Can I change my name back after divorce in Ontario?

Yes. After your divorce is final, you have the right to return to your birth name or a name you used before the marriage. In Ontario, you can make this name change by applying through ServiceOntario using your Certificate of Divorce as supporting documentation. You do not need to go through the formal legal name change process that unrelated name changes require — divorce gives you a streamlined pathway.

You will need to update your name with various government and financial institutions after the change: driver's licence, health card, passport, Social Insurance Number, bank accounts, employer records, and so on. Each issuer has its own process, and you will likely need copies of your divorce certificate at each step.

If you want to change to a completely new name (not your pre-marriage name or birth name), you would need to go through the general legal name change process under Ontario's Change of Name Act, which is a separate and more involved application.

Deciding whether and when to change your name is entirely personal — there is no legal obligation to do so after divorce, and many people retain the married name for professional continuity or because their children share that name.