Problem: You are a woman, and when you got divorced, you did not have your former name restored.
Solution: Use one-page form to have your former name restored.
If a party (usually the wife) did not request a former name (which can be either a maiden name or a former married name) at the time of the divorce, she can nonetheless request it later. This is a very simple process in which she fills out the form (FL-395, EX PARTE APPLICATION FOR RESTORATION OF FORMER NAME AFTER ENTRY OF JUDGMENT OR ORDER), has the judge sign it, and she files it with the court clerk. A husband may not request restoration of the wife's former name; only she can make this request. The ex-wife who wants a former name restored does not have to give her ex-husband notice of this as he has no right to object. On the other hand, if he pays her support, he needs to know the name she uses so he can make out the check correctly.