diff --git a/commit-config/hooks/formatHeader.py b/commit-config/hooks/formatHeader.py
index 413a304..8c303f9 100755
--- a/commit-config/hooks/formatHeader.py
+++ b/commit-config/hooks/formatHeader.py
@@ -1,23 +1,3 @@
-""" ***********************************************************************
-#
-#   Copyright (C) 2025 -- The 4D-STAR Collaboration
-#   File Author: Emily Boudreaux
-#   Last Modified: March 17, 2025
-#
-#   4DSSE is free software; you can use it and/or modify
-#   it under the terms and restrictions the GNU General Library Public
-#   License version 3 (GPLv3) as published by the Free Software Foundation.
-#
-#   4DSSE is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-#   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-#   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
-#   See the GNU Library General Public License for more details.
-#
-#   You should have received a copy of the GNU Library General Public License
-#   along with this software; if not, write to the Free Software
-#   Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
-#
-# *********************************************************************** """
 from git import Repo
 import datetime
 import os
@@ -103,6 +83,26 @@ def make_header(authors, date, filename, projectName):
     authorsString = ', '.join(authors)
     bs, be, c = select_comment_chars(filename)
 
+    defaultHeader = f"""{bs} ***********************************************************************
+{c}
+{c}   Copyright (C) {date.year} -- The 4D-STAR Collaboration
+{c}   File Author{authorSuffix}: {authorsString}
+{c}   Last Modified: {date.date().strftime("%B %d, %Y")}
+{c}
+{c}   {projectName} is free software; you can use it and/or modify
+{c}   it under the terms and restrictions the GNU General Library Public
+{c}   License version 3 (GPLv3) as published by the Free Software Foundation.
+{c}
+{c}   {projectName} is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+{c}   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+{c}   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+{c}   See the GNU Library General Public License for more details.
+{c}
+{c}   You should have received a copy of the GNU Library General Public License
+{c}   along with this software; if not, write to the Free Software
+{c}   Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
+{c}
+{c} *********************************************************************** {be}\n"""
 
     return defaultHeader