Q: I was divorced in 2011 and at that time I decided to have my maiden name restored.
On the first page of The Final Judgement on line #7 it says "The wife's former name of () is restored".
Does that mean my name was officially changed at that time? Was I supposed to do anything else to complete the name change in the state of Florida? The reason I'm asking is because I saw that when a person changes their name they must publish the name change in the local newspaper. However, I didn't know that and I did not publish my name in the local paper.
Conversely when I got married in 1996 and took my husband's last name was I also supposed to do the same thing by publishing the name change in the paper. If memory serves I changed my name with the Social Security Administration and the Department of Motor Vehicles but I don't remember what documents were required to do so.
Thank you for your time.
Ms Jennings
A:
Thank you for a very interesting question.
Proceedings for change of name are governed by Florida Statute 68.07. That statute in full can be found here:
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0000-0099/0068/Sections/0068.07.html
The statutes pertaining to dissolution of marriage are found here:
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/0061.html
I see nothing in those statutes which requires publication of the name change in a newspaper. So yes, in my opinion your name changes are good.
A: That order allows you to go get your name changed with the DMV and social security. Once you get your driver's license that is sufficient as proof of your name change for most other places.
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