I have many questions which I will talk to my therapist about on Feb. 10 during my appt. What I am wondering is: When to get the legal name change? I know changing the gender on everything is a much more involved process. Can I change my name legally prior to starting T or shortly after?
Not sure of your current location or legal code but in UK, it is an easy procedure and the timing is a matter of choice. Doing so before therapy would be seen as a sign of your intent though.
The hard part is the bit afterwards when you trawl through your daily life, the financial institutions, tax authorities, medical and dental providers, employer, drivers lisense, TV lisense, voters registration, passport/identity cards..........
I changed everything after a few months on T. It was annoying, yes, and I actually had to travel under my old name while passing as male.
Jay
Whenever floats your boat, dude. It's not illegal to change your name now. The only trick is getting the judge's OK--and I think it really depends on who you get and how much they're bothered by someone changing their name from a female to a male one.
I'd like my name legally changed over by this summer, so I have time to it changed on my school records and have my diploma in the proper name--which may or may not be important to you, since you told me you'll be transitioning during your first job anyways. However, it might be important for jobs that you get later in life.
I'd like to have some congruency of name & identity on my first job (that requires my degree) 'cuz I'll be working with strangers, not family friends. Also, I plan on going to grad school in a few years, so having the name that I give the grad school match my records at the university where I got my Bachelor's would be easier. Change your name at a time that would make your life easiest.
I recently had my name legally changed (US), despite not being on T, and had absolutely no problem with it. Changing it between jobs/stages of life is definitely most convenient. Of course, I'm not even out to anyone and I somehow still managed to convince my mother to pay for it as part of my christmas present... not quite sure how I talked myself around that one. I remember mumbling something about how male names can sometimes be used for girls. Eh, well, maybe she was just tired of hearing me complain about my previous name for almost two decades. And even she agrees that my new name suits me much better.
I'm planning on starting T in the next month or so if finances allow. It will be interesting to see how long it takes her to notice anything. (This is the same woman who took 6+ years to realize that I am, at the very least, a crossdresser. And she bought all my clothes, boxers included. :eusa_wall:)
I changed my name before starting T about 5 months before hand. So I didn't have to use my
old name whilst passing and transitioning..as it only courses confusion..
Legal name change. That's when the miracles started happening. A legal name change is exactly that. You go to a lawyer. You prove you are of age, or your parents go with you. You agree to a writ that you want your name to be *******, the lawyer accepts the name and your money and it is basically done. You will recieve in the mail THE piece of paper you wanted. Legalwise, you must know that you now have an AKA. Even after all this time, I must respond to the aka. DO NOT change your SS #. There is a life after the death of the current you. If you manufactor things, you will go to jail. Keep current SS, add name change. the legalese is, 'not in the attempt to defraud'. You are defrauding no one. The BS with SS is mild, compared with law enforcement. It was easier than I thought. I simply took my name change paper to the local DMV, said I needed a name change on my liscense and prayed. It came back marked male. That was me,a billion years ago. But God was with me. You may encounter more difficulty.
I just mailed all of my paperwork to MN this morning so the Legal name once the fee waiver has been accepted or I have paid the fee, wen to court, and had the judge sign the paper will be Lycus Stephen *last name* ;D
Quote from: Kristian on January 27, 2009, 10:13:09 PM
Legal name change. That's when the miracles started happening. A legal name change is exactly that. You go to a lawyer. You prove you are of age, or your parents go with you. You agree to a writ that you want your name to be *******, the lawyer accepts the name and your money and it is basically done. You will recieve in the mail THE piece of paper you wanted. Legalwise, you must know that you now have an AKA. Even after all this time, I must respond to the aka. DO NOT change your SS #. There is a life after the death of the current you. If you manufactor things, you will go to jail. Keep current SS, add name change. the legalese is, 'not in the attempt to defraud'. You are defrauding no one. The BS with SS is mild, compared with law enforcement. It was easier than I thought. I simply took my name change paper to the local DMV, said I needed a name change on my liscense and prayed. It came back marked male. That was me,a billion years ago. But God was with me. You may encounter more difficulty.
Don't use a lawyer unless you have to in your jurisdiction. Not all lawyers are honest enough to say you don't need a lawyer. Lawyers add cost to a process and if you need one, it's money well spent. If you don't need one, it's money down the drain because the honest ones will tell you you can do it on your own and the dishonest ones will just take your money and do something you could've done yourself. It's not only money gone, but it's money gone to the unscrupulous. Do the research first.
