sex change on legal docs

[Hal]

Hi,

has anyone here changed their sex on legal docs? I've been doing some research on this topic and it seems pretty clear that proof of SRS is needed to get a court order-- on SS. I'm not sure about drivers licences though...I've heard of some people simply taking a "gender-appropriate" photo and just completing the corrections form (w/ new sex/name/address)... would that work? Has it worked for anyone? Does it depend on the state? I live in PA. Also, they do not specify what constitutes irreversible SRS for the court order, could it be done even before genital surgery?

any suggestions,

Hal

[fae_reborn]

After I had the court order for name change in hand, I was able to have my gender marker changed (still being pre-op) on both my ss records and driver's license when I went to have the name changed.  I was able to do this because I passed well and kindly asked the clerks to change the gender marker, which they did without batting an eye.  Maybe they thought it was an error?  Maybe they knew and were just being kind to a girl in need?  I'm not sure.  In any event, my ID matches my gender and soon I'll be able to change my birth certificate, and none will be the wiser.

[Kate]

has anyone here changed their sex on legal docs? I've been doing some research on this topic and it seems pretty clear that proof of SRS is needed to get a court order-- on SS. I'm not sure about drivers licences though...I've heard of some people simply taking a "gender-appropriate" photo and just completing the corrections form (w/ new sex/name/address)... would that work? Has it worked for anyone? Does it depend on the state? I live in PA. Also, they do not specify what constitutes irreversible SRS for the court order, could it be done even before genital surgery?

I believe PA wants a letter from your surgeon to change your Birth Certificate and Driver's License sex markers.

And they want a Court Order to change your name on them.

~Kate~

[Sandy]

Changing your gender marker on your SS and other documents varies.

The actual rules from SS state that you must have an affidavit attesting to your gender change.  Yet, when I went to have my name changed, they also changed my gender at the same time with no question since I was obviously presenting as a female.

My Ill drivers license changed my gender marker upon proof that I had an orchiectomy.  My birth cert is being amended to show me as female, but I had to have a notarized affidavit from my surgeon detailing the actual SRS operation.

Changing names and gender vary widely state to state and at the federal level.  Also changing your documentation on your financial and medical documents can be a challenge as well.

But with each change, you become more sure of yourself and your place in society.

I once thought that having to stand up in court and proclaim that I wanted my name changed from a male to a female name would have been humiliating.  But it was one of the most powerful and uplifting moments of my life.

-Sandy

[MaggieB]

I went to the SSA with court order in hand and presenting as female. The clerk had no idea that I was once male. She didn't recognize my old name as male and when I asked her to correct the M marker to F she did it. She said "Your parents must have made a mistake when they filled out your application."  However, another dialog box on her screen came up and it asked for the doctor affidavit information to be entered. She was really taken aback and went to ask a supervisor. She then said that if I got a letter from a doctor stating that I was female, she could enter that and the system would take it. I think she still didn't get it that I was trans.  It seems that the national software for this has been updated to bar anything but the letter.

Maggie

[c4lypso]

I was able to get my DL changed to female when I was 20 I think. I went in to get my motorcycle's learner permit, and the lady was like, "Umm did you know your license has an M on it for gender?" I feigned ignorance. "Oh my I never noticed it before. Thats really embarrassing, I can't believe I didn't notice it. She had to call a supervisor over and they both looked at me and then they changed the Gender Marker on the license. After I passed the learners permit course I left with both licenses walked right over to the SSA office and asked the lady to change my gender marker and I mildly compained about the fact that I had already done this once already. She changed it and badaboom. I still haven't got my BC done, cause the state where I live doesn't recognize orchi's as gender reassignment. Meh. I'm happy.

[Lisbeth]

I went to the SSA with court order in hand and presenting as female. The clerk had no idea that I was once male. She didn't recognize my old name as male and when I asked her to correct the M marker to F she did it. She said "Your parents must have made a mistake when they filled out your application."  However, another dialog box on her screen came up and it asked for the doctor affidavit information to be entered. She was really taken aback and went to ask a supervisor. She then said that if I got a letter from a doctor stating that I was female, she could enter that and the system would take it. I think she still didn't get it that I was trans.  It seems that the national software for this has been updated to bar anything but the letter.

Maggie

I remember when I went to the SSA to get my name changed.  She asked for my SS Card and I hand it over.  "No, I need your Social Security card.  This is your husbands."  LOL

Lisbeth

[fae_reborn]

"No, I need your Social Security card.  This is your husbands."

OMG that's hillarious! 

[Aiden]

LOL was wondering about the Name change process in PA myself lol.  Ironically was talking to the school dean about it.  She said she would get in contact with a transman (well man now) who previously graduated to find out.  Pretty cool.  Had originally come to her to ask what would happen with my Degree if changed my name legally later on.

