Name changes

[Sarah V Warsaw]

Hey everyone how long did you wait to legally change your name to your new name? I am hoping to change it at the one year mark of being on hormones

[Muffinheart]

That'll depend on where you live.
In Canada, it took me about 3 weeks, and all I had to do was mail in the form with $135. The form took two seconds to sign by an official at city hall.

I think, could be wrong, but some US states make it tough by having to post in the newspaper about intent to change name? And I think some states get lawyers and/or judges involved. I could be wrong.

[Mariah]

My name change was done less than 2 weeks after going full time which was almost 2 months before I started hormones. As far as I know there wasn't any set rules by the court regarding when here as far as your transition is concerned. It's matter of you being ready. I would recommend doing it near the point of when you go full time. My birth name was unisex so I had a little leeway.
Mariah

[LordKAT]

I changed mine before my first therapist appointment or anything else. It was the first 'real' step I took.

[Eva Marie]

My name change and my coming out at work were tied together - when I did one of them I'd also have to do the other one. My appearance changes were getting hard to hide and I had no reason to wait any longer so it began with filing the paperwork at the courthouse. I live in California and by law I had to wait six weeks after I filed the paperwork before my court date. While I was waiting I informed HR and upper management at work, bought wardrobe items I needed, and had my eyebrows waxed. I had the name change on a Monday morning, went to the DMV immediately after, and came to work legally as Eva on the following Wednesday and had my name changed in my employee records. Then began the long process of changing my name everywhere else which is still going on today.

[ImagineKate]

I am going to file for mine when I return from Korea in the summer. I plan to go full time (at work) a couple of weeks before I depart.

I don't want to screw up my travel plans with a name change and I don't know how long my particular court house will take. 

I started therapy mid October and HRT officially 12/1/14

[StrykerXIII]

I still haven't settled 100% on a new name yet, so it's definitely going to be a while.

[Sydney_NYC]

I filed for my name change petition 2-3 weeks after going full time. It took about 2 1/2 months from the time I filed it, then approved, to getting my new Driver License with my correct name and gender in NJ.

[ImagineKate]

That's my plan. Well not by choice. Just don't want to screw up my travel plans.