Changing your surname to your maiden name: procedure, deadlines and documents

The process of changing the surname in the passport to the maiden name

What documents must be replaced after a last name change?

Documents for changing your last name

A woman can change her surname to her maiden name both after a divorce and while still married. Regardless of the reason, she needs to contact the authorized body with all the necessary documents and write a corresponding statement.

Is it possible to change your last name after a divorce?

According to Art. 32 of the RF IC, spouses after divorce have the right to change their surname to their premarital name at any time.

A change of surname is possible in any of the following periods:

• When filing for divorce. In this case, the document itself indicates a request for changes indicating a specific name. The review period is 1 month. Based on the results, a certificate of divorce and a certificate of correction of personal data are issued.
• After the divorce process at any time.
• Married. According to the RF IC, adult citizens have the right to independently choose their last name. You can submit a corresponding application at any time; your spouse’s consent is not required. Change of data by one party does not entail similar circumstances for the other.

The surname is corrected at the registry office. If a marriage was concluded on the territory of a foreign state and subsequently dissolved there, citizens of the Russian Federation can apply to Russian registry offices, and when living abroad, to the consulate.

Is it necessary to change my last name?

Clause 2 Art. 32 of the RF IC does not oblige women to change their surname to their maiden name, and if they wish, they can leave their husbands’ details. The latter have no right to interfere.

Common reasons for keeping a surname:

• Reluctance to change documents. After contacting the registry office, you will have to replace most of the documentation.
• Habit. Many girls get used to their husband's last name, and changing it after a divorce is not important for them.

The reason for changing data is often a negative attitude towards the ex-spouse and a reluctance to have an unnecessary reminder of the past.

Possible reasons for changing the surname

Changing the name is possible, but what reasons must there be for the registry office to satisfy the desire to change the data. There are quite a lot of such cases:

• initial full name difficult to pronounce or discordant;
• after a divorce (wedding), I wanted to change my last name to a premarital one or, conversely, take a new, common one;
• it is necessary, for convenience, to return to the same surname as the children from a previous marriage;
• after the death of one of the spouses, I wanted to take a premarital surname or, conversely, a common one, which is borne by children born in marriage;
• there was a desire to have the surname of grandparents, stepfather or guardian - the people who raised the child;
• changing the name to those that are accepted in the applicant’s country: Peter to Peter, Maria to Mary, Alexander to Alex and others;
• there was a desire to change the name given at birth to one more often used in real life or to a pseudonym;
• there was a desire to change my native name to the one received at baptism.

There may be other reasons, which the applicant himself considers compelling. Now that we know what reasons may influence the decision to change personal data, let’s figure out at what age this data can be changed.

The simplest case is when a child at fourteen years old changes data. But data changes are also possible at a younger age. Thus, a ten-year-old child can independently agree to change his data - an application for this is submitted to the guardianship authority.

The same body gives consent to change its data. An important point is that consent to such a change must be from both parents. One application will not even be considered. There is an exception - the father and mother are deprived of their rights. In this case, consent from one will be sufficient.

Second case. One of the parents submits an application wishing to change the child’s surname to his own. The duty of guardianship is to take into account the opinion of the other, but with the same exception clause.

If the mother wanted to change the child’s last name to her own, for example, after a divorce, and the father is categorically against it, this can only be done by a court decision.

Difficulties with common surnames will also arise if the mother got married and took her husband’s surname. The child's original mother's surname remains on the certificate.

To change this data, the mother needs to register the change of surname and then re-register the certificate with all the above requirements. A special case is the adoption of a baby.

When adopting a baby, you need to know some rules for changing his name:

• You can save your child’s personal data;
• Taking into account the moral aspect, at the request of the adoptive parents, the baby can change not only the last name to the data of the adoptive parents, but also the first name and patronymic.

This procedure is quite lengthy and requires the preparation of some documents.

Changing your surname to your maiden name: step-by-step instructions

Let's consider two options for changing data - when filing for divorce and after divorce. In the first case, the procedure looks like this:

1. Spouses submit a joint application on Form No. 10. Below there is Fr. Opposite it you need to enter the data.
2. The application and accompanying documents are submitted to the registry office.
3. A month later, a completed certificate and a certificate of the adjustments made are issued, on the basis of which the rest of the documentation will have to be changed.

If the divorce took place in court, a court decision is issued. It comes into force one month after the announcement of the operative part. The extract is sent by the authority to the registry office independently. A woman has the right to submit an application to change her personal data.

After the divorce process, you must do the following:

1. Prepare a package of documentation and submit everything along with the application to the registry office at the registration address, having previously paid the state fee.
2. Receive a completed certificate of change of surname.

At the final stage, important documents containing old data are changed.

Sample and form of application for change of surname

The application is filled out in accordance with the established form No. 20 and contains the following data:

• Full name, telephone number of the applicant;
• a request for change indicating old and new data;
• current full name;
• date of birth, place of residence;
• nationality and citizenship;
• passport details;
• Family status;
• information about minor children;
• the reason for the changes;
• date and signature.

