[seeker1950]

Hi, all,
I've been divorced 9 years now. My marriage was 20 years of unhappiness. I've kept my married name because I was a locally known artist, but have stopped selling art in the particular venue for which I was known. People know me by my married name, especially my middle school students and fellow teachers. I just think I would like to go back to my maiden name. Has anyone here done such a thing? What kind of legal, personal ramifications will I be facing?
Thanks
Patty

[wi_fighter]

I haven't because of my kids and them thinking it would be weird for us to have different last names.

I did look online what it would entail to have it changed back. If you have evidence of your prior name, such as your birth certificate, you can just start using your old name again, including on your bills, driver's license, credit cards, etc.

[Rebound]

I have a friend who has done this more than once. It doesn't seem to have been overly bothersome unless you count the actual process itself. But then, it was complicated by her having moved in the meanwhile.

I would reccommend it if you feel it will bring you closure.

Just my 2 cents... good luck.

hey, patty........sounds like a plan to me! if i had not moved, where no one knows my ex, i'd sure as hell change mine.

i got sick of people asking me if "i was related to him"......it took a year of that before i REALIZED that i'm NOT related to him. and i could say no and not feel rude. xoxoxo

[(JD)]

I have. First, you don't have to change your name legally to begin using another name (in USA.) As long as you use the same SSN, and are not trying to elude law enforcement etc. I would do a time of where you use your Maiden name as your last name, with your married name as the Middle name. That way, your credit isn't "changed" but added to... THEN when you drop the married name altogether, it isn't a big deal to the creditors, because they already have the name you will be using.

It costs less than $200 here to file the paperwork and change your name here. You might check your divorce papers, as there is a place where if you filled in your maiden name, you may have already legally set the name forth

I found it quite rewarding, and personally enlightening to be my own person once again