Susan's Place Transgender Resources

This is a follow up to my previous post: Changing Name & Gender - Part 1 (name, birth certificate, letter, Soc Security) (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,182542.msg1618733.html#msg1618733)

So today I got my Florida driver's license (with new name and correct gender) and also changed the name on my bank account.

Did I say I got my new license? OMG I got my new license! New license! Yay! :icon_dance:

OK, I got that out my system for the moment. Here are some details:

Florida Drivers License

Last week I made an appointment with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, or FLDHSMV for short (heh), which issues drivers licenses. Because I had an out of state license, the choice of locations was more limited, so it was a 25 minute drive each way. Bleh.

I arrived a little early and the woman at the Information desk did a quick check to be sure I had all the right documents. She didn't bat an eye as she paper-clipped the following to my appointment ticket:

* Florida birth certificate (proof of citizenship) - I used the one with my new name

* Social security card (proof of identity) - whatever name is on the Social security cards goes on your license, period the end

* Court order (proof of name change)

* The first pages of my most recent bank statement and auto insurance bill (proof of residency)

* Treatment letter (proof of gender change)

* California driver's license (proof of, well, already having one)

I only had to wait about 5 minutes and got called to a window. The woman paged through the docs, asked her supervisor a question about the treatment letter, laboriously typed in a bunch of information, and scanned each of the docs and gave them back. This took about 15 minutes.

Then she asked me to stand in front of the blue screen and took the picture before saying "smile", so I look kind of baffled in the photo.

After that I paid the cashier $48, waited a couple of minutes for the license to print, and was out the door!

Having read what others have been through, I was prepared for all sorts of embarrassment, but everyone was polite and professional.

Bank of America

On the way home I thought, "what the heck, I have all the d*mn documents with me, why not get the bank stuff over with" and pulled into a random B of A office.

I ended up waiting for about 20 minutes to see one of the suits in the little offices. He was very polite, and asked for way less documentation than I expected:

* Current debit card

* New driver's license

* Court order for name change

After pecking away for a few minutes, he printed one page for me to sign, and said a new debit card would be mailed shortly (with the same number thank heavens).

I was kind of surprised there wasn't more to it, and he had to sort of shoo me away.  :)

So, that's it for now.

Next steps: back to the FLDHSMV (I love that acronym) to register my vehicle in Florida, and then on to the US Department of State for a new passport...

Quote from: Eveline on February 26, 2015, 05:14:54 PM
Next steps: back to the FLDHSMV (I love that acronym) to register my vehicle in Florida, and then on to the US Department of State for a new passport...

If you are registering an out of state vehicle Florida bends you over on the registration fees - be ready to shell out about $500. Ask me how I know  :-\

Congrats on getting the other stuff done - it is a relief isn't it?  :)

Yes, Eva Marie, such a relief. Especially the license!

I was so freaked out about stuff like maybe getting a traffic ticket, and having to pull out the California license with my old name and pre-transition photo. Ugh. And air travel - well, I just didn't.

So I'll take the bait - when did you move here? What part of Florida are you in?

Thanks so much for these posts, Eveline!  Now that I've moved, I'll be starting this process in Florida next week so your experiences are very helpful.  And congrats!  I'm *so* looking forward to my name and gender change, the wait feels like it's taking forever.

DrummerGirl, that's nice to hear - thank you!

I know this thread is Florida-specific, but I was hoping a few peeps would benefit. :)

Good luck with yours - hope it goes smoothly...