Wow long day to get name change in court!! What an experience.

[Dodie]

Ok,
That was boring.   Two hours in court listening to a bunch of dry stuff.
Anyway, just a bunch of dudes mostly in suites looking all serious.. and a few chick lawyers.. in fact one I sat next to and I knew each other from a few years ago on a case her firm worked for me.
When I told her who I was she was like get out of hear.. then promptly made me send pics to the other staff.
Anyway, got 30 certified copies and a new DL.
Had to go the DPS and that took two hours sitting there with a bunch of mostly dudes.....
Toward the end I was really ready to get out of there and an elderly couple sat across from me.. cute couple.
Her hubby said.. who does she look like.. she looks like someone.. his wife said its an actress whats her name.. that she looks like.
Then she said a couple actress names and they could not decide.. then he said.. well you should be an actress you have such a beautiful face.
I mean talk about making my day... I was like..thank you so much....kiddo's. Love you.
When I was paying for my new DL.. I handed the chick my credit card and she was like...is he here?
I was like... I am him...just changed my name,,,
Then after I left I hated my photo on my new DL so I am going to get it re done..
Life... what fun it is!
Dodie

[Muffinheart]

Wow, what an eventful day for you.
Congratulations!

I'm amazed at the hoops they make you go through in the US to change your name.

[Damara]

Congrats, dear! Gosh! I am approaching this day.. hopefully it's a bit less drawn out than yours! But still what a lovely thing to have it finished, right?

[jessical]

Congratulations!!!  I did the same thing yesterday.  30 certified copies!  I had to pay $25.50 per copy, so I got a lot less than that.

[Mariah]

The hoops here differ from place to place though. The hardest part of mine was convincing the person who had to notarize the document I need to file to change my name. The picture of me in the ID clearly didn't matchup anymore with everything on and with all the weight I had lost. Since the county I'm in has a small town as the county seat I just to wait for the judge to arrive back from lunch caring his Mcdonald's drink with him. He took one look in my direction and signed the order. I shied back at first when he looked in my direction. Then he went into the court room and the court clerk called me back up I payed the fee to have the name change recorded and got my copies of the order and that was it.
Mariah

Wow, what an eventful day for you.
Congratulations!

I'm amazed at the hoops they make you go through in the US to change your name.

[Mariah]

Congrats on the eventful day. Sorry your picture didn't turn out, but then I swear they go looking for the worst people to fill that job to ensure the worst possible photo.
Mariah

Ok,
That was boring.   Two hours in court listening to a bunch of dry stuff.
Anyway, just a bunch of dudes mostly in suites looking all serious.. and a few chick lawyers.. in fact one I sat next to and I knew each other from a few years ago on a case her firm worked for me.
When I told her who I was she was like get out of hear.. then promptly made me send pics to the other staff.
Anyway, got 30 certified copies and a new DL.
Had to go the DPS and that took two hours sitting there with a bunch of mostly dudes.....
Toward the end I was really ready to get out of there and an elderly couple sat across from me.. cute couple.
Her hubby said.. who does she look like.. she looks like someone.. his wife said its an actress whats her name.. that she looks like.
Then she said a couple actress names and they could not decide.. then he said.. well you should be an actress you have such a beautiful face.
I mean talk about making my day... I was like..thank you so much....kiddo's. Love you.
When I was paying for my new DL.. I handed the chick my credit card and she was like...is he here?
I was like... I am him...just changed my name,,,
Then after I left I hated my photo on my new DL so I am going to get it re done..
Life... what fun it is!
Dodie

[Mariah]

Yikes. Why so much per copy. We get the first 5 free, might have been 10, and then it's like 5 dollars per copy after that. When I went back to get more copies and found out I hadn't wrote out the one line on the check and had to go back to Prosser to fix it instead picking the copies up in Kennewick they threw in the other copies I needed for free just for making the trip.
Mariah

Congratulations!!!  I did the same thing yesterday.  30 certified copies!  I had to pay $25.50 per copy, so I got a lot less than that.

[Muffinheart]

The hoops here differ from place to place though. The hardest part of mine was convincing the person who had to notarize the document I need to file to change my name. The picture of me in the ID clearly didn't matchup anymore with everything on and with all the weight I had lost. Since the county I'm in has a small town as the county seat I just to wait for the judge to arrive back from lunch caring his Mcdonald's drink with him. He took one look in my direction and signed the order. I shied back at first when he looked in my direction. Then he went into the court room and the court clerk called me back up I payed the fee to have the name change recorded and got my copies of the order and that was it.
Mariah

Ahhh, in Ontario, I had a 10 second - 1 question at City Hall, then popped $135 in the mail. No lawyers, no judges.
Six weeks later had my name changed.

