The decision to change your last name after a divorce is one that is unique to each person. There is no right or wrong answer. The Arkansas court will allow you to do so as part of divorce if you would like, or you can do it later if that is what you decide. You may want to take time to consider how this will impact you.
Glamour explains that many people struggle with changing their last name after a divorce because of the consequences of doing so. For some, they have already established themselves professionally with their married name, so the idea of changing it might impact their career. Others worry about how it will affect their children when they have a different last name.
You should consider your motivation to change your name. Perhaps your marriage was not very good and a name change can help you to regain your independence and freedom from the marriage. Maybe you feel going back to your maiden name is a way to recapture identity as a single person.
You should also think about the benefits of keeping your last name. You may like it better than your maiden name, or you may feel it is too much of a hassle to go through the process of changing your name. Keep in mind that you will have to change your name on all your important documents, such as your driver’s license and social security card, so there is a cost to the process.
Regardless, this is your decision to make, and you should do what feels right for you. This information is for education and is not legal advice.