Dennis (honest lawyer - and most are, but you may hit one who isn't)
QuoteDon't use a lawyer unless you have to in your jurisdiction. Not all lawyers are honest enough to say you don't need a lawyer. Lawyers add cost to a process and if you need one, it's money well spent. If you don't need one, it's money down the drain because the honest ones will tell you you can do it on your own and the dishonest ones will just take your money and do something you could've done yourself. It's not only money gone, but it's money gone to the unscrupulous. Do the research first.
And the sleezy ones have slick websites that come up when you google. For $39 (in my state) they'll get you the form (it's free on the state website). For $79 + the state fee they'll file it for you. And those were the cheap sites.
Start at your state website first.
Jay
No one I know who has done it in california has ever had to use a lawyer, all the forms are on line or at the courthouse. Its pretty much the definition of pro forma as far as legal stuff goes.
I don't plan on using a lawyer and I did find all the paperwork online.
That's all you need. Changing a gender marker can be hard, depending on the state, but changing your name is easy.
Yeah, hell I haven't even managed to change my own birth certificate and I'm a lawyer and done all surgeries, been on T, so I'm trying to figure out how to renounce my British birth (although mushy peas and warm beer should be enough to convince me to keep it).
Dennis
Could some American legal type clarify this business with "A/K/A"?
I've heard various people assert that getting a court-ordered name change is only adding an additional alias to your identity, that you are "also known as".
My non-legal mind believes that I am forever dissociated from <old name>. At least that's what I want.
On the other hand, if an old will still had <old name> on it, the courts would probably decide that I was the individual indicated.
In California you have to publish your name change, and of course court records are a matter of public record. Things like criminal records, credit reports and security documents follow you, even with the name change.
I have only been in therapy a few months, and am about to start T therapy, but the first step I took was my name change. I live in a military town in the Pacific Northwest, and was very surprised to find that not only did the judge take great discretion regarding the proceedings, but I was able to fill out the paperwork online. Honestly, it only took 15 minutes to get the Judge's signature and have the sealed copies in my hand.
I considered changing my name as an indicator to myself that I was truly being the man I am. I came away from the courthouse with the greatest sense of pride; and even when laboring through the process of having everything else changed (SSN, banks, DL), I didn't seem to mind as much knowing that the next time I made a change it would be changing the gender identification.
I think changing one's name is probably the most significant thing one can do in the process of becoming. It validates who you truly are by assigning a "name" to that which before-hand has only been a feeling.
Thank you for bearing with me on my first "posting". Apologies for rambling. Obviously I had a lot to say. ;D
Quote from: Dennis on February 13, 2009, 01:15:52 AM
Yeah, hell I haven't even managed to change my own birth certificate and I'm a lawyer and done all surgeries, been on T, so I'm trying to figure out how to renounce my British birth (although mushy peas and warm beer should be enough to convince me to keep it).
Dennis
Had you remained in Britain you would have a new Birth Certificate under the new law of the Gender Recognition Act 2004 ( courtesy of a ruling of the European Court of Human Rights ). Just wondering if you retained British citizenship though because that might be a way for you.........I am merely a Law student and not fully qualified to give legal advice !!
My court date is March 11 for my name change. weeeeeeeeeee ;D ;D ;D ;D :)
Congrats. Lucky bugger. Y'know how bloody long a name change is gonna take in my state?! It takes 2-3 months alone to get the fingerprints on file, and *then* I can get the court date. Yeesh. Your state rocks, and for more things than just name changes.
Do you know if you are re-issued a birth certificate with the proper name on it when you complete the name change? My state will automatically "cross out" the old name and replace it with the new--unless I check a box on the name change form that says I can have my old birth certificate sealed and a new one issued (I definitely checked the box).
Actually, another great state -- CONNECTICUT-- will actually reissue my birth certificate with my new legal name and my "correct" gender with a letter from the surgeon who performs my hysterectomy along with a statement from my therapist that I am in transition.
It is actually one of the things my fiance and I are tremendously glad of. It will make life much easier for her, as she is on active duty.
I just see it as another cosmic affirmation that I am doing exactly what I am truly meant to do and be the person I am truly intended to be (externally and internally).
As far as I know the Birth certificate is a different process and I'll do the name change when I can get the gender change.
Anyone here legally changed their name in NJ? Anyway, there is a question on the form asking what's the reason why you want to change your name. Did you have to tell that you are transexual? or can you just say you don't like your name?
Changing your name is a legal right that the 14th amendment to the constitution has been interpreted as protecting.
