Can I change my name at the time of my divorce?
Many women change their last name when they divorce. Anyone can petition a judge to legally change their name. While you are in the process of getting a divorce, you can make your request for a name change part of your divorce petition.
Changing your name as part of your divorce requires completing the “Divorce” section of a special proceedings form, Application/Notice of Resumption of Former Name, and filing it with the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where you live. There is a fee, which varies from county to county, but is about $100. North Carolina law allows a woman to change her name as part of a divorce to either:
- Her maiden name
- The last name of a deceased husband
- The last name of a former living husband, if she has children who carry that last name.