Get more time to pay with Klarna.

Can You Keep Your Married Name After Divorce?

Table Of Contents

    Each year marriages end in divorce for various reasons. Despite the reason for the divorce, there are many questions the ex-spouses may have. Some women ask, “Can you keep your married name after divorce?”

    Typically a woman will change her name back to her maiden name, but in some cases, a woman may want to keep her married name. There is a list of reasons why a woman may want to keep her married name.

    Some of those reasons include:

    • A woman does not want to go through the hassle of a name change.
    • The marriage lasted for decades, and the woman is predominantly known by her married name.
    • A woman wants to keep the same surname as her children.
    • The name is prestigious, and you want to hold on to that.
    • For business purposes, such as a pre-established company name.
    • Emotional ties. For example, a woman has come into her own since being married.
    • Sometimes women cannot let go of their former lives, especially if the woman was not the party who wanted the divorce.

    The Legal Answer

    If you are one of the women asking, “Can I keep my married name when divorced,” you are in luck, the answer is yes.

    There is no law in the UK that requires you to change back to your maiden name once divorced. There is a law however that allows you to change your name if you would like.

    If you want to lose the hurtful memories associated with your married name, you can drop the name along with your husband. You will need to provide the Deed Poll when filing your name change, along with your decree absolute.

    You have the right to change your name in the UK during separation, and before your divorce has been granted.

    Name Changing Cautions

    Whatever reason you have for keeping your married name, remember that is your legal right. You should think hard about changing back to your maiden name, because once you are legally divorced in the UK, and you change your name by Deed Poll, it will be nearly impossible to change your name back.

    The main reason being you will no longer have a marriage certificate, but instead a divorce decree.

    How to change your name after divorce

    If you are going to keep your married name, you need to say so in the divorce decree.

    There will be a question that asks if you would like to retain your married name, or be known by your maiden (or former) name. Your husband cannot request your drop his name, regardless of the reason.

    It is your legal right to keep your married name, even after your husband has moved on. So if you are asking, “Can I keep my married name when divorced;” yes, you can! But if you want to know how do I change my surname back to my maiden name after divorce? Well, its quite simple.

    If you would like to change your name for £15.99 you can at Legal DeedPolls

    Was this article helpful?
    YesNo