But yeh she knows, and have found her a good support through my 3 years of college, so trusted her.

[Kate]

LOL was wondering about the Name change process in PA myself lol.

I tried doing it myself in PA. I asked the court how to do it. They said "We can't tell you. Get a lawyer." I asked them for the forms. They said "We don't have them. get a lawyer."

So... I got a lawyer. I did nothing but sign and return a few forms my lawyer sent me, show up with her in court on the appointed day, and of course... pay a heckuva fee. She took care of everything else.

If you can figure out the required steps, you CAN do it I'm sure. But I didn't want to risk anything going wrong.

If I remember, I think it took around 2-3 months from filing to court appearance. I've heard it normally takes longer though.

~Kate~

[tekla]

Try here...

http://www.namechangelaw.com/PA/flc.htm

free form here

http://www.ilrg.com/forms/namechange-adult/us/pa

[MCMCyn]

In New Hampshire, to change my name, I needed a letter from my therapist.

To change my gender marker, I needed a notarized letter from my surgeon.

For some bizarre reason my Social Security gender had changed with my name change, which was 14 months before the actual surgery.

[fae_reborn]

I tried doing it myself in PA. I asked the court how to do it. They said "We can't tell you. Get a lawyer." I asked them for the forms. They said "We don't have them. get a lawyer."

I got the same bs line from my county clerk.  Had to fight with them and the judge for four months before they finally allowed me to change my name.  I did it myself, and consulted once with a lawyer over the phone (she didn't charge me, she's a friend of the family and helped out both my dad and my brother).  I couldn't afford any lawyer anyway at the time, and was able to do it with letters from my therapist and endocrinologist.

I got most of my information from Andrea James' site: http://www.tsroadmap.com/reality/name-change.html

She has a list of state-by-state instructions for name change: http://www.tsroadmap.com/reality/name-change.html#state

[Kate]

I tried doing it myself in PA. I asked the court how to do it. They said "We can't tell you. Get a lawyer." I asked them for the forms. They said "We don't have them. get a lawyer."

I got the same bs line from my county clerk.  Had to fight with them and the judge for four months before they finally allowed me to change my name.

Sorry 'bout that! Yuck! Well don't get me wrong... they had no problems with letting me change my name, they just encouraged me to use a lawyer to have things done properly. In theory, PA courts don't require letters or anything to change to a gender-appropriate name, although I'm guessing some grumpy judges could be a pain about it.

~Kate~

[Hal]

Thanks for all the replies girls,

the thing is I successfully changed my name a few years ago when I became a US citizen, but that was pre-transition. My old name was a foreign one and as such it doesn't SCREAM female, but my new name, however masculine sounding it may be didn't prompt any "accidental" gender changes on paper. So, you're saying I might get lucky...presenting as male, having a male name, and claiming there's been a mistake on my DL. Has anyone tried to submit a DL corrections form for lets say address-change, and changing the gendermarker too, see if they just automatically enter the new info without cross-checking? I'll probably ask a lawyer to help when I go about changing official docs, the extra cost is probably worth the reduced hassle. Any ideas on lawyer costs -- changing only sex marker on SS, DL, citizenship? I'm not sure if I need to change my birth-certificate (from a European country), I don't think I've ever even been asked for it-- I've never even seen mine and not even sure where it is. Any other "foreigners" out there?

Thanks,
Hal

[Kate]

the thing is I successfully changed my name a few years ago when I became a US citizen, but that was pre-transition. My old name was a foreign one and as such it doesn't SCREAM female, but my new name, however masculine sounding it may be didn't prompt any "accidental" gender changes on paper. So, you're saying I might get lucky...presenting as male, having a male name, and claiming there's been a mistake on my DL. Has anyone tried to submit a DL corrections form for lets say address-change, and changing the gendermarker too, see if they just automatically enter the new info without cross-checking? I'll probably ask a lawyer to help when I go about changing official docs, the extra cost is probably worth the reduced hassle. Any ideas on lawyer costs -- changing only sex marker on SS, DL, citizenship? I'm not sure if I need to change my birth-certificate (from a European country), I don't think I've ever even been asked for it-- I've never even seen mine and not even sure where it is. Any other "foreigners" out there?

You won't need a lawyer to change the sex markers on SSA and DL (in PA). You just fill out the proper form, and show them the letter from your surgeon (at the SSA office, and the DL center).

~Kate~

[Hal]

does anyone know what constitutes SRS surgery for such purposes -- I have heard stuff ranging from complete genital surgery, any irreversible gender related surg.(open to interpretation: could be mastectomy, hysto..., could be worded in such a way as to suggest SRS), to simply having irreversible secondary characteristics, like a full beard...

?
thanks Hal