SESSION OF 2021
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2098
As Recommended by House Committee on
Judiciary

Brief*
HB 2098 would amend law governing name changes
during a divorce to allow the court to change a spouse’s
name to a name other than the spouse’s maiden name or
former name and to give the court jurisdiction to make such a
change at or after the time the decree of divorce becomes
final.
[Note: Currently, the statute allows the court to order the
restoration of the spouse’s maiden or former name.]

Background
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on
Judiciary at the request of Representative Highberger on
behalf of Judge Sally Pokorny.
House Committee on Judiciary
In the House Committee hearing on February 4, 2021, a
representative of the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and
Domestic Violence testified as a proponent of the bill, stating
that the bill would provide a safety measure for victims of
domestic violence.


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*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org
Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, the Office of Judicial Administration
indicates enactment of the bill would not have a fiscal effect
on the operations of the Judicial Branch.
Divorce; name change


2- 2098


Statutes affected:
As introduced: 23-2716