I have been told if the lawyer puts this in the final papers it is done.. period. I thought about changing back but feel for me it is better i leave it alone for now because of the kids.. will follow this thread and see what the others think.. Good luck and stay cool

The way I look at it, does it really matter how much work it is? If it''s important to you, if you want your birth name back, you'll do it. Separation is work. Divorce is work. If taking your name back is a want or desire, the work will be a pleasure!

I couldn't be happier to have my birth name back. And the transition was so easy I can't even believe it! I actually only wrote out my married name ONE TIME by mistake after I made the change. After almost 24 years with this name, I can't believe how easily I adjusted.

It's who I was. And who I am again. The rest is just paperwork.

Here is a checklist of things/places you'd have to contact to let them know you changed it or have IDs reissued..:

Drivers License
employer (new ID if they require one)
life insurance
passport
social security card
utiliity bills
pensions or retirement plans
dental/medical insurance
frequent flier programs
investments
credit cards
auto insurance
bank accounts
car registration

Good list My3 - looks like alot of work- I was just thinking about it today. I cant stand paperwork- may just leave the name for a while longer.....

Yes, it does look like a long list, and I will have to contemplate this a bit more. I'm also the legal guardian for our son who is disabled.

I have friends who have changed back and friends who haven't.

I had such a difficult time to change my name back to my maiden. First of all the screwball ex spouse i had divorced me from Florida and the court did not mark down on paper that i had the right to take back my name. I had no idea since i was never divorced before. I thought once you divorce you have the right. I went thru hell and high water to change my social security card and license. These were the most difficult for me but i finally did it. Hope you can too

I didn't do it and have no plans to - I like my last name LOL...

I kept my married name. Too much hassle changing all those documents. As an added bonus, I know it irritates the hell out of my ex and the skank ho/now wife~hehehehehehe!

I want my maiden name back. My kids are all grown, they are fine with it. My attorney is aware of this. It's personal preference.

Mine is now "married name- maiden name . When I get the signed final decree I will start changing things at my own pace, it's not like you have to change everything in one afternoon.

I have an aquaintance who had hers changed a few years after the final decree. Said it cost her about $1500. Mine was done with the divorce and it was just the time and energy to change the documents.

I have been told it is easier to do it as part of the divorce. I just cant decide what would be best for me. I have friends who have kept it & others who changed it. One friend, who has even remarried, says as long as she has kids, her name will be the same as her kids. I honestly find myself cringing every time I have to answer to "his" name, say it, or write it on a check or something. I find my beautiful penmanship is great until I write his last name & now I simply scribble it. I have mentioned to my kids i am thinking about changing it back to my maiden name, they didn't seem to mind. I am concerned with my career as throughout I have had his name. There are times I say I have never felt like a "lastname' so why should i keep his name. Then there are other times I want to keep it just to piss off whatever new skank he hooks up with!

I kept my married name as well...I just couldnt be bothered to do it...besides...its who I am....my maiden name seems foreign to me now...Big Hugs...Kathy

I had enough trouble changing the truck and trailer into my married name and getting his name off the registrations. I had to refinance my truck at the bank before the divorce was final. It took all day at the DMV because of a mistake they made.

I have no warm fuzzy memories of my maiden name. A name is just that, a name and I earned that married last name I still use today.