Last month following my birthday was my court date for legal name change.  The process of filing, etc was simple and precise and speedy.  I was very nervous prior to the court date and was second guessing name choice, spelling , etc and fear began to set in after reading countless horror stories of the courtroom  on various forums and blogs.  The day of my appointment I dressed business casual and stood in an empty courtroom with the judge and his clerk at a table.  In less than five minutes I walked out the door after hearing the judge congratulate me while using my new name.  I then took the elevator to another floor to make copies of paperwork and have them filed and then out into the City with new name in hand.  First stop was DMV which new photo and license were obtained after a wait time of maybe 20 minutes.  Granted I had prepared to be there hours and was very surprised how quickly I was seen.  With new id and picture I journeyed to the Social Security building.  Seeing the number of people and lack of empty chairs I thought here is where I'm spending the rest of the day.  Not so, about 30 minutes passed and my number was called.  Actual paperwork/question and answer time was less than 3 minutes and then I was on my way.  The final stop of the day was the bank for new signature cards and checks and that was a relative easy and quick process as well.  What started at 9:15 that morning was complete by 3 pm that afternoon and that's including a celebration lunch.    I'm glad to say there was no drama, no side glances, no giggles, no mumbles, I was treated with dignity and respect and shared jokes with the clerk at the DMV.  What makes this so surprising is that I live in Oklahoma, and it's not a state where it's leaders are the most accepting.  A week later my social security card, bank card, and checks arrived in the mail the same day.  And today while purchasing with the card I was asked to show Id and without hesitation and a smile I handed it ti them because for the first time the name and the pic matched .  I wanted to share this story because we have so much to fear daily and often look for the negative in every situation .  I  also wanted to spread a little positivity and give some back to the universe as it gave me on that magical day. 

Sounds like everything was just easy breezy for you! Great! So happy for you and congratulations dear!

I had my court date last Thursday and the experience was similar.  I was the last case in the morning session so there was nobody in the room except for Court staff and the Judge.  I had an appointment with the DMV in the afternoon, and that was done in 20 minutes.  But they issue a new license by mail in California, and I now only have a paper temp license for about two weeks. 
I have to go to the bank with my wife for new signature cards, but she's not acting too quickly. 

The SS office here told me I need a copy of the new Birth Certificate before they'd take care of my SS number and issue a new card.  This could be a real problem, since I still have to mail my request to the State Vital Records office and they take two weeks to send back a new document.

I'll get all the paperwork done eventually, but it'll take several months and by then my head will be spinning.  There's legal stuff with our Living Will and Trust, home and farm deeds, more banks, my retirement fund, car titles, loans, and a couple credit cards.  And not to mention my dental and healtcare providers changing accounts and records. 

The Soc Sec. was the same for me. Had to have that srs letter for the F. but they did change my name prior to srs.

In any case the SS office is perhaps one of my fav transition stories.

A couple weeks after I got home from Thailand still carrying my donut pillow I went there to get the F on my records. Some guy in an electric wheelchair sets me down at a desk and I pull out my doctors letter. Mind you this is in red neck Tennessee. The man reads the letter. Stares at it for a bit and then says he has to go talk to his supervisor. He comes back a bit later and looks at me and says the date is recent. Did you have this surgery recently. I give him my wicked smile and say "did you see the donut pillow I am sitting on?" He cowers down with no answer for that one and says sorry.

Needless to say that everything got changed and the poor guy probably needed therapy after I left.

Katie

I'm happy to hear your experience went smoothly.  I was in and out with the judge in 30 seconds, now I'm waiting in line at the social security office.