There are a lot of changes that come with a divorce. Some can be rather significant, such as a new home or job. There are generally financial changes that take some getting accustomed to and of course, if you are a parent, divorce brings an entire set of changes specific to your children. One thing a woman will probably consider, though, is whether to keep her married name or change it back.
It is important to understand there is no right or wrong answer. In many divorces, the option for a woman to change her name back isn’t an option because it wasn’t written into her divorce decree. Even if you believe you don’t want to change your name back, you should have the option included in case you want to do so at some time in the future.
There are specific reasons why some women do not want to change back to the name they had before they were married. The most common is because of their children. They don’t want to have a different last name than their children have.
Some women are so angry with their ex-spouse, they can’t wait to change their name back. It’s best to avoid changing your name back simply because of the resentment and bitterness you feel towards your ex. Change it back because you truly want your old name back and find another way to deal with the emotions of the divorce.
In some cases, a woman may want her old name back because she will be returning to work. Perhaps she made a name for herself before she got married and now wants to build upon that name once again.
No matter what your reasons for changing or not changing your name, make sure you discuss it with your divorce attorney. You will be able to ensure the option is included in your divorce decree whenever you choose to use it.
Source: huffingtonpost.com, “Should You Change Your Name Back After Divorce?” Jackie Pilossoph, May. 21, 2013