Legal Question in Family Law in California
After a divorce in California. Does a woman's name automatically return to her maiden name?
1 Answer from Attorneys
No. There is a section on the divorce papers where she can ask to have her maiden name restored. If she makes that request, it will be reflected on the court's final divorce order.
She would then have to take a court-certified copy of the order to agencies like DMV and the US State Department to get her drivers license and passport reissued with her maiden name.
This is especially important when traveling, since TSA won't let passengers board a plane without identification showing the correct name. Until she receives updated documents, she should either use her married name when booking flights or carry a certified copy of the court order restoring her maiden name.