Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transsexual talk => Male to female transsexual talk (MTF) => Topic started by: Dodie on March 06, 2015, 02:04:48 PM

Title: Wow long day to get name change in court!! What an experience.
Post by: Dodie on March 06, 2015, 02:04:48 PM
Ok,
That was boring. :-\  Two hours in court listening to a bunch of dry stuff.
Anyway, just a bunch of dudes mostly in suites looking all serious.. and a few chick lawyers.. in fact one I sat next to and I knew each other from a few years ago on a case her firm worked for me.
When I told her who I was she was like get out of hear.. then promptly made me send pics to the other staff.
Anyway, got 30 certified copies and a new DL.
Had to go the DPS and that took two hours sitting there with a bunch of mostly dudes.....
Toward the end I was really ready to get out of there and an elderly couple sat across from me.. cute couple.
Her hubby said.. who does she look like.. she looks like someone.. his wife said its an actress whats her name.. that she looks like.
Then she said a couple actress names and they could not decide.. then he said.. well you should be an actress you have such a beautiful face.
I mean talk about making my day... I was like..thank you so much....kiddo's. Love you.
When I was paying for my new DL.. I handed the chick my credit card and she was like...is he here???? :)
I was like... I am him...just changed my name,,,
Then after I left I hated my photo on my new DL so I am going to get it re done..
Life... what fun it is!
Dodie :D

Title: Re: Wow long day to get naame change in court!! What an experience.
Post by: Muffinheart on March 06, 2015, 02:09:01 PM

Wow, what an eventful day for you.
Congratulations!

I'm amazed at the hoops they make you go through in the US to change your name.
Title: Re: Wow long day to get naame change in court!! What an experience.
Post by: Damara on March 06, 2015, 02:12:29 PM
Congrats, dear! Gosh! I am approaching this day.. hopefully it's a bit less drawn out than yours! But still what a lovely thing to have it finished, right? :D
Title: Re: Wow long day to get naame change in court!! What an experience.
Post by: jessical on March 06, 2015, 02:17:26 PM
Congratulations!!!  I did the same thing yesterday.  30 certified copies!  I had to pay $25.50 per copy, so I got a lot less than that.
Title: Re: Wow long day to get naame change in court!! What an experience.
Post by: Mariah on March 06, 2015, 02:19:54 PM
The hoops here differ from place to place though. The hardest part of mine was convincing the person who had to notarize the document I need to file to change my name. The picture of me in the ID clearly didn't matchup anymore with everything on and with all the weight I had lost. Since the county I'm in has a small town as the county seat I just to wait for the judge to arrive back from lunch caring his Mcdonald's drink with him. He took one look in my direction and signed the order. I shied back at first when he looked in my direction. Then he went into the court room and the court clerk called me back up I payed the fee to have the name change recorded and got my copies of the order and that was it.
Mariah
Quote from: Muffinheart on March 06, 2015, 02:09:01 PM
Wow, what an eventful day for you.
Congratulations!

I'm amazed at the hoops they make you go through in the US to change your name.
Title: Re: Wow long day to get naame change in court!! What an experience.
Post by: Mariah on March 06, 2015, 02:21:15 PM
Congrats on the eventful day. Sorry your picture didn't turn out, but then I swear they go looking for the worst people to fill that job to ensure the worst possible photo.
Mariah
Quote from: Dodie on March 06, 2015, 02:04:48 PM
Ok,
That was boring. :-\  Two hours in court listening to a bunch of dry stuff.
Anyway, just a bunch of dudes mostly in suites looking all serious.. and a few chick lawyers.. in fact one I sat next to and I knew each other from a few years ago on a case her firm worked for me.
When I told her who I was she was like get out of hear.. then promptly made me send pics to the other staff.
Anyway, got 30 certified copies and a new DL.
Had to go the DPS and that took two hours sitting there with a bunch of mostly dudes.....
Toward the end I was really ready to get out of there and an elderly couple sat across from me.. cute couple.
Her hubby said.. who does she look like.. she looks like someone.. his wife said its an actress whats her name.. that she looks like.
Then she said a couple actress names and they could not decide.. then he said.. well you should be an actress you have such a beautiful face.
I mean talk about making my day... I was like..thank you so much....kiddo's. Love you.
When I was paying for my new DL.. I handed the chick my credit card and she was like...is he here???? :)
I was like... I am him...just changed my name,,,
Then after I left I hated my photo on my new DL so I am going to get it re done..
Life... what fun it is!
Dodie :D
Title: Re: Wow long day to get naame change in court!! What an experience.
Post by: Mariah on March 06, 2015, 02:26:18 PM
Yikes. Why so much per copy. We get the first 5 free, might have been 10, and then it's like 5 dollars per copy after that. When I went back to get more copies and found out I hadn't wrote out the one line on the check and had to go back to Prosser to fix it instead picking the copies up in Kennewick they threw in the other copies I needed for free just for making the trip.
Mariah
Quote from: jessical on March 06, 2015, 02:17:26 PM
Congratulations!!!  I did the same thing yesterday.  30 certified copies!  I had to pay $25.50 per copy, so I got a lot less than that.
Title: Re: Wow long day to get naame change in court!! What an experience.
Post by: Muffinheart on March 06, 2015, 02:27:23 PM
Quote from: Mariah2014 on March 06, 2015, 02:19:54 PM
The hoops here differ from place to place though. The hardest part of mine was convincing the person who had to notarize the document I need to file to change my name. The picture of me in the ID clearly didn't matchup anymore with everything on and with all the weight I had lost. Since the county I'm in has a small town as the county seat I just to wait for the judge to arrive back from lunch caring his Mcdonald's drink with him. He took one look in my direction and signed the order. I shied back at first when he looked in my direction. Then he went into the court room and the court clerk called me back up I payed the fee to have the name change recorded and got my copies of the order and that was it.
Mariah


