When a couple decides to end their marriage there are many details that the couple must work out in order to move on with their lives. The couple must make decisions about property division and child custody among others. They must set up two separate households and learn to live on one income. For Florida couples going through a divorce, these decisions can be overwhelming and lead to disputes.
Without the right help, people may not fully realize all of the decisions that need to be made during a divorce and some can get pushed to the back of their minds. One decision that can be forgotten is whether a woman wants to change her name back to her maiden name.
However, forgetting about, or choosing not to deal with, a name change during a divorce can be a costly mistake. If a woman wants to change her name after a divorce, in Florida the fee is $400. Over the last 10 years, this fee has doubled in price and is likely to rise in the future. But, if a women deals with a name change during the divorce proceedings, then there is no extra charge.
Women also have the option of paying a $50 to ask the court to reopen a divorce to settle a name change, but the decision to reopen the case is up to the judge. If the judge denies the request, the women will likely need to pay the $400.
Despite the cost of changing a person's name following a divorce, no one should rush into the decision just because a divorce is coming to a close. People should carefully consider this divorce issue along with the others and make a decision that is going to serve them for years to come. If people are not ready to change their name, they should wait and know that they have the option to do so in the future.
Source: Orlando Sentinel, "Women can regain maiden name free in divorce - or pay $400 if they wait," Amy Pavuk, Feb. 2, 2013
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