The main legal concern is that you are changing your name to fraudulently get out of debts.
Changing from "Billy Bob" to "Betty Sue" (or visa versa) is just your personal choice and has nothing to do with any transsexuality.
The simplest reason to give is "common usage" which means that everybody uses your new name already and you thought that you'd get it officially registered.
If you have a susceptible conscience just make sure that somebody actually addresses you by your new name already.
You could also put down "personal" or that you dislike your old name.
Quote from: Renate on February 26, 2009, 06:19:26 AM
Changing your name is a legal right that the 14th amendment to the constitution has been interpreted as protecting.
The main legal concern is that you are changing your name to fraudulently get out of debts.
Changing from "Billy Bob" to "Betty Sue" (or visa versa) is just your personal choice and has nothing to do with any transsexuality.
The simplest reason to give is "common usage" which means that everybody uses your new name already and you thought that you'd get it officially registered.
If you have a susceptible conscience just make sure that somebody actually addresses you by your new name already.
You could also put down "personal" or that you dislike your old name.
Thanks Renate. I'll just put down that I don't like my current first & middle name and would like to change it to something I like better.
I just put down personal reasons.
The judge at the hearing (private, just me and him) signed everything with no problems, but did mention he didn't think his decree was enough to get my gender marker changed on my DL. Apparently they see it enough that it's pretty obvious when you're going from Jane to John why you're changing your name. But they're opinions don't count; as long as you're following proper procedure you're good.
Jay
Quote from: sneakersjay on February 26, 2009, 09:13:51 AM
The judge at the hearing (private, just me and him)...
Oh, mine was private too. Just the judge, me, a dozen legal hanger-oners, an audience of 100,
4 or 5 armed sheriffs and a dozen guys who decided to show up in orange pyjamas and handcuffs!
:D
Quote from: pong on February 26, 2009, 06:59:26 AM
Thanks Renate. I'll just put down that I don't like my current first & middle name and would like to change it to something I like better.
My mom moved me to NJ during my High School/College Years. I have been amazed at how progressive NJ has been concerning GLBT issues over the past 10 years.
http://smallbusiness.lawyercentral.com/NJ-Transgender-Workplace-Protections-video--12-25845-63.html (http://smallbusiness.lawyercentral.com/NJ-Transgender-Workplace-Protections-video--12-25845-63.html)
http://www.prideatwork.org/page.php?id=410
(http://www.prideatwork.org/page.php?id=410)
http://www.southernvoice.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=13088 (http://www.southernvoice.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=13088)
Personally, I would hope that you would find a way to state you are transgender, or allude to it. (Of course, that is just
my hope.) I found that the more I have spoken the truth out loud, the less frightening I find it to be.
Then again.... well, that's another post.
Quote from: MrMann on February 26, 2009, 11:36:34 AM
My mom moved me to NJ during my High School/College Years. I have been amazed at how progressive NJ has been concerning GLBT issues over the past 10 years.
http://smallbusiness.lawyercentral.com/NJ-Transgender-Workplace-Protections-video--12-25845-63.html (http://smallbusiness.lawyercentral.com/NJ-Transgender-Workplace-Protections-video--12-25845-63.html)
http://www.prideatwork.org/page.php?id=410
(http://www.prideatwork.org/page.php?id=410)
http://www.southernvoice.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=13088 (http://www.southernvoice.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=13088)
Personally, I would hope that you would find a way to state you are transgender, or allude to it. (Of course, that is just my hope.) I found that the more I have spoken the truth out loud, the less frightening I find it to be.
Then again.... well, that's another post.
You are right - the more you're open about something the less frightening to talk about it. but then again, I still want things to be private. But who knows I could still change my mind and put down the real reason (but not liking my current name is actually a real reason too why I want to change it).
Quote from: pong on February 26, 2009, 05:26:35 AM
Anyone here legally changed their name in NJ? Anyway, there is a question on the form asking what's the reason why you want to change your name. Did you have to tell that you are transexual? or can you just say you don't like your name?
Yes, I actually going through the process myself and should be done by late next month. "common usage" is what I put on mine. Nice to see another from NJ.
Quote from: noxdraconis on February 27, 2009, 03:39:21 PM
Yes, I actually going through the process myself and should be done by late next month. "common usage" is what I put on mine. Nice to see another from NJ.
Oh Great! Can you please let me know how it went and what the procedures are? I am actually thinking of doing it next year but I am planning ahead. And yes, it's really nice to see someone from NJ. I thought I was the only one;D.
