I'm not sure if this is the same for all states. but Im getting ready to bring my petition to the court for my name change. The instructions I have say to bring in your certified birth certificate. What I'm wondering is, will they take the certificate from me, or will they just make a copy of it?

I don't really want to give my official certificate away, especially if I'm going to need it to assist with updating my License, Social Security, and the birth certificate itself etc.

how does this part typically work? i called the county clerk office, but they weren't very helpful.

I would think they would just make a copy of that birth certificate, but it's best to check with the court as to how they handle it I know the only thing they kept of mine in the end was my petition to the court change my name and my money of course. Hugs
Mariah

Where I'm from they took it away but they gave me a brand new official certificate with my new name on it.

For me (in NJ) the court made a copy of my birth certificate when I appeared in front of the judge. The judges secretary took my TN Birth Certificate, Driver's License, social security card and the paper affidavit from the paper that I had posted the legal notice in the paper. She made copies and returned is all back to me.