Note The library cannot tell you what the law means for your situation.
Note Changing a legal name does not automatically update the person's birth certificate, driver's license, Social Security card, or any other records. You must update these documents individually, usually by providing evidence of the legal name change. See the page on Updating Your Documents after a Name Change.
If you're going through divorce, annulment, or declaring a marriage void, you can ask the judge to change your name in the same application. If your request is approved, the court will order the name change when issuing the judgment (as the final divorce decree). This law is in Texas Family Code Chapter 45.
This process only allows you to go back to the name you had before marriage. If you want a different name, you may have to get a separate court order. See our page Name Changes for Adults for more information.
When going through a divorce, you'll need to submit certain required forms. These forms will have a section asking if you want to change your name. There is no separate form to fill out to change your name.
If you're the person filing for divorce, you will be able to request the name change in the original petition for divorce. If your spouse filed for divorce, you will be able to request it in the respondent's original answer or waiver of service. Contact your district clerk's office if you have any questions about required forms.
Because the final divorce decree may contain personal details about you and your spouse, you may not want to use it as proof of your new name. You can ask the court clerk to issue a name change certificate instead. It serves as legal proof of the name change and may come in handy when updating your documents and accounts.
The following articles explain the law and the name change process in more detail.
Note The library cannot tell you what the law means for your situation.