hey guys i wonder did u changed your name through the court with a lawyer or without lawyer? i noticed some transgender people do that.

Hi, here is the information on name changes from our Wiki. It seems pretty straightforward. Hope this helps, hugs, Devlyn

https://www.susans.org/wiki/Name_change

I did not use a lawyer. I filled out a form and handed them money. I saw a judge the next day.  A lawyer would have been overkill - but I live in the pacific NW, so maybe in other areas a lawyer could be helpful if the judge is difficult. Probably still unnecessary until that unlikely scenario happens though.

Didn't need one in my state. Fill out form, pay money, get court date, meet with judge.  Done.


Jay

I looked at the forms for a few states, and it seems pretty straight forward. An attorney will easily charge you $100+ just to fill out the forms, and then charge you easily $200+ an hour just to go to the court with you.

ok thank guys it will be helpful for me to do done with name change soon hopefullly.

If you are worried about filling out the form(s) incorrectly, see if you can line up a few minutes with a free facilitator through your local system.

Bought the papers, filled them out, went to the Justice Center, paid my fees, set up a court date and was in circuit court the next day. No lawyer. Actually, a lawyer saw me at the Justice center and said "WHAT NO LAWYER!? I can be your lawyer" and we both had a laugh. No lawyer necessary.

in my county all you need to do is fill out some paperwork pay some money and file it. you never have to see a judge or need a lawyer. unless its denied and they you need to appeal that decision.

In CA, I have heard that some guys get stuck when filling out the paperwork. Maybe my state has especially confusing forms? Anyway, I heard through the trans grapevine about a guy who supposedly did his forms incorrectly and had to start over again--I heard that AT the court date, he found out that he had incorrect paperwork. I don't know the guy, so maybe it is urban legend. But I will say this: the divorce paperwork I filled out was nasty, so I wouldn't be surprised to hear that the name change has some pitfalls as well.

Ajayjo, what state are you from? I've found a few state-specific trans websites that goes through step-by-step how to do the name change for that particular state (here's the RI site for an example: http://www.tginetwork.org/resources/documentation-changes ). If you have any trouble with the forms, try going to a local transgroup and seeing if anyone there has done a name change in your state and ask them how it was. I've heard from some other people that the most confusing part can be figuring out what newspapers you need to publish a notice in, or what court to go to, not so much the forms.

Quote from: Arch on March 23, 2013, 01:59:46 PM
In CA, I have heard that some guys get stuck when filling out the paperwork. Maybe my state has especially confusing forms? Anyway, I heard through the trans grapevine about a guy who supposedly did his forms incorrectly and had to start over again--I heard that AT the court date, he found out that he had incorrect paperwork. I don't know the guy, so maybe it is urban legend. But I will say this: the divorce paperwork I filled out was nasty, so I wouldn't be surprised to hear that the name change has some pitfalls as well.

I haven't seen the CA forms, but the RI ones are really straight forward: http://sos.ri.gov/documents/probate/PC8.1.pdf

Here's a CA site that says how to do the name change along with the forms to use: http://www.lgbt.ucla.edu/transresources.html#Legal I just now looked over the CA forms, and they seem pretty easy (though maybe that's just because I basically spend my whole day at work filling out forms  ), very straightforward. I could perhaps see the last form (CM-010) as confusing some, because there's a lot of options of boxes to choose from and some might not realize that some parts of the form you don't need to fill out.  Though, what I would probably do (if I didn't ask someone who's trans and already changed their name for help) I'd just leave part of it blank and then go to a court and ask the clerk for help sometime well before my hearing date. They're not allowed to give legal advice, but most clerks are really helpful at telling you what forms you need to use and what parts of the forms you need to fill out. The worst they can say is "I can't help you".

Of course, if in doubt get a lawyer. 

I have heard that in states like Texas that it might be required. Many states it is quite easy (though rarely cheap). LOTS of people change their names for many sorts of reasons.

--Jay

I didn't need a lawyer.

FWIW, I would not recommend getting forms from anywhere other than your county courthouse. I did that, only to find out the form was not acceptable by the court. Not a lot of money wasted, but could have bought half a packer with it.

Anyone can get their name changed in the USA without an attorney.  A lot of states have free legal advice help stations and have the required paperwork on line at their court website.

I changed my name in MN ... but I am an attorney... my son changed his name in KS without an attorney & he didn't even ask me for help ... my wife got her name changed in Oklahoma without an attorney.  It's just a matter of filling out the paperwork.

I have helped several folks on this website with the paperwork -- I am more than wiling to answer any questions you have about it in a PM