- 1). Ask your ex-spouse if keeping your name will cause any legal problems. In the state of New York, name change is not a mandatory part of divorce. Because of this, legal problems due to someone keeping their married name are rare.
- 2). Determine if keeping your name will cause any confusion. It is unlikely that your friends and family will be confused by you keeping your name. However, if your spouse intends to remarry, it may lead to confusion when you are forced to interact.
- 3). Visit a New York branch of your bank with your ex-husband and close any joint accounts. If you keep your name, the accounts may still be active.
- 4). Check your driver's license to determine if it displays your married name. If not, visit the New York Department of Motor Vehicles with an alternative photo ID and proof of name change, such as your marriage license. Fill out form MV-44 to change the name on your license, or form MV-82 to change the name on the registration.
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