When filling out, you can use black or blue ink. Design with colored paste, markers or pencils is not acceptable.

Required documents and submission

Along with the application the following is provided:

• Receipt for payment of state duty;
• Passport;
• Divorce certificate;
• Children's birth certificates;
• Applicant's birth certificate.

Applicants have the right to contact the civil registry office at their place of registration. When changing data during a divorce, the application is submitted to the department at the address where the marriage was registered.

Amount of state duty and processing time

Before applying to the registry office, a fee of 1,600 rubles is paid. according to the details of the government agency published on the official website. Money is transferred in any convenient way: Sberbank terminal, Sberbank Online, bank branch cash desk, remotely from a card.

Submitted documents are reviewed for 1 month. Based on the results, the applicant is issued a certificate of change of surname, on the basis of which the documents are changed.

Labor documents

Changes need to be made to papers such as an employment contract and work book, but not to change the entire document. As soon as possible after changing your name, present supporting documents to the employer and write an application. The responsible HR employee will prepare the necessary documents to correctly process your name changes. You also need to change your SNILS (laminated pension certificate) by contacting your employer. If you are not officially employed, then you must independently contact the division of the Pension Fund where you are registered.

Replacement of documents after a last name change

The most important document, which is replaced immediately after receiving the certificate from the registry office, is the passport.
In the future, it is provided to change the rest of the documentation. What is needed to replace each document and where to go:

In all cases, it is necessary to provide applications and receipts confirming the transfer of state duty.

New data is entered into the vehicle title. There is no liability for ignoring requirements to make adjustments to the STS, but it is recommended to provide new data within a month.

Most documents can be ordered remotely through the State Services portal. For the replacement of each of them, a state duty is paid, established by the Tax Code of the Russian Federation, which can be reduced when submitting online applications. Finished materials will have to be picked up in person from the government agencies that produced them.

Documents not required to be replaced

It is not necessary to replace the following documentation:

• OSAGO policy. It is necessary to contact the insurer with an application, and he will enter new information into the old form.
• Property documents. If desired, property owners can make changes to Rosreestr, but this is not necessary. It is still recommended to register the adjustments: if the documents are lost, it will take a long time to prove the ownership of the property.
• Employment history. When changing the surname, the employer is provided with a certificate, on the basis of which he independently enters new data.
• Diplomas and certificates of education. Their authenticity is confirmed by evidence from the registry office.

Confirmation of last name change

As confirmation, a certificate of change of personal data or a certificate issued to a citizen upon application by the civil registry office can be used.

For documents that do not need to be replaced, certificates of registration or divorce are provided as confirmation of their authenticity.

Medical policy

POMS (compulsory health insurance policy) also needs to be changed, otherwise there is a risk of being left without medical care if it is urgently needed. Also, within 1 (one) month after receiving the document on the name change, you must notify the organization that issued the health insurance policy. There you will have to write an application, attach a copy and show the original of the new passport and a certificate confirming your change of name. SNILS and a number of other documents may also be required - only the insurer can provide an exact list. Here, no fee is paid, but the period during which you must change the policy is not fixed. While the document is being reissued, a temporary certificate is usually provided, which can be presented in medical institutions.

Lawyer's answers to frequently asked questions

How and where to get a certificate of change of surname?

The registration of changes in personal data is carried out by the registry office, therefore, you can apply there for a certificate.

Is it possible to change your last name a few years after a divorce?

Yes. There are no time limits. Citizens can take both old and new surnames at their discretion.

Is it possible to keep my husband's last name after a divorce?

Yes, the law does not oblige you to return the girl’s data.

Should I change my last name back to my maiden name?

From a legal point of view, adjusting passport data entails replacing many documents. If you are happy with your ex-husband’s last name and don’t want to waste time and money on the procedure, you can leave the old information.

Is it possible to change the signature due to a change of surname?

Can. The main thing is that the new signature matches that indicated in the passport.

Do I need to change my diploma?

No. The ownership of the diploma is confirmed by certificates from the registry office. If desired, citizens can replace them at their discretion.

Is it possible to change your last name during divorce proceedings?

During legal proceedings, a woman can submit a separate application to change her surname. Personal data and the preservation of marriage have no legal connection.

How to prove your maiden name?

The old surname is proven by a birth certificate or marriage registration. If there are none, you will have to restore the documents through the registry office.

What should I do if my ex-wife, who leads a wild lifestyle, still has my last name, and I don’t want her to bear it?

A man does not have the right to prohibit his ex-wife from using his last name. You can negotiate with her peacefully. There are no grounds for filing a lawsuit in court, since every adult citizen has the right to independently choose and change personal data.

Changing your surname during marriage

One of the options for changing data is changing it after registering a marriage. The entry by the registry office administrator of a change in a person’s data after marriage registration is regulated by federal law.

So, according to the order, the spouses:

• can choose one common surname for both spouses;
• everyone can stay under their “maiden” name.

A common surname cannot be a jumble of a large number of words. Legislators have made minor restrictions on this issue.

