Wyoming Divorce Name Change Checklist

Request name restoration in your divorce settlement agreement, and the judge will include it in your final decree. Your divorce decree then serves as legal proof of your name change for all government agencies and institutions. Start with the Social Security Administration by submitting Form SS-5 with your decree, then update your Wyoming driver's license within 10 days at a WYDOT exam office for $20.

No separate court order is required if your divorce decree includes name restoration language. Wyoming courts routinely include maiden name restoration in divorce decrees upon request. If your decree omits this provision, Wyoming Statutes § 1-25-101 allows a standalone petition requiring 6 months residency, a $120 filing fee, and newspaper publication—a more complex process than including it in the original divorce.

You need 3-5 certified copies of your divorce decree showing the name restoration provision, available from the Clerk of District Court in the county where your divorce was finalized (approximately $1 first page, $0.50 additional pages, $0.50 certification per W.S. § 5-3-206). Additional requirements include a completed SS-5 form for Social Security, your current Wyoming driver's license for surrender at WYDOT, and Form DS-82 or DS-11 for passport updates.

Wyoming name changes through divorce decree cost approximately $50-150 total. Certified decree copies run $5-15 for multiple copies, the driver's license update is $20, Social Security card replacement is free, and passport name changes cost $130-190 depending on processing speed. If you need a separate court petition instead, add $120 filing fee plus $50-100 for required newspaper publication under Wyoming law.

The complete Wyoming name change process typically takes 4-8 weeks after receiving your final divorce decree. Social Security card processing takes 2-4 weeks. Wyoming DOT issues new driver's licenses within approximately 4 weeks after your in-person visit. Passport processing varies from 2-4 weeks (expedited, additional $60 fee) to 6-8 weeks standard. Update Social Security first since WYDOT verifies your new name through SSA before issuing credentials.

No, Wyoming law does not require you to change your name after divorce, even if name restoration was included in your decree. The decree grants you the legal right to resume your former name but does not mandate it. Many people retain their married name for professional continuity or to share a surname with their children. You can change your name years later using your divorce decree as proof.

Child name changes in Wyoming require a separate petition under W.S. § 1-25-101, not the divorce decree itself. Both parents must be notified, and consent from both parents significantly increases approval likelihood. The child must have resided in Wyoming for at least 6 months. Courts evaluate name changes based on the child's best interests, considering factors like age, parental relationships, and reasons for the change. Filing fees are $120 plus publication costs.

Update your Social Security card first—this is mandatory before changing your Wyoming driver's license. Wyoming DOT verifies your name through the Social Security Administration before issuing updated credentials. Visit your local SSA office with Form SS-5 and your divorce decree showing name restoration. The service is free, and your new card arrives in 2-4 weeks. Then visit a Wyoming driver exam office within 10 days of receiving your new Social Security card.