Section 7-105 of the Family Law Article of the Maryland Code permits a party in a divorce to change their name from their married name to either their birth-given name or any other former name they have used, as long as it is not for an illegal, faudulent or immoral purpose. The name change is free if you ask for it at your divorce hearing.

So why doesn’t everyone change their married name when they get divorced?

Some people have established an identity and a career under their married name.  Others want to have the same name as their children.  And it is a hassle to deal with all the red tape that a name change involves, like a new social security card or a new driver’s license.  Read more about name changes in divorce at Answerology.com.