Name Change After Divorce in Hawaii

Changing your name after a divorce in Hawaii is straightforward if you plan for it during the filing process. The easiest path is including the name restoration in your divorce decree — after the judge signs it, the decree serves as your legal name change document. If your decree did not include a name change, you can still petition separately, but it costs more and takes longer.

Including the Name Change in Your Divorce Decree

The simplest approach is requesting name restoration in your original Complaint for Divorce or in the proposed Divorce Decree. When drafting your final decree packet, include a provision that restores your former legal name.

Once the judge signs the decree with this provision, it has the same legal effect as a separate name change court order. You can use the certified divorce decree to begin updating your name with the relevant agencies and account providers.

This costs nothing extra beyond the standard divorce filing fee ($215 or $265).

Updating Your Documents After the Decree

With a certified copy of your signed divorce decree showing the name change provision, update your identity documents in this order:

Social Security Administration — File Form SS-5 with your certified divorce decree at your local SSA office. Your new Social Security card arrives by mail within two to four weeks. Do this first because most other agencies require your updated SSA record.

Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) — If you want to amend your Hawaii birth certificate (if born in Hawaii), contact the DOH Vital Records office. For marriage or other vital records, ask the Department of Health or the relevant agency how to update the record; the decree is proof of the divorce and any name-restoration provision.

Hawaii Driver's License — Visit a county driver licensing office with your certified divorce decree and updated Social Security card. Honolulu County handles this through the City and County of Honolulu satellite city halls.

U.S. Passport — Submit Form DS-5504 (within one year of passport issuance) or DS-82 (for older passports) with your certified divorce decree to the U.S. State Department.

Banks, credit cards, and financial accounts — Each institution has its own process; many accept a certified divorce decree as proof of legal name change, but requirements vary.

Employer and payroll — Update your W-4 and payroll records with HR.

If Your Decree Did Not Include a Name Change

If your divorce is already finalized and the decree does not mention name restoration, a separate name-change process generally proceeds under HRS § 574-5 through the lieutenant governor rather than as a new divorce petition. The statute provides for:

• A $50 filing fee
• Publication of a notice once in a newspaper of general circulation
• Depositing proof of publication with the lieutenant governor within 60 days

Confirm the current procedure and publication cost with the Lieutenant Governor's office. A hearing is not generally required for this statutory name-change process.

This is significantly more expensive and time-consuming than including the name change in the divorce decree. If you are still in the filing process, include the name restoration provision before submitting your final packet.

Name Change for Children

Changing a minor child's last name may be included in the divorce decree if the court finds the change serves the child's best interest; otherwise, a separate proceeding may be required. Courts closely scrutinize these requests and require the applicable consent or best-interest showing.

Planning Ahead

The key takeaway: include the name change in your divorce filings, not after. Adding a single line to the proposed Divorce Decree can avoid the separate $50 filing fee and publication costs of a later name-change process.

The Hawaii Divorce Filing Process Guide covers how to include name restoration language in your decree and walks through the complete post-decree document update sequence.

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