I'm really happy to have finally gotten my name legally changed. However, I didn't realize how many places have me on file with my old name that I have to go and correct now. Other issue is I got a nice surprise when I tried to change my license from NY to OK. Apparently my NY license has been suspended for I don't even know how long and will cost $403 to fix. Every time I call some place asking about changing my name they act like I'm a crazy girlfriend trying to mess with her boyfriend's accounts. While that's validating in a way looking back, at the time its infuriating. I kind of thought it would just be a switch when the judge signed the paper everything else just changed but so not true. Right now the only thing besides my court order with my name on it is my retired military ID, and that's gonna be the only ID I show right now :angel:
Tell me about it like I don't really have much to change since I don't have much of a history but it's been a pain in the butt so far, thankfully it's all getting resolved soon.
It gets old and gets old quick. I found in the process of updating everything an error on a college transcript. Correcting the error will be easy, but it required my getting a hold of my high school transcript. Problem is the transcript from high school is in my old name and can't be changed since they don't hold a physical copy of it anymore. So now in my mail either today or tomorrow will be a copy of that high school transcript with my old name on it and the envelop to boot. It's irritating, but oh well. Everything I can change though I have. It will be over with be for you know it. I could have changed these awhile ago, but just got around to dealing with them this year. Hugs
Mariah
Changing your name comes with many hassles.
You just have to keep pursuing until everything is changed.
I saw it as a process of jumping through hoops - but it is annoying, bothersome and sometimes humiliating. It's bad enough having to change your name, but when you're dealing with changing gender markers and titles such as Mr/Ms it really becomes a marathon of tedium and frustration.
The only thing I haven't changed is my high school records which may not be worth the bother and my birth certificate. When ever I had the money to do it, I didn't have the time and when I had the time to do it, I didn't have the money. I still have my surgeons letter but as Biber passed away. I am a bit nervous to trust it to the mail as if it gets lost, it would be very hard to replace. I guess I will need to have a talk with the family lawyer and see if she has a judge in her pocket I can use to help get this untangled.
It just takes some time and determination but it can be done fairly quickly. My name and gender change was granted on May 23rd of this year. Right after I left the courthouse I went across the street to the Social Security Administration and had my SS records changed. I went on vacation for a week. Once I had my new SS card I went to the DMV and got my drivers license changed. I also got a new work ID as soon as I got back from vacation which I was able to use to change one of my bank accounts.
It took a couple of weeks to get my new license but once I had that I went to my other bank and got those accounts changed. I have 7 credit card accounts. I went on line and found out what they required to change name/gender on the accounts. Most required a copy of my court order, copy of my drivers license and a written request. All of those accounts have been changed. Some companies made the change with e-mailed records others required me to mail them hard copies of the requested documents.
I went online to find out what was required by my undergraduate and law schools to change my records. A call to the registrars office and I was able to get the name of someone to direct my requests to and by sending a nominal amount of money I am going to get new diplomas.
I contacted my insurance companies and notified them of the change. All my policies now have my new name.
Being licensed as a lawyer in two different states meant that I had to check with two different agencies to find out what I had to do. One just required a hard copy of my court order which I sent the day I got it. One week later I was licensed under my new name and gender. The other required two forms of ID in the old and new names. Once I had my drivers license mailed to me I sent my request to have those records changed via e-mail and two days later I was licensed in that state under my new name and gender.
Once I was done traveling for a few weeks I was ready to apply for my passport and get my frequent flyer accounts changed. Because my passport was the last document I had as ID with my old name I had to wait a few weeks before I was free from travel and could change it and my frequent flyer accounts. I had already looked through the requirements to getting a passport in my new name and gender and had obtained the required doctors letter to submit with my application. On July 8th I walked into the passport acceptance office with my paperwork already completed and was able to have my application accepted and mailed off in less than 20 minutes. I did pay extra for the expedited service but that was because I needed it quickly so that I could get my Global Entry records changed at the Department of Homeland Security. 20 days later I have my new passport and the next day I went to Homeland Security and updated their records with my new name, gender and passport. I had already made application with both American and Southwest to change my frequent flyer accounts and American had changed my records almost immediately. I called Southwest to inquire about my request pending with them. They couldn't find my prior request so I resent it to a specific individual and the next morning that record was changed.
I made a list of all my utility providers and looked up their requirements for changing my accounts. I had to call the gas company, electric company, water and sewer, ATT for phone, internet and TV, cell phone provider and trash company. I notified my landlord and landscaping company. My name and if required gender has been changed with all of those companies.
How was I able to completely change almost all of my records in only 2 months? First, I was determined. Second, I got organized. Third, I was persistent. I made a file folder for each of the things I needed to do. If there was an application that needed to be filled out I downloaded it and filled it out before going to agency. I kept a copy of the instructions in the folder so I could refer to it when I had a question. I scanned and had available in PDF format my court order, my old license, my new license and my new Social Security card so that if I needed to e-mail the company or agency I had the record available. I didn't get bent out of shape when I called different places and they called me sir even after I told them I was calling to change my name and gender. As far as I was concerned they could call me an elephant as long as I got the official record changed to reflect my name and gender. If I didn't hear back in a relatively short period of time I contacted the company to inquire of the status. I just figured, because I am dealing with other human beings, that a percentage of things were going to get screwed up, lost or mishandled and there was going to be follow up required. I was not disappointed and there were a number of follow ups required.
In the end, here I am 2 months after the official name/gender change and he is almost wiped off everything and Jessie is in charge and has everything she needs to work, play, travel, bank and enjoy life. Sure it was a pain for a couple of months and I'm sure there will be occasional flare ups but for the most part. He is gone....it can be done.
The only things not changed are my AAA membership (you have to go to a physical location which I am doing tomorrow), my account with the State Teachers Retirement system (so little money that it hasn't been a priority but I have the application ready to go), my high school diploma (I'm not going to change that because I have my college records) and my birth certificate. I may attempt to get my birth certificate changed based on the California court order changing my gender but since I was born in Colorado and they require a completed surgical procedure I don't know if they will accept the out of state order.
The knowledge that once it's done, it's done for life should hopefully make you feel better about it though ;)
I've begun changing what I can now. Mostly online stuff and store frequent shopper cards. Some stuff I'm just leaving alone such as my secondary school. I won't need a transcript from them in the future and if I do I will just cross that bridge when I reach it.
The major stuff is easy.
No surgery is required in NJ.