When I got my name changed my mum introduced me as her son and the solicitor got the documents muddled and she thought I was changing my name from Luke to [birth name] and my mum and I laughed so much ahah, the solicitor thought I was transitioning the other way. It made us laugh. :D
Did any of you have funny name change stuff?
Mine wasn't funny. I was going through a divorce at the time and my spouse's attorney demanded that a clause be added to my name change request. It required me to notify my ex-wife every time I made an address change. The clause went in. My lawyer was very helpful and I did not have to go to court. However, every time that document came out, so did her name. THAT was embarrassing for me to throw her name in the ring. I still care for her immensely and I've felt quite offended every time I've had to drag her name through the muck when people have asked for that document.
Back in 2006/7 when the REAL ID act passed congress, my old home state finally started to change birth certs. Well, not change, but amend. So, now I have an official amended birth certificate and I don't need that old piece of fodder. I do live in California and the state will provide me an official birth certificate without the amended status if I want to jump through a few hoops, but I don't think it's worth it at this point.
Cindi
When I went to the DMV to get my new ID, of the 24 windows I got called to the one where my Dad's childhood friend was working. My old name was (my dad's name) Jr. so it was very easy for him to connect the dots and provided for the most awkward "how's your dad been" conversation ever.
I had the DA's staff all sorts of confused when I filed for my name change. I'm not sure how it works in other states, but in Louisiana, you are basically suing the District Attorney in a civil action.
A background check is required to ensure that you are not "running from a criminal past" etc.
So I had the opportunity to "walk it through", taking the paperwork from one office to the next in person, which sped things up and the whole process took 45 minutes.
While in the DA's office, the clerk called the Sheriff for the background check, while holding my ORIGINAL birth certificate in her hand. The one that shows the wrong name AND gender. ;) She reads off [old name] and spells it, date of birth, Social Security number, and then....WHITE MALE.
There was a pause, then she turned bright red and looked at me, then back at the document, then to me and (while flustered) said "I...um...yes, that is what the document says. Female." She couldn't hang that phone up and give me back the paperwork to usher me into the Assistant DA's little office fast enough!