Sure thing. What I can tell you right now though is that it costs $200 to file, and about $70 for the legal notice that you are forced to put into the newspaper of the judge's choice at least 2 weeks before the court date. I already went once but I did not get my "order of the fixing of the date" in the mail, which says what paper you have to put your notice in and the day you go to court, only a phonecall from the judge's clerk telling me that my case was the next day and asked if I was going to be there, so I have to do it again. No, unfortunately it is not private. But on a side note, the judge called me "sir" the entire time even though he had my application in front of him ;D.
Wow! The judge calling you "sir"! That's wonderful! I know that you have to change your SSN#, your DL, passport etc. Are you going to try to have the gender marker change to M? Oh by the way, how did you contact the newspaper? Is the phone # or address in the "order of the fixing of the date" form? Anyway, I hope you won't mind but can I email you later on if I have questions once I start the process? Thanks again!
Quote from: pong on February 27, 2009, 06:29:16 PM
Wow! The judge calling you "sir"! That's wonderful! I know that you have to change your SSN#, your DL, passport etc. Are you going to try to have the gender marker change to M? Oh by the way, how did you contact the newspaper? Is the phone # or address in the "order of the fixing of the date" form? Anyway, I hope you won't mind but can I email you later on if I have questions once I start the process? Thanks again!
Not changing the marker yet because you need surgery to do that, and I am not that far yet. There is no number or address for the paper on the order, so you have to find it yourself. I personally just walked there because it was only 4 blocks from the court house so I went there the moment that the newly issued order touched my hand.
Feel free to email or pm anytime.
Quote from: noxdraconis on February 27, 2009, 07:03:34 PM
Feel free to email or pm anytime.
Thanks Noxdraconis! I really appreciate the help.
Don't forget about the Financial Waiver Affidavit (https://www.susans.org/wiki/Financial_waiver_affidavit).
If you are poor enough (and can prove it) the county may pick up the court costs and the cost of the newspaper ad.
Quote from: Renate on February 27, 2009, 07:58:38 PM
Don't forget about the Financial Waiver Affidavit (https://www.susans.org/wiki/Financial_waiver_affidavit).
If you are poor enough (and can prove it) the county may pick up the court costs and the cost of the newspaper ad.
Thanks for the info, Renate! Unfortunately (or should I say fortunately? ;D), I don't think I am poor enough to apply for a Financial Waiver Affidavit.
Does anyone know how this works in Canada. (Ontario to be exact). I keep getting directed to an error page through the link on Wiki, and to the same page when I search it through ontario.ca
Thanks for mentioning the dead link, krptcmschfmkr128. It moved on us.
The corrected, correct link is Changing Your Name (Ontario) (http://www.ontario.ca/en/information_bundle/individuals/119596). Corrected again 2/28
They must of moved it again since that link didn't work either.
Wow, they are fast. That link was working today.
Now it's Changing Your Name (Ontario) (http://www.ontario.ca/en/information_bundle/individuals/119596)
That one works! (For now lol)
To get my name changed her I just need to pay $140 dollars and go to an interview with Service Tasmania. Then they decide on how to change it or whether not to. Hopefully they will as I need it bad. Im hanging out for it but they dont like me having numbers in my name. And they wont let me call myself a Princess. It's not fair!
It is done. I have the official name change and have already gotten SS, DMV, and one of my banks changed. :) (don't worry I have a whole list of things I still need to do)
they dont like me having numbers in my name
Yeah, even in California you can not change your name to a number, unless you spell it out, which is kind of weird.
I'm first going to address the AKA part of this discussion. I was in the military as a female. Any VA or gov't things that I have to fill out, I must put my AKA of orginal name in the blank. Any place you have prior records, you have to do the same to find them. That is one of the reasons I got a GED. I graduated high school as a female. Now I just check my legal GED box in my current name. My college is in my current name.
Second; for those of you who want #'s in your name or other silly things (forgive me but it made me mad). TG is a very serious lifetime decision. My name change is 34 yrs old. I am proud of my name and have done some good things in that name. It has been printed in papers, for public events, put on certificates of honor or recognition for civic duties that I performed as my current me. I have married with this name, and the marriage was not a trick, it was as honest as I could be. My wife was proud to carry the name.
The name you choose today, will live with you tomorrow. Male or female, use common sense. You will grow up and be something other than a TG. Use any stage name or screen name that you want; but think carefully about your 'real', rest of your life name.