Ahhh, in Ontario, I had a 10 second - 1 question at City Hall, then popped $135 in the mail. No lawyers, no judges.
Six weeks later had my name changed.
Title: Re: Wow long day to get naame change in court!! What an experience.
Post by: Mariah on March 06, 2015, 02:32:52 PM
Oh wow. Nice it cost me 160 between the two fees here. I should note I could have done it in Kennewick, but you have to wait so many weeks and then it is done in open court as describe by the topic starter. My going to Prosser made it a no wait option and same day at that.
Mariah
Quote from: Muffinheart on March 06, 2015, 02:27:23 PM

Ahhh, in Ontario, I had a 10 second - 1 question at City Hall, then popped $135 in the mail. No lawyers, no judges.
Six weeks later had my name changed.
Title: Re: Wow long day to get name change in court!! What an experience.
Post by: Dodie on March 06, 2015, 02:37:56 PM
Oh so glad to get it over with.. Going to Fleetwood Mac soon and have meet and greet with Mic.. so they require photo ID...
Cutting that close.
Anyway, it cost me 15.50 for Thirty copies but I had to pay other court fee's so my name change cost about 200.00 overall
I am not a heavy drinker.. but Saturday Night I am going to get a little funky and dance the night away to rock and roll... yea!!
Dodie
Title: Re: Wow long day to get naame change in court!! What an experience.
Post by: jessical on March 06, 2015, 02:38:47 PM
Quote from: Mariah2014 on March 06, 2015, 02:26:18 PM
Yikes. Why so much per copy. We get the first 5 free, might have been 10, and then it's like 5 dollars per copy after that. When I went back to get more copies and found out I hadn't wrote out the one line on the check and had to go back to Prosser to fix it instead picking the copies up in Kennewick they threw in the other copies I needed for free just for making the trip.
Mariah

Quote from: jessical on March 06, 2015, 02:17:26 PM
Congratulations!!!  I did the same thing yesterday.  30 certified copies!  I had to pay $25.50 per copy, so I got a lot less than that.

No idea why.  I had to even pay to get the original certified.  But they said if you had the court fees waved, then you could get your original certified at no cost.  But it was San Francisco county, and that means Everything is more expensive!  I posted my experience about it here https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,183290.0.html (https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,183290.0.html)
Title: Re: Wow long day to get name change in court!! What an experience.
Post by: Mariah on March 06, 2015, 02:42:44 PM
Jessica, It's not fair that they charge you so much. I have no doubt the county and possibly state your in play a huge role in that. I have no doubt I would have paid more in King, Snohomish, Spokane, Pierce and possibly Clark counties in this state.
Mariah
Title: Re: Wow long day to get name change in court!! What an experience.
Post by: ainsley on March 06, 2015, 02:50:33 PM
Congrats, Dodie!
So glad you got it done, despite the long day.  I know you feel it was worth it.
I loathe my license photo....  But I love the correct name and gender being on there!  So, I tolerate the photo.
Title: Re: Wow long day to get name change in court!! What an experience.
Post by: jessical on March 06, 2015, 03:06:09 PM
Quote from: Mariah2014 on March 06, 2015, 02:42:44 PM
Jessica, It's not fair that they charge you so much. I have no doubt the county and possibly state your in play a huge role in that. I have no doubt I would have paid more in King, Snohomish, Spokane, Pierce and possibly Clark counties in this state.
Mariah

At least they were not singling out people who did the name/gender change.  It was the standard fee for all certified copies for any civil case.  There was nothing special about the copies as well.  They were photocopies that got two ink stamps, an embossed seal, and a clerk signature.
Title: Re: Wow long day to get name change in court!! What an experience.
Post by: ImagineKate on March 06, 2015, 03:11:45 PM
First of all, congrats!

