When I divorced my wife 9 years ago, she was supposed to take her maiden name. What should I do?

Question

Since the divorce it looks as though she is still using my last name, when the divorce decree said she was to take her maiden name. She has had phones set up in that same last name since then etc... What should I do?

Answer 1

Contact your attorney, and have him/her file a motion with the judge to order her to stop using her married name, and comply with the decree of divorce that requires her to use her maiden name.

Answer 2

I have been divorced 5 years & continue to use my ""married""surname - I was Mrs XYZ longer than I was Miss ABC-- now I would really prefer to not use a title at all - just to be L ABC - but as bureaucracy decrees that we must all be labeled in some way then I choose to be Ms L ABC
so it was just not worth the hassle involved
it is not as though I hate my ex- we just grew apart over time
in the big scheme of things there really are MUCH MORE serious issues to be concerned about than this
in short get on with life & forget this nonsense

Answer 3

I don't think other people appreciate just how irritating it is for a woman to continue using the man's last name, especially if she instigated the divorce. I've seen this done, and it's sheer vindictiveness. A form of emotional abuse. But if her dropping your last name is clearly spelled out in the divorce decree that was hammered out between the lawyers and accepted by the court, she's in violation as surely as if she had violated any of the division of property terms. You can probably force her to stop, and your peace of mind might be worth the legal fees. You might be able to sue her, too.

Answer 4

You married her and maybe she doesn't like her maiden name. And somehow I am bothered by the fact that you are even in contact with her or looking into her since you have been divorced so long. Some would call that stalking.

Answer 5

Nothing... she has a choice. The court says she 'can' take her name back, but she 'can' also keep yours. But why she would want to, I don't know. I got divorced 10 years ago, and wanted to keep my x's name because I wanted to have the same last name as my kids. But, all it took was that first phone call, asking for 'mrs x' .. hahaha.. I was at the social security office the next day. I decided my kids would have to adapt..

Answer 6

I guess that is something you should've put in the Pre nup. HA! You are too funny! I can't believe that even matters to you. My maiden name is Williams. There are thousands of Williams in America. I did not marry to get that name. A name is just a name. It was never a personal possession of yours anyways. Grow up and stop dragging the thing out. Meet someone new.

Answer 7

There is nothing you can do. Just as a woman has the choice to put ANY name she chooses on a childs birth certificate as parentage, when you married and then divorced she has the choice to "keep" her married name. I have been divorced for 27 years (was only married for 3) and still "use" my ex husbands last name.

Answer 8

Why does it matter? It's not like she thinks you're still married. She probably doesn't want to be bothered with the process of changing her name all over again. It's been 9 years. You should stop worrying about what she does by now!

Answer 9

It probably said she "could" take her maiden name back... A decade ago????... and you have nothing better to do than stock her and follow every move to find out what her phone is listed under... were you abusive ?? get a life... didn't you hurt the woman enough when you were married????

Answer 10

if there was an order that she had to take her name, you can take her back to court. you are not responsible for her phone bill or anything since the divorce anyway. i don't think it is worth the trouble to get her in court.