How do I change back to maiden name on passport?

by DD
(Monroe, LA. )

Question: I divorced 14 years ago and I want to change my name back to my maiden name. I do not have a court order. What do I need to do to change the name on my passport?

Answer: An applicant whose maiden surname is restored after a divorce may have the passport written in that surname provided he/she submits the divorce decree or court order so specifying (original or certified copy).

A divorced applicant who does not have a divorce decree or court order that cites the restoration of the maiden name but who uses a maiden surname exclusively may have the passport written in that surname provided he/she submits:

* Three pieces of acceptable identification as listed above;

* Death or Divorce Certificate;

* Evidence of claim to the former name: i.e. marriage certificate, birth certificate, or expired U.S. passport in that name.

To determine which application form you need to complete, click the link below.

Passport Name Change

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Name change to hyphenated name
by: Flo

Question: I recently applied for a hyphenated name change, after my divorce, including the certified divorce decree with my application and today received my new passport exactly the same as my expired one.

I had everything filled out at the passport office, where it was looked over by personnel for processing before mailing out. What happened and how do I get it fixed? All my IDs & SS are in this hyphenated name for over 15 years.

Thank you.

Answer: Hello, Flo. What form did you use for the application?

Revert to maiden name after divorce in UK
by: Anonymous

Question: I married and divorced in the UK where I am still a resident and want to change my US passport to my maiden name. I have a UK divorce decree but it does not state that I have reverted to my maiden name. I have my original birth certificate and my UK marriage certificate which both show my maiden name. Is that enough?

Answer: Your divorce decree should still be acceptable proof of legal name change based on the assumption that you are reverting to your maiden name after it is finalized. You may contact the U.S. Embassy in London or any of the U.S. Consulates in the United Kingdom for your renewal with name change.

Same Name New Passport
by: Anonymous

Question: My daughter's passport with her maiden name expired last year. She never updated it to her married name and now is getting divorced and getting her maiden name restored, however, that is still in the works and we need to get the passport renewed sooner rather than later.

Since the passport is currently in her maiden name and the renewed one is also going to be in her maiden name, what is the correct answer to "Has your name changed"? Yes but no? If she answers yes, it prompts for when but only allows one response, when she needs to include two.

Answer: She may indicate NO since her name will remain the same on her passport.

How to revert to maiden name
by: Anonymous

Question: I just renewed my passport with my maiden and married surname. How can I go back to my maiden which was on an old passport even though we are still married? All my other IDs are in my maiden name. Can I use my old passport and driver's license? I am having a lot of issues linking the old and new names.

Answer: You may submit a new passport as if it's your first time. This must be done in person at a local acceptance facility. Since your IDs are in your maiden name, it should be easy to get your passport issued in that name as well.

Sending Divorce Decree for Name Change
by: Anonymous

Question: Do I have to send my entire divorce decree for a name change or just the page with the raised stamp and the page that has name change?

Answer: Please send the document in its entirety to avoid issues. It will be returned to you in a separate mailing once processing is completed.

Using only maiden name on passport
by: Anonymous

Question: My current passport has my previous married name. I am now remarried and using my maiden name and his last name as my nonhyphenated last name on DL and SS. Can I renew my passport with only my maiden name? Dropping off the second last name?

Answer: Yes, you may.

Divorced and looking for a new passport
by: Anonymous

Question: My girlfriend is now divorced. She has a passport in her married name and a passport card in her birth name. How or what does she need to get a new passport in her birth name?

Answer: She may apply for a passport name change and submit her divorce decree as proof of legal name change.

I need to Revert to my Maiden Name
by: T. Garcia

Question: I married in Mexico & I changed my passport to my Married name but I need to change it back to my maiden name for use at INM in Mexico.

We are still married. Is this possible and what is needed to do so? The only picture ID I have is my passport. I have my birth certificate and my marriage certificate.

Answer: It is possible to revert to your maiden name on your passport. Since you are still married and cannot provide proof of legal name change, you need to submit a new application as if it's your first time to apply.

The challenge may be with your identification documents since you mentioned that your only photo ID is your passport. You need to provide sufficient identification documents bearing your maiden name.

Please submit the following in person at an acceptance facility:

1. Form DS-11
2. Original or certified copy of your birth certificate
3. Government-issued ID bearing your maiden name
4. One new passport photo
5. Payment for fees

Change back to maiden name on passport?
by: Jessica

Question: My passport expired and I would like to change my last name to my maiden name.
The issue I am having is that I was married in Mexico and my documents are in Spanish. Do I need to translate the documents in order to change my maiden name?

Answer: Hi, Jessica. If your passport is in your married name and you want to change it back to your maiden name, you need to submit a divorce decree as proof of legal name change. Documents in a foreign language need to be translated to English by a certified translator. This needs to be submitted with your requirements for renewal with name change:

1. Form DS-82
2. Current passport
3. Original divorce decree
4. One new passport photo
5. Payment for fees

If you cannot provide proof of legal name change, you may submit a new application in person. Please prepare the following:

1. Form DS-11
2. Evidence of U.S. citizenship
3. Proof of identity bearing maiden name
4. One new passport photo
5. Payment for fees

Standard service may take up to 18 weeks to complete. If you request expedited service, processing will take up to 12 weeks. We strongly recommend waiting until your new passport arrives before making any final travel arrangements.

