Question for those who had children during or after transitioning

[tgchar21]

Recently I've been talking to one of our members (via PM) about how they want the parent's names to be listed on a child's birth certificate (this isn't about whether an individual is listed as mother, father, parent, etc., but whether they put the old vs. new name down). This member thought the nurses meant they wanted his original name no matter what (ETA: unless the original BC is "impounded"), and my personal research indicates otherwise. In most states that does apply if you've only changed your name for marriage-related reasons (here that also means civil unions, other partnerships, etc.) since having a mother list her maiden as opposed to her married last name (which is usually the same as the father's) provides more identifying information; however if you've changed your name for a non-marriage-related reason then that does change the name which would go on a future child's birth certificate in the majority of cases.

For those who have had children during or after their transition process, what's your experience with this? (Please be sure and mention what state your case was in.)

I think the reason for the confusion with the member I've been PMing is his children were born before he legally changed his name (although he had plans to do so but had done nothing official at that point), and although I haven't found much anything official I think most states will not amend another party's (i.e. your child's as opposed to your own) birth certificate due to your name change (except for information that was incorrect at the time the child was born). He probably confused that as to what you'd put down for a child born after you legally changed your name. (If his logic was correct that your name at birth goes down regardless than that means anyone who was adopted as a child, or had a "placeholder" name like "Baby" listed on their original birth certificate, would have to put a name down that they haven't used much if at all in their life.)

Also, what I said in the first paragraph appears to apply to the majority of U.S. States; there are some outliers I noticed (e.g. one wants the mother's name as it is on her birth certificate, which means a legal name change wouldn't change what she'd put down unless her own birth certificate got amended as a result).

[LordKAT]

This member thought the nurses meant they wanted his original name no matter what,

Incorrect.

[tgchar21]

Incorrect.

(I got clarification in a PM after I made this post about what the nurses said, so sorry for the inaccuracy in the OP.)

[monarch]

I am a parent, who has changed my name, but I have no idea whether my child's birth certificate reflects my current name or my previous name.  If I had to guess, I would say my name at the time of my child's birth still appears on my child's birth certificate.  I would be surprised if that were not the case.  The information on my name change petition is only useful for locating my birth certificate not my child's.

The only thing I can think of is I petitioned my name change in the same state where my child was born, and that state does inform the state's registrar of vital statistics.  I guess that means there is an outside chance that my current name is reflected on my child's birth certificate, but I doubt it.

Whenever I need to prove that I am my child's father, I just include a certified copy of my order of name change with my child's original birth certificate.  Now, I may order another copy of my child's birth certificate to see which of my names appear on it.

[tgchar21]

@Monarch: In your case it still probably shows the old name, since it appears you haven't made any requests to change it (I don't think they would automatically update another party's BC, but I could be wrong). I don't see any gender indicators under your username, so are you MTF (you're biologically their "father") or FTM (you were the one to give birth, but act in the father role now)? If the BC would list you in the spot opposite of what would be expected with your (new) name* (unless the name and/or BC's parental designations are gender neutral) and hasn't already been changed I'd just leave it (unless when the child is older they'd prefer your current identity on there) since the BC would still give away your TS status. *e.g. a "mother" named "John Doe" or a "father" named "Jane Doe"

As I said I've seen very little about amending your children's birth certificates when you change your name after their birth (my post was focused on what they put down if you changed your name before they were born, which with a few exceptions like WI a name change not connected to marriage would change what goes on the BC), but you could ask the applicable state if you like. (From what it appears many of them won't do such an amendment, and most probably wouldn't if the child is an adult.)

[monarch]

@tgchar21, I am the biological father, and I am MTF.  Yeah, I am listed as the father on the birth certificate, so a change of name will not obfuscate that fact.  I agree with you that my child's birth certificate probably still has my old name on it.

There has been no effort on my part to modify my child's birth certificate, and I am not too interested anyhow.  I have only been required to present the birth certificate twice since transition.  Once for enrolling my child into school and the other to obtain a passport.  The latter I presented my order of name change, so the Department of State would not wonder why one of the parent's names on the passport application does not appear on the birth certificate.