Sometimes changing your name can be a real B...

[sarahb]

So, I finally had my court hearing last Friday to get my legal name change. As most people report, it was a breeze. Everything was filed with the court as should be, so they just had to call my name (which worked out really well since they used the original last name, which happened to be exactly the same as my current first name ), then they asked for my birth certificate, then said, "Approved!" That's it.

It did cost $76.50 to get 3 copies, but oh well. Next it was on to the fun process of changing my name everywhere...and everywhere is a big place apparently. There's the banks, memberships, credit cards, more banks, etc. So many things to update.

So what's the problem? Well, when I call some of the places, it takes so long for them to understand what's going on. Not only with the fact that it's so confusing for them due to the fact that I pretty much just switched my first and last name around, but also because they don't believe it's me. Now, that's a good thing I guess since it lets me know that I pass over the phone completely now, but one of them actually started getting angry and yelling at me saying, "I asked for YOUR name, not his!"...and by his they meant my old name.

So here I am trying to make them understand that *I* am the person on the account and I'm not transferring the account, I'm just changing the name. But all in all, it's been a wonderful experience being able to finally see my name on my accounts everywhere...and by everywhere I mean the fraction of the places I've managed to update so far I think this is one of the highlights of the whole transition process so far, being able to actually see references to *me* instead of *him*.

~Sarah

[Sarah_Faith]

Im sure it's not only hard sometimes, but always! All the time like! Keep at it. I can't wait to see a bill coming in with my name

I've some against this before, but Sarah seems to be quite a common name among us???

[Janet_Girl]

Sarah,

I understand the problems that you have and will run into.  Lucky for me I only had to go to the bank, otherwise everything was done through e-mail.



Janet

[K8]

I did mine almost all in person or by snail-mail.  I handed out copies of my court document or mailed a letter with a copy.  I had one telephone hassle, so I found the price of a copy and a stamp to be worth it.  Very few places required a court copy - they just accepted a Xerox copy of the court document.  And most places I visited in person just wanted to see the court copy but didn't want to keep it.

The whole process was a huge hassle but surprisingly one of the most thrilling parts of this process.

- Kate

[FairyGirl]

I had such a hard time trying to get the city home inspector to understand that the old male name homeowner was me that I finally just told them "he" had sold me the house, got a quit claim deed transferring ownership to my new name, and had no problems with them after that lol

What I really got tired of was every single one of these places insisting they make a copy of my name change document for their files. I completely understand the important ones, but there were several small accounts I just did not understand why they needed it at all and so didn't even bother. As it turns out, they are just as happy to take Chloe's money as they were <male name's> anyway.

[Bellaon7]

I can't be reading this right, $76.50 for copies?

[Tristan]

hey Sarah happy to hear everything went well except the crazy person on the phone.

[sneakersjay]

I had such a hard time trying to get the city home inspector to understand that the old male name homeowner was me that I finally just told them "he" had sold me the house, got a quit claim deed transferring ownership to my new name, and had no problems with them after that lol.

I've done that too, LOL.  Sometimes it's too much for people to wrap their brains around.


Jay

[K8]

I had to get a quit claim deed, too.  It seemed like a reasonable request to me, but then I'm easy (sometimes ).

- Kate

[sarahb]

I can't be reading this right, $76.50 for copies?

yeah, I think due to the 2009 California budget prices for things like that have gone way up. It was $25.50 per copy and I got three.

K8, I guess I could have just sent everything through the mail, but I'm sometimes an impatient girl and wanted it done asap, lol. I would usually ask for the fax number before anything. Most are able to do it by fax, but some still require snail mail.

FairyGirl, I started off saying something similar to that for one of my accounts but it made even more confusing for them, haha. I actually haven't had the problem of them making photocopies, at least for the places I did in person, they usually just wanted to see the court document and I was good. Some didn't even ask for anything which was kind if a letdown, going through all the trouble to end up not needing it, lol.

~Sarah

[mickie88]

the high cost for the copies is because they are "legal/ court copies" that you can only get at court which means they are as good as the original. hope that explains cost. 

[tekla]

Nah, that might explain whey they are a buck and not 10 cents, but if you think even the best copy in the world costs $25 bucks, boy would I like to be a salesperson when you walk into the store.

It's that the state is broke.  (It's broken too) But really, if the state of California owes you money, you don't get a check now, you get an IOU - a ->-bleeped-<-ing IOU?  (some places will cash it for you for ten cents on the dollar).   They are also increasing the state withholding of income tax a full 10%.  Not that they increased taxes, the Republicans blocked that, no, they are just going to take an extra 10% out.  You can get it back when you file your tax returns - and no doubt get a f*ucking IOU back for the money they took. 

[myles]

I know when I called the cell phone company they put me on hold to make sure my new name was a match on my social security name and number. Then they came back said it matched and changed it. I changed my whole name first, last, middle. I think I paid $5 for each additional copy I needed from the Oregon court system. I am a little surprised how easy it has been with some places but I Guess if the do a SS match all is good.
Andrew

[Syne]

Everyone thought I was taking over my husband's account. LOL. I learned to walk them through things slowly and with logical steps. It took awhile but was worth it. One or two places said, "Oh we had someone in here recently who is doing the same thing..." So a big thank you to the Unknown Transsexual for making my life at least a tiny bit easier.

[Pippa]

In the UK changing your name is easy.   You can do it through a process called deed poll and everyone can call themselves what they wish.  You can also easily change your title from Mr to Mrs or Miss.

What is harder is getting a new birth certificate with your gender status altered.   You have to apply to a gender identity panel and show that you are transgendered, are or have undergone counselling and medical treatment and that you intend to live in your new chosen gender for the rest of you life.   You also have to show that you have lived in your intended geder full time for two years.

For me stage one is initiated and I should soon receive my deed poll documents.   Stage two is a long way off.