OMG. Getting it changed is the easy part. It's the follow-through that will drive you crazy.
I need to exercise almost daily to lose weight. The court order changing my name was filed on 1/29, and I found out about it two days later. Since then, practically all my free time has been spent notifying companies and organizations I do business with. I haven't exercised in days.
The first order of business is getting a new Social Security card and Driver's License. You have to notify your local assessor and tax collector, and you have to notify the DMV to change the name on your title and registration. If you have bank accounts, you'd better take care of that a.s.a.p. Utilities, credit card companies, store credit accounts ... you'd be surprised to what degree these places aren't prepared for people like us.
I cancelled my Kohl's account. They were too dim to realize that a certified copy of the court order was the gold standard when it comes to proof of name change; they weren't interested in it. They wanted a copy of my driver's license or social security card. I closed the account. After all, I can open another one at the local outlet, without having to risk identity theft.
JCPenney was easy to work with. Sephora was a snap (and very cordial, too, once they realized I was trans). Incidentally, I have nothing but good to say about Sephora. Yes, they're expensive; but they're nice as hell and they know what they're doing. I think they know that trans people are part of their market. My interaction with Ulta was not as pleasant.
My auto insurer misspelled my new name. I sent him an email; then, when I got my updated documents, they were misspelled
in a different way. I sent him another email. He blamed it on someone else, but I'm not sure I believe him.
I have two jobs: a full-time job and a part-time job. My part-time job knows I'm transgender; and, in fact, I've been known there by my female name almost since I started work there, and before it was changed legally. I told them I was having my name changed, so they were expecting it. What my boss didn't realize was: (a) that I was changing my whole name, first, middle and last; and (b) the name she knew me by was my new
middle name, not my new first name. So, when I notified the company -- it's a big company -- of my name change, naturally, they changed my name in the computer by listing my first and last name, neither of which my boss knew. On Wednesday, I got a phone call. "Ann?" "Yes?" "This is Becky." "Hi, Becky." "Are you [new name]?" "Yes, but I go by middle name." "Well, I just terminated you, because I saw this name come up on my list of employees and I had no idea who it was."
Fortunately, she was able to call the company and get things back to normal -- I think.
So, boys and girls, changing your name is easy. The fun doesn't really begin until it's legal. Then, you'd better set some time aside to deal with the nonsense.
