Okay. Maybe I'm naive. In 1984, I had my name legally changed. I'm FTM. I went to a lawyer, went to court, and as far as I knew the name change was approved. My lawyer came out handed me the documentation and I proceeded to have my driver's liscense, school records, social security card and college records and other related things changed. I paid taxes under that name. This was done with that documentation. I did not have my name changed on my birth certificate, because this was way pre- 911 and at the time I was in no hurry for that part. I lost the documentation in a move. Now I can't find the lawyer who did the name change and the court house tells me that the name change was struck and not valid on November 4, 1984. No one notified me. No one told me anything. So I've gone 25 years thinking that Philip was my legal name only to find out that it wasn't. To do the whole thing over again is, around here, exhorbatant. Not that that's a deterant for me. I would just have to save the money. In hunting around for resources, I find that the judges here are discrimanatory and it is difficult for a trans person to get a name change. I thought that over the years, the discrimination would have got better, but like I said, obviously I'm just naive. I can't seem to find a support group in this town. There is one, but I can't seem to get access to it. I think I'm just frustrated at the moment. This is not meant to be a rant, I just needed someplace to talk about it. My middle name is a male name ( family name )which I was using before I thought I had a legal male first name.
This is just weird.
