How long do you have to wait before you can change documents? Also srs?

[Shawn Sunshine]

I was looking for something specific to California if there was anything .
How long do I legally have to wait before I can change my social security, drivers license and birth certificate to female?
Who is the one who will approve those changes anyways? Is it my Psychologist Doctor?

Also how long must I legally wait to get a letter that says i can have srs surgery in California? Or any state in the U.S.

Am i required to have srs in certain states before i can change my name and sex marker?

[Isabelle]

I can't answer your questions about the specifics of US laws cause I don't live in the states, but I am pretty sure there are still states where you need to have genital surgery to change your marker. As for the "legal" wait for your letters, there technically isn't a minimum, it's about when you're psychologically, socially and physically ready to have the surgery. I honestly don't think srs is something you want to be rushing towards. Based on your earlier posts I think you would agree when I say, you have a long road ahead. Your first step should be therapy. You've mentioned you suffer from a Bi-polar disorder. I remember it was only a few months ago you told us all that your thrown all your clothes away and moved away from San fransico. I don't think you should be even considering surgery yet.

[Shawn Sunshine]

I am not, i just wanted to be clear cause My doctor said It would be 2 years living as female before i could change my name and sex marker, and have  a letter approving srs.

[Annah]

For the name change you must see how your state handles that. It's different everywhere. All requires a court fee, newspaper fee, prints, etc. My name change was 550 dollars total.

When you get your name change, then you must call Social Security to get your cards reprinted to your new legal name. Plus, you must do that application for their filing purposes.

The gender marker must be done by a written letter from either your primary care physician or your therapist. In the US you do not need SRS to change your gender marker on your license. Their rules are different based on their client.

I got my gender marker letter at the first therapy session because I was doing RLE wayyy before I started seeing a therapist officially. I went in to see her...she knew I wasn't crazy and she set me up.  About 4 or so more months I had my SRS letters.

After SRS you have your SRS surgeon file their statement from your birth state to change the gender marker on your birth certificate. Ohio and Tennessee currently will not allow you to change your gender marker.

[Shawn Sunshine]

4 months to get srs letters really? Well she told me I had to wait 2 years and, then see an additional psychologist who will do a review to determine if i can get srs/grs. So what are the laws in California then, how long do I have to wait before i can get a letter saying i can get srs.

[Annah]

4 months to get srs letters really? Well she told me I had to wait 2 years and, then see an additional psychologist who will do a review to determine if i can get srs/grs. So what are the laws in California then, how long do I have to wait before i can get a letter saying i can get srs.

srs letters are completely up to the interaction of the client and the therapist.

I think me being in RLE before I even went to her and pastoring a church, working at Barnes and Noble and going to Seminary as Annah told her enough i was ready.

Everyone is completely different....it almost always involves the therapy guidelines for each client.

There are no SRS laws in California or in the US when it comes to the timeframe. That's up to your therapist.

My secondary letter came the same day I got the letter from my main therapist. I walked across the hall and the other therapist typed it up.

[Shawn Sunshine]

Well I suppose its not a big deal at this point anyways, I can't even pay for that procedure. I can only hope for 2 things. Either i can get accepted to U.C. Berkeley and they pay for it if your a student. Or now I understand The City of San Francisco is starting to pay for these if you have Medi Cal.

[Annah]

yeah. SRS is never a race. I get really nervous when someone transitions and then wants to take the NASCAR approach to SRS. I'm happy that many therapists can see that in people...also why I support the idea that a Therapist should be consulted prior to SRS.

Take it at your pace. It's the best way

[Tristan]

it depends on who you see. for some you don't have to wait the one year for srs or the 3 months for the hormones. if your doctors go by the book then yes. but if you see your FP doctor like I did its like light speed. he knew me for 8 years so he was like,"yeah your a girl hears your estrogen" and 6 months later srs