The key points
- Former-name restoration can be requested in the divorce papers.
- The order needs to show the correct former name.
- FL-395 is the court’s form for a request after Judgment.
- Agencies and financial institutions update their own records separately.
Ask for restoration while preparing the divorce papers
The California partner catalog identifies a former-name request in FL-100 and restoration in FL-180. Read the relevant fields and use the exact name you intend to restore.
Check the proposed Judgment before it is submitted. The request on a Petition and the order in a Judgment are different stages. A questionnaire entry does not itself change your legal name.
See the Judgment article for how final orders differ from the opening papers.
If the divorce is already final, use the court’s later procedure
California Courts identifies Ex Parte Application for Restoration of Former Name After Entry of Judgment and Order (FL-395) for asking to restore a former name after the divorce Judgment.
Follow the form instructions and file with the court where the divorce was handled. The judge reviews the request. Check with the clerk about copies, any charge, and how the signed order will be returned.
This is a former-name restoration procedure. If you want a name that is not a former name, ask the self-help center which process applies rather than assuming the same form is suitable.
Keep proof of the order and check agency requirements
After the request is granted, keep the signed court order. Ask whether an agency needs a certified copy before sending an ordinary photocopy or the only copy in your records.
Make a list of records that need attention: Social Security, driver license or identification, employer and payroll, banks, insurers, and other accounts you use. Contact each organization for its own requirements.
Do not assume the divorce court forwards a name update to all of them. Keep track of completed changes and any proof returned to you.
Update Social Security and California identification in the right order
Social Security says to report a legal name change and follow its corrected-card process. Evidence can include the name change event, the new name, and identity documents. Use the current agency instructions to determine the application method and proof.
The California DMV says to update the Social Security record before a DMV name-change appointment. Check the DMV’s current application and document requirements for the credential you hold.
A general divorce article is not an agency application checklist for every person. Citizenship, identity, and record differences can affect what proof an agency requests.
Separate name restoration from the divorce’s other orders
A name change does not rewrite the property, debt, support, or parenting terms. Keep using the case number and follow any instructions about names on later court papers.
If an account or title needs both a name update and a change of ownership, ask about both tasks. Showing an identity order is not the same as completing a property transfer.
The property article explains why title and loan steps can remain after a Judgment. Any partner offer here is for supported agreed-divorce preparation, not an agency record-update service.
Common questions
Does entering my former name in a questionnaire change it?
No. A questionnaire can help prepare a request. The relevant court order must be made, and agencies then have their own record-update processes.
Can I ask after the divorce Judgment?
California Courts provides FL-395 for restoration of a former name after Judgment. Follow that court’s filing instructions and check how the signed order is returned.
Will the court update Social Security and the DMV for me?
Do not assume it will. Follow each agency’s current procedure and supply the requested proof. The DMV directs applicants to update Social Security before a DMV name-change appointment.
Should I order certified copies?
Check the requirements of the agencies and institutions you need to update. They may require a certified court document. Ask the clerk about obtaining the appropriate copies.
Is restoring a former name the same as transferring a house?
No. A legal name update and a change of ownership are different tasks. A title, loan, or account may need additional steps under the Judgment and the institution’s requirements.
Official California references
Requirements and forms can change. Check the current instructions and your local court’s requirements. This page is not an attorney-reviewed legal opinion.