forms for this purpose where you check the boxes. There is typically notice that must be published in a newspaper for so many consecutive weeks. The final result is a court order changing your name filed in your case.
To possibly save some money (and time) if you have filed a petition for separation or dissolution in the superior court of the county that you live in, you might be able to file a motion in the same case for a name change sooner rather than later.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.