Quote from: Dodie on March 06, 2015, 02:04:48 PM

Then after I left I hated my photo on my new DL so I am going to get it re done..

Yeah, I get what you mean.

NJ lets you see the picture first and asks you how you like it.

HOWEVER - they DO NOT allow you to smile. I have a "smirk" in mine but I can't have a smile. They say it will throw off the facial recognition software... I wonder what they are using.

Anyway this is a big leap ahead considering not too long ago NJ was giving out laminated licenses and even non photo licenses.

Thankfully I won't have to pay the whole $42.00 (I have motorcycle endorsement, regular class D is $24). Just $11 for a duplicate.
Title: Re: Wow long day to get name change in court!! What an experience.
Post by: Eveline on March 06, 2015, 03:21:19 PM
Congratulations on the name change, Dodie!

Also, I love this part of your story:

Quote from: Dodie on March 06, 2015, 02:04:48 PM
Toward the end I was really ready to get out of there and an elderly couple sat across from me.. cute couple.
Her hubby said.. who does she look like.. she looks like someone.. his wife said its an actress whats her name.. that she looks like.
Then she said a couple actress names and they could not decide.. then he said.. well you should be an actress you have such a beautiful face.

You know you're really passing when... :)
Title: Re: Wow long day to get name change in court!! What an experience.
Post by: Dodie on March 06, 2015, 03:38:33 PM
Quote from: Eveline on March 06, 2015, 03:21:19 PM
Congratulations on the name change, Dodie!

Also, I love this part of your story:

You know you're really passing when... :)

Eveline,
They were so cute... the cute girl sitting next to them was getting a kick out of it too.  Oh, and so fun to get doors opened for you.. that's when you know too..
Sometimes being trans is the wildest fun ride ever.. sure glad I bought a ticket for the journey, but not saying its been easy in any way.. the cost of that ticket was enormous .. ;)
Dodie
Title: Re: Wow long day to get name change in court!! What an experience.
Post by: ImagineKate on March 06, 2015, 04:07:26 PM
I am looking at NJ's fees... have mercy. $15 a copy PLUS the cost of copying...

http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/superior/copies_court_rec.htm#caf
Title: Re: Wow long day to get name change in court!! What an experience.
Post by: katrinaw on March 06, 2015, 04:16:09 PM
Congrats Dodie... Lovely outcome to, I guess a bit of long day  :laugh:
But so worth it and getting the lovely comments from that couple... The day must have just got even better  8)

L Katy
Title: Re: Wow long day to get name change in court!! What an experience.
Post by: Dodie on March 06, 2015, 08:00:57 PM
Hi Katy
I was so tired from getting up early got home and took a long nap
Will celebrate Saturday night for sure
Dodie
Title: Re: Wow long day to get name change in court!! What an experience.
Post by: Beth Andrea on March 06, 2015, 08:13:57 PM
Congrats! Its wonderful to have your id all proper!

FYI, side conversation: Snohomish county WA the court fee is about $120, and I had my hearing 4 days after filing. Judge asked two questions (which are required by WA law), asked if I was certain of the spelling, then signed it and said, "Do not use your previous name ever again. The court clerk will have this ready in about 15 minutes."

We get 3 certified copies, included in the court fee, and I was told most places (bills) will take a regular copy.
Title: Re: Wow long day to get name change in court!! What an experience.
Post by: Sydney_NYC on March 06, 2015, 10:22:52 PM
Quote from: ImagineKate on March 06, 2015, 04:07:26 PM
I am looking at NJ's fees... have mercy. $15 a copy PLUS the cost of copying...

http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/superior/copies_court_rec.htm#caf

I thought the same thing after first reading that. I needed more copies with the seal for my Passport (I had several others that were notarized, but no seal), I called the the Bergen County Courthouse to find out the procedure to get more copies (every county is different). They told me to photocopy the copies received in court (no seal or notarization on those) and take it to the clerk. (I had them scanned in, so I just printed them from my computer.) I had 5 copies to have the seal put on them and they only charge me $5 each for them.
Title: Re: Wow long day to get name change in court!! What an experience.
Post by: katrinaw on March 07, 2015, 05:48:45 AM
Quote from: Dodie on March 06, 2015, 08:00:57 PM
Hi Katy
I was so tired from getting up early got home and took a long nap
Will celebrate Saturday night for sure
Dodie

Go girl  :icon_dance: Hope you have a special night celebrating  :-*

L Katy