Name change on passport
by: Anonymous

Question: I have a valid US passport which recently was renewed. I'm still married but want to change my name back to my maiden name. I am a naturalized US Citizen, however my Citizenship document has my last name as my first husband's last name who I am divorced from for some time.

I can send my certified birth certificate with my Maiden name on it but other than that nothing else has my maiden name on it. Is this possible?

Answer: It may be a challenge since you do not have any other documents bearing the name you want on your new passport. But it is also not impossible. Please contact the NPIC at 1-877-487-2778 to find out what you need to submit to get this done.

Change of last name
by: Anonymous

Question: I'm not divorced but I want to change my last name back from my husbands name back to my maiden name on my passport. What documents do I need to provide for that?

Answer: If you do not have official name change documents, you may apply for a new passport instead of a passport renewal. The passport will be issued in the name you enter in the form as long as it is supported by either your evidence of U.S. citizenship or proof of identity.

I cannot find my divorce decree
by: Anonymous

Question: Can I submit anything else in place of a divorce decree to revert back to my maiden name while renewing an expired passport? If I send in my original birth certificate, how quickly do I get it back? Seems scary to send off originals.

Thank you!

Answer: If you cannot provide proof of the name change, you may apply for a new passport instead of a renewal.

You will then need to submit your birth certificate (original or certified copy) with the rest of the requirements. It will be returned to you once the process is completed. Routine processing takes 4 to 6 weeks while expedited service takes 2 to 3 weeks.

Documents other than divorce decree
by: Anonymous

Question: Hi. My current passport has my married name on it and expires at the end of this year, I want to go back to my maiden name but my divorce decree does not state anything specifically about a name change. I recently changed back to my original (maiden) name this year with social security and on my drivers license so I have these documents with my maiden name along with my certified birth certificate and even my certified marriage certificate, all of these documents have my original name on them. Will all of these documents, even though my divorce decree has no mention of my name change, be enough to change it on my passport? Please advise on exactly what is needed to accomplish this. Thanks.

Answer: Your divorce decree should suffice as proof of legal name change. While the name change may not be specified in the decree, it is generally assumed that you will revert to your maiden name or previous after a divorce. You may include a statement explaining the situation with your application.

If passport services will need additional documentation, they will contact you with instructions. You may also call customer service at 1-877-487-2778 for advice.

Passport expired, name change
by: Anonymous

Question: It will be perfect if I can send birth certificate and drivers license. However, the form asked if I have ever been issued a US passport and requires the book number etc. The only other option to select is if I have filed a "lost passport" form (this is in the online wizard). How can I omit the expired passport?
Thank you!

Answer: You cannot 'omit' the old passport as you need to fill out the passport application form with true and correct information. Since you have been issued a passport in the past, you must indicate such in the application and provide the needed information, if available. Some applicants actually find it less complicated to complete the form by hand rather than use the online wizard.

If the passport has been expired for more than 5 years, you do not need to submit it with the application. Instead, you can apply for a new passport altogether and submit the following:

1. Form DS-11
2. Evidence of U.S. citizenship (your birth certificate)
3. Proof of identity (driver's license)
4. Photocopy of ID
5. New passport photo
6. Payment for fees

You need to apply in person at a nearby acceptance facility. Routine service takes 6 to 8 weeks to complete. If you need to get them sooner, you need to pay for expedited service to get the passport in 2 to 3 weeks.

Reverting to maiden name after 2 divorces
by: Jessica

Question: My passport expires in 3 weeks. It's still under my first married name. I've been divorced, remarried and divorced again since it was issued and have reverted to my maiden name. Do I need to submit both divorce decrees and the second marriage license in order to change it back to my maiden name or is there a less cumbersome way to file for it?

Answer: You will only need to submit the divorce decree from your first marriage to document legal name change.

Passport expired, name change since then
by: Anonymous

Question: I need to renew my passport; it actually expired over 15 years ago. I will still mail the old passport in, since it seems to be needed. Unfortunately, the passport was in a name from a previous marriage. I have gone back to my maiden name since then. If I mail in my birth certificate and license, which are both my maiden name, will that suffice?

Answer: Yes, your birth certificate and driver's license will suffice as evidence of U.S. citizenship and proof of identity, respectively. You need to submit the original or a certified copy of your birth certificate.

There will be no need to submit your expired passport since you will be applying for a new passport using Form DS-11. Please submit all the requirements in person at a nearby application acceptance facility.

Ms
by: Lucy

Question: Divorced and social security already changed to maiden name and now want to change passport. How do I do it?

Answer: Mail your passport, passport photo and divorce decree to the address on the application form. If your passport was issued less than 12 months ago, use Form Ds-5504. If your passport was issued more than 12 months ago, use Form DS-82 and pay the applicable fee.

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