IL divorce lawyerA name change usually follows a significant life change, and divorce certainly qualifies. Changing your name is a very personal decision. While women certainly may keep their married name following divorce, some choose to return to their “maiden” name. A woman who has been married for a significant length of time and may have used her name professionally may decide to keep her married name simply because it is the easiest thing to do.

Others may hesitate to change their last name because this might mean the children will have a different last name, which can get confusing. If a woman’s marriage was filled with contentiousness or even abuse and the divorce is shaping up similarly, she may have little trouble deciding whether to change her name. Whatever decision you make, changing your name is a process that can benefit significantly from speaking to a Will County, IL family law attorney.