Is there a specific "change last name" form? People who are about to finalize a divorce often wonder just how much paperwork they'll have to complete before they can go back to their old lives and maiden names. There's no such thing, in fact, as a "change last name" form, but there are certain steps you need to take.

To accomplish a legal name change following a divorce, you should do the proper planning during your divorce procedure. This means requesting your old name back from the judge, while he or she is processing your case. You cannot legally change your name without official documentation.

How to Change Your Last Name

Request that the judge complete the name change during your divorce procedure, so that you can step back into it when the case is finally over. Once this is done, you'll need to make official copies of this order as proof. You can receive officially certified copies from the court's clerk.

Without this documentation, it's nearly impossible to have your name changed on many important items. Your driver's license, bank account information, and all other critical records can be changed once you have your official documents in hand. Doing this the right way eliminates a lot of hassle and paves the way to quickly and easily reestablishing yourself under your original name.