Filed name change today

[Denise]

I filed for a name change today.  It was very interesting both the process, reactions and an impromptu conversation with the judge.

In Indiana the process is pretty straight forward but definitely an issue for being stealth as it involves newspapers.

1) fill out 6 forms in duplicate (but they don't tell you that, I brought three copies anyway)

2) take them to the clerk of the court and they say - you don't need a few of these... oh well.

3) take the "case file" the clerk just created and go to the secretary for the judge to schedule the hearing date and bring the file back.

4) The secretary assigns you a date (Oct 11 at 9:45am) and asked "anything else I can help with?"
   - Yes, I would also like to change my gender marker to which the judge who just happened to be standing there (he's about to retire!!) said make sure that's also posted in the newspaper.  I question him on that stating that I had never seen that but if you insist....

5) head back down to the clerk pay my $162 and head to the newspaper.  (3 postings, in consecutive weeks at least 30 prior to the hearing date)

6) go to the newspaper and ask about the gender text in the ad.  Typically there's standard text that everyone follows that doesn't include anything about Gender.  So we added it by hand.  Paid my $55 and left.
... time to wait until Oct 11.

A few hours later I went looking around at the requirements and found.. ah ha!  you need to post it if you are changing your birth certificate.  I'm not (different jurisdiction).  So a quick call to the paper to scratch the gender stuff and I'm all set.

Now to wait until October and then the fun begins.

[Devlyn]

Nice! Mine was similar both cost and publication-wise. I got a bonus, though. I showed up way early in the morning and was second in line outside the courthouse. There was one guy in front of me and he turned out to be a lawyer, and a gentleman, and he held the door and let me go first. So I fill out my application and go to the waiting room. I'm the first and only person in there. A few minutes later a clerk comes into the waiting room, walks past me and says "Michael?" to the empty waiting room.   

I say, "Yeah, that's me, it's confusing, huh?" 

They do them administratively here, I didn't have to attend a hearing, wasn't even notified when it took place. The court order just showed up in the mail one day.

Hugs, Devlyn

[josie76]

Wow, great news Denise!

I would like to do that someday. Not sure the requirements. I know a doctor has to sign off to get everything done. Social Security, birth certificate, passport, I think drivers licence in IL is similar to what you described.

[Laurie]

I was looking at Washingtom state's birth certificate name and gender change and it looks like among other things I need to have a doctors endorsement to do it.

And it looks like driver's license gender and name changes here in Oregon need a birth certificate to get them done.

Both look like lots of of steps including notices posted before and after etc.  Pain in the tush.

Hugs,
   Laurie

[Devlyn]

I was looking at Washingtom state's birth certificate name and gender change and it looks like among other things I need to have a doctors endorsement to do it.

And it looks like driver's license gender and name changes here in Oregon need a birth certificate to get them done.

Both look like lots of of steps including notices posted before and after etc.  Pain in the tush.

Hugs,
   Laurie

Oh, sure put it on the internet and pretty soon every Washingtom, Washingdick, and Washingharry is going to want to do it. 

[KathyLauren]

Congrats on filing for your name (and gender) change! 

Here in NS, my name change was a simple bureaucratic form-filling, along with some supporting documents.  It has to be published, but they take care of that and it's in a "government gazette", that no one actually reads. 

My gender change requires an amended birth certificate, which, since it is from out of the country, is going to be a royal pain in the butt.  So, for the next couple of years, my drivers license says "Kathleen" and "Male".  Argh!

[Gertrude]

In AZ, I thing it's much the same, but more expensive. Also , if someone has kids and are married, the spouse has to sign some sort of affidavit. After it's done, the SS office is the next step. I have to look into it again, but it's involved. I was born in NY, so changing my BC would be relatively easy. Just file for it with the court order from here. I think would need a psychs letter for the change here too. Now that you've piqued my interest, I'm going to look.


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[Dena]

I am finishing up an Arizona/Wisconsin name/gender birth certificate change and it's not terribly difficult once you get the right forum. The Arizona side didn't require anything other than paper work, and a court visit. I needed the doctors letter for the gender change but I didn't need to publish or provide a doctors letter for the name change.

[Gertrude]

I am finishing up an Arizona/Wisconsin name/gender birth certificate change and it's not terribly difficult once you get the right forum. The Arizona side didn't require anything other than paper work, and a court visit. I needed the doctors letter for the gender change but I didn't need to publish or provide a doctors letter for the name change.

Are you in Maricopa county? As for doctor, is that psychiatrist or some other MD? I know if one is married and with kids, there is other stuff. Did you go to court yet? Let me know what that's like.


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[Dena]

Are you in Maricopa county? As for doctor, is that psychiatrist or some other MD? I know if one is married and with kids, there is other stuff. Did you go to court yet? Let me know what that's like.


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I am a bit south east of you in Maricopa county. I had a theft and they walked off with the safe that contained my birth certificate and my surgical letter. Dr Ley was willing to provide another surgical letter so I was able to alter my gender as well as my name. My court date was June 29th and a bunch of us were herded into a court room where one by one we would show our IDs and answer the judges questions. There were several transgenders along with men and women changing their names for other reasons.

Normally they want to see your birth certificate and drivers license but as the birth certificate was missing, I gave them my draft card and both social security cards as social security was already changed in california.

If you only wish to alter your name, you submit your paperwork, pay the fee of between $300 and $400 then show up for court. The will give you the order in the court room and you will be ready to go.

I am glad I was able to do this all at once because the courts are down town and it's a real pain traveling in that part of town. As for the people in the court, they were easy to work with and didn't judge you.

[StacyRenee]

I'm currently waiting on my name change in NM. Similar rules.  File with the courthouse,  publish two consecutive weeks,  file publication affidavit, wait for judge to sign (no in person hearing), file with the county clerk.  After that I have to mail off a slew of paperwork to NY to get a new birth certificate.  Luckily for me neither NM drivers license nor NY birth certificate requires proof of surgery!

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[Rachel]

Congratulations, PA is similar. 

[Gertrude]

I am a bit south east of you in Maricopa county. I had a theft and they walked off with the safe that contained my birth certificate and my surgical letter. Dr Ley was willing to provide another surgical letter so I was able to alter my gender as well as my name. My court date was June 29th and a bunch of us were herded into a court room where one by one we would show our IDs and answer the judges questions. There were several transgenders along with men and women changing their names for other reasons.

Normally they want to see your birth certificate and drivers license but as the birth certificate was missing, I gave them my draft card and both social security cards as social security was already changed in california.

If you only wish to alter your name, you submit your paperwork, pay the fee of between $300 and $400 then show up for court. The will give you the order in the court room and you will be ready to go.

I am glad I was able to do this all at once because the courts are down town and it's a real pain traveling in that part of town. As for the people in the court, they were easy to work with and didn't judge you.

I thought you were in the west valley. I live in FH. I'm going to look into it again. If I was still in NY, it would probably be easier.


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[Dena]

I thought you were in the west valley. I live in FH. I'm going to look into it again. If I was still in NY, it would probably be easier.


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Ok, I am south west of you. In any case, you need to discover what NY needs from the judge and then ask the judge here to provide it. In my case, I had to have Wisconsin email me a special form that request the name and gender change then the judge puts their stamp on it. The form I needed wasn't on their web site so I needed to request it directly from them.  I can give you all the information you need for the Arizona side but you will have to find out what NY requires.

[StacyRenee]

For anyone that is about to start the legal process,  here's the resource I found that gives all the specifics (may only contain information for the US):
http://www.transequality.org/documents

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