[Mariah]

Oh wow. Nice it cost me 160 between the two fees here. I should note I could have done it in Kennewick, but you have to wait so many weeks and then it is done in open court as describe by the topic starter. My going to Prosser made it a no wait option and same day at that.
Mariah

Ahhh, in Ontario, I had a 10 second - 1 question at City Hall, then popped $135 in the mail. No lawyers, no judges.
Six weeks later had my name changed.

[Dodie]

Oh so glad to get it over with.. Going to Fleetwood Mac soon and have meet and greet with Mic.. so they require photo ID...
Cutting that close.
Anyway, it cost me 15.50 for Thirty copies but I had to pay other court fee's so my name change cost about 200.00 overall
I am not a heavy drinker.. but Saturday Night I am going to get a little funky and dance the night away to rock and roll... yea!!
Dodie

[jessical]

Yikes. Why so much per copy. We get the first 5 free, might have been 10, and then it's like 5 dollars per copy after that. When I went back to get more copies and found out I hadn't wrote out the one line on the check and had to go back to Prosser to fix it instead picking the copies up in Kennewick they threw in the other copies I needed for free just for making the trip.
Mariah

Congratulations!!!  I did the same thing yesterday.  30 certified copies!  I had to pay $25.50 per copy, so I got a lot less than that.

No idea why.  I had to even pay to get the original certified.  But they said if you had the court fees waved, then you could get your original certified at no cost.  But it was San Francisco county, and that means Everything is more expensive!  I posted my experience about it here https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,183290.0.html

[Mariah]

Jessica, It's not fair that they charge you so much. I have no doubt the county and possibly state your in play a huge role in that. I have no doubt I would have paid more in King, Snohomish, Spokane, Pierce and possibly Clark counties in this state.
Mariah

[ainsley]

Congrats, Dodie!
So glad you got it done, despite the long day.  I know you feel it was worth it.
I loathe my license photo....  But I love the correct name and gender being on there!  So, I tolerate the photo.

[jessical]

Jessica, It's not fair that they charge you so much. I have no doubt the county and possibly state your in play a huge role in that. I have no doubt I would have paid more in King, Snohomish, Spokane, Pierce and possibly Clark counties in this state.
Mariah

At least they were not singling out people who did the name/gender change.  It was the standard fee for all certified copies for any civil case.  There was nothing special about the copies as well.  They were photocopies that got two ink stamps, an embossed seal, and a clerk signature.

[ImagineKate]

First of all, congrats!

Then after I left I hated my photo on my new DL so I am going to get it re done..

Yeah, I get what you mean.

NJ lets you see the picture first and asks you how you like it.

HOWEVER - they DO NOT allow you to smile. I have a "smirk" in mine but I can't have a smile. They say it will throw off the facial recognition software... I wonder what they are using.

Anyway this is a big leap ahead considering not too long ago NJ was giving out laminated licenses and even non photo licenses.

Thankfully I won't have to pay the whole $42.00 (I have motorcycle endorsement, regular class D is $24). Just $11 for a duplicate.

[Eveline]

Congratulations on the name change, Dodie!

Also, I love this part of your story:

Toward the end I was really ready to get out of there and an elderly couple sat across from me.. cute couple.
Her hubby said.. who does she look like.. she looks like someone.. his wife said its an actress whats her name.. that she looks like.
Then she said a couple actress names and they could not decide.. then he said.. well you should be an actress you have such a beautiful face.

You know you're really passing when...

[Dodie]

Congratulations on the name change, Dodie!

Also, I love this part of your story:

You know you're really passing when...

Eveline,
They were so cute... the cute girl sitting next to them was getting a kick out of it too.  Oh, and so fun to get doors opened for you.. that's when you know too..
Sometimes being trans is the wildest fun ride ever.. sure glad I bought a ticket for the journey, but not saying its been easy in any way.. the cost of that ticket was enormous ..
Dodie

[ImagineKate]

I am looking at NJ's fees... have mercy. $15 a copy PLUS the cost of copying...

http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/superior/copies_court_rec.htm#caf

[katrinaw]

Congrats Dodie... Lovely outcome to, I guess a bit of long day 
But so worth it and getting the lovely comments from that couple... The day must have just got even better 

L Katy

[Dodie]

Hi Katy
I was so tired from getting up early got home and took a long nap
Will celebrate Saturday night for sure
Dodie