Today my court order for my name change became official and I already had my letters and forms for the gender change. First stop was the NJ DMV. The first person had to verify with the supervisor, but he was really nice. He was more confused on the court order than the gender change. He initially gendered me ma'am then kept switching back and forth after he saw my paperwork, but he was trying I will give him credit. The woman who actually made the changes had to also check with the supervisor, but gendered me correctly the whole time. (She had never done a gender change and had to check on it.) She let me take the picture a few times (they don't let you smile in the pictures), but it wasn't a bad picture. 30 minutes after walking in, I walked out with my new name and that wonderful "F" gender marker on my license. The first time in my life to happily get an "F" on something, LOL.
Second stop was the Social Security office. There was a 30 min wait, but once my number was called, I was fortunate to get a window that had a seat and was around the corner for the main waiting area for a little privacy. The woman there was super nice. She looked over everything and said, no problem and wanted to make sure it was put in the system properly. She had not done a gender change since the rules changed last. She said it was much easier now for her to do it as they have thankfully become more progressive. After she was done with the paperwork, she shredded my old card and gave me letter with what was changed and to expect a new card in the mail. Then she took a few moments for a friendly chat about my transitioning. She asked how long and how it went for me. She was very curious about it and we talked about it for a while. She commented on how great I looked and could tell how happy I was. She also congratulated me and wished me luck. She was so nice and pleasant to deal with. Still can't believe that happened at the social security office.
Third stop was my bank (Chase). My wife had to come in because of it being a joint account. (Something they require now for the signature cards.) The cool thing is that they print the new debit cards right there in the branch. He updated the name, but the machine kept printing the old name on the card, so he had to disable the card number and issue a new debit card number and my new name was on it. Success!!!
Fourth stop was a late lunch at California Pizza Kitchen with me using my new debit card in my new name for the first time. Now I didn't have to out myself by paying the check with my old card with my old male name.
The rest of the financial updates are on the phone. The easiest was Geico Auto Insurance. I didn't have to send them anything. They just pulled the DMV records and that was it. 30 min later my account had my new name, printed temporary insurance cards and the permanent ones will come in the mail. Everyone else I had to FAX a copy of the court order, which I did tonight to them all (2 cars loans, one credit card, medical insurance and House Insurance.) I was even getting ma'am on the phone when I said my old male name to identify myself on the account. Capital One at first questioned if I was the account holder because of my voice. Once I told them I was transgender, the customer rep totally understood and commented on how good my voice was. Turns out even though he was in Tampa, he was from this area and we talked about that while he was waiting for his supervisor on the correct procedures to update everything. He tried to just change it himself, but the system wouldn't let him without the court order, so I faxed it the department that handles it. I still have to do my life insurance policy (and my wife will need to update the beneficiary on hers.)
What a great day