A common surname may consist of:

• data of either spouse. In practice, a woman more often takes her husband's name;
• surname combined through a hyphen, husband-wife or wife-husband, but consist of no more than two words.

For example, before marriage the girl was Kopylova-Vovk. When marrying Artemyev, she should become either Artemyeva, or Artemyeva-Kopylova, or Artemyeva-Vovk.

Becoming Artemyeva-Kopylova-Vovk is not permitted by law. The same formulation of the formation of a surname is described in the Family Code.

When spouses divorce, the surname changes in the reverse order. When officially separating, the spouses:

• may remain under the surname of the spouse under whom they lived in marriage;
• return the surname under which they lived before marriage.

The option of changing data to some other surname refers to the general procedure for changing data.

What actions need to be taken?

The steps to change personal data depend on how the divorce was filed:

1. If there is mutual agreement and there are no children, the surname is returned through the registry office by submitting the appropriate application immediately.
2. Termination by court requires, after receiving the decision, to contact the registration authority for further replacement of documents.

The basis for re-registration will be the received court decision, which will indicate what surname the divorced woman will have. If you intend to make changes to your passport, you must be guided by the Regulations of the Federal Migration Service.

From a legal point of view, according to paragraph 2 of Article 19 of the Civil Code, the new name will not affect existing obligations and does not cancel them, obliging them to notify all interested structures about changes in data in personal documents. Most often, the need for notification arises when there are credit obligations, as well as at work.

Application for return of surname

The basis for the change will be the indication of the corresponding request in the application.

The document must include the following information:

• name of the body to which the appeal is addressed (exact name of the civil registry office);
• current personal data (full full name);
• information about birth (date and place), number of the act with the birth registration record;
• nationality and citizenship of the applicant;
• marital status at the time of application, with registration details;
• information about the presence of children under 18 years of age; number, series of certificate);
• number, series of civil passport;
• information about the place of registration;
• the motives that prompted her to change her ex-husband’s surname to her maiden name;
• Attached documents.

At the end of the application, put a personal signature and the date of submission of the application.

What to submit to the registry office?

To consider the admissibility of making changes, the registry office checks the following attached papers:

• identification document (Russian passport);
• certificates for children under 18 years of age born during marriage;
• a certificate establishing what surname the applicant had before marriage;
• a payment document indicating payment of the fee (details are obtained from the civil registry office at the place of filing);

Application to the registry office for divorce and change of surname (by mutual consent) (59.0 KiB, 318 hits)

The technical capabilities of official structures in some constituent entities of the Federation suggest the option of submitting an application remotely. However, a decision is obtained only upon a personal visit to the registration authority. The law allows no more than 1 month to review the application and issue the certificate.

As a rule, requests are not denied, except in cases of submitting an incomplete package or errors in the application.

Depending on the period of application, the basis for changing the surname will be:

• divorce decree;
• in case of later application - a certificate of change in personal data, issued at the registry office.

How to return your maiden name during a divorce through State Services?

The Public Services Portal is an excellent opportunity for every citizen to take necessary actions or receive services without leaving home. Before you begin the procedure for changing your surname to your maiden name after a divorce, please ensure that your account is verified. If this point is met, you can proceed to the sequence of actions:

1. Enter www.gosuslugi.ru into the search bar. Follow the link, the main page of the portal will open, at this stage you have not logged into your personal account. You need to find the corresponding link with the key symbol and follow it.

2. At the second stage, a new window will open in which the system will allow you to enter registration information and enter your account. At the same time, if you previously logged in from the browser, the portal will probably remember the data and will not have to enter it again, you will only need to click the Login button, which is lit in blue.

3. After a few seconds, the portal will load the main page again, but the personal account will already be activated, which means the services will become available. At the top of the portal there is a white search bar; you must enter the desired query into it: “state registration of name change.” You can also find the service manually by searching in the categories located at the bottom of the page.

4. Follow the link provided: “State registration of a change of name for an adult.” It is noteworthy that if you decide to change your child’s information, you can also do this through the portal, but the link will be different. After the transition, a new page will open, which will provide a description of the service, the timing of its provision, categories of recipients, results, cost, procedure and other necessary information. Next to the description the “Get service” button will light up, click on it. Due to the fact that the service is provided by specialized departments, the portal will take you to the required page of the Civil Registry Office. In some regions, the Public Services portal provides the ability to submit an application for the return of a maiden name through it. All this depends on the capabilities of a particular subject of the Russian Federation and city.

5. A new page will open on which you will need to enter information about the applicant, this is personal information, data on registration and dissolution of the union, and the necessary documents as attachments. At the final stage, you need to pay for the service and click the “Get service” button. A notification will appear in your personal account, and then you can track the processing of the request through your personal account. When ready, an SMS notification will be sent to your phone.

The peculiarity of filing an application to return a maiden name after a divorce through the Public Services portal is that this opportunity is not provided in every region. In some it is not there at all, in others it is forwarded to a third-party page, in rare cases the application can be sent through the State Portal.