Hi

I was looking up information regarding changing name by deed poll and came across this in a FAQ:

Q17: I am a male-to-female transsexual and wish to change my name by Deed Poll. Will I be able to use the title Miss or Ms?
A: Yes you can change your title to Miss or Ms when you change your name. When you complete our application form, you will see a section where you can tell us what new title you want so we can incorporate a declaration on your Deed Poll that changes your title. Please note, if you change your title to Miss or Ms, you must ensure that on any application forms, for example for credit, loans, insurance etc you make it clear your sex at birth was male. This is particularly important for insurances because you may get a cheaper rate if the insurer thinks you were born a female. In the event of a claim, you will find you will not get paid out if your sex at birth is established. Furthermore, it is a criminal offence to obtain a financial advantage if you deceive someone.

This suggests that you have to announce your ->-bleeped-<-. Is this true? Are there any ways around it?

BB

Steph

Quote from: Willowitch on December 22, 2007, 02:02:57 AM
Hi

I was looking up information regarding changing name by deed poll and came across this in a FAQ:

Q17: I am a male-to-female transsexual and wish to change my name by Deed Poll. Will I be able to use the title Miss or Ms?
A: Yes you can change your title to Miss or Ms when you change your name. When you complete our application form, you will see a section where you can tell us what new title you want so we can incorporate a declaration on your Deed Poll that changes your title. Please note, if you change your title to Miss or Ms, you must ensure that on any application forms, for example for credit, loans, insurance etc you make it clear your sex at birth was male. This is particularly important for insurances because you may get a cheaper rate if the insurer thinks you were born a female. In the event of a claim, you will find you will not get paid out if your sex at birth is established. Furthermore, it is a criminal offence to obtain a financial advantage if you deceive someone.

This suggests that you have to announce your ->-bleeped-<-. Is this true? Are there any ways around it?

BB

Steph

As I recall, you are from the UK, right?

I don't know how they write life insurance policies there but in the States and Canada if you misstate your gender or age when you apply, if your estate should make a claim for death benefits, the benefits will be adjusted according to your actual age and gender.

You are pre-op, right?  Can you change your birth certificate to read "Female?"  If so, than I believe that you can have all of the benefits that might inure to you because of your gender.

Hope this helps.

Wing Walker

In the case of insurance, health or life, I think its obligatory as a part of your case history which dictates how much you have to pay and if they'll pay in case of death or disease. Our past as men changes our probability of disease

Hi Steph,

I changed my name by deed poll in the UK  (a few years ago now). The reason for disclosure is that it is actually classed as Fraud to have insurance etc in your new name (and old gender), the same as if you use your old name to take out loans (when you have a new name).

Women pay less for several types of insurance in the UK (Car insurance, health insurance etc). You do have to legally declare while pre-op (and without a Gender Recognition Certificate - GRC) that your name is <Female>, but you are legally <male>. This is because under the UK system if your insurance says you are Female (but still legally Male) the insurance companies can refuse to pay out for any claim (due to misinformation).

I had to do this personally while taking out Car Insurance (pre-op in early transition). My name is Rebecca and I am legally a Man (stuck in my throat a few times).

Once you have your GRC, then you can use your legal name (and Gender) to take out any kind of insurance you wish.

You will also need to send copies, sometimes the original of your deed poll to many companies, institutions that you will have to inform of your legal name change and they are required to change your details (legally).

You are protected under the Gender Reassignment Regulations (1999) a sub set of the Sex Discrimination act 1974 and the Freedom of Informtion Act 2004. With a GRC under the Gender Recognition Act 2004 it is a Criminal offence for any company, Government body to disclose your old name andstatus without your written consent.

So dont worry!

Rebecca

Renate,

I think that, regardless his tact and lack, that the person who wrote you the memo is within legal rights on this. No one can make them set a new policy without some court-backing is I think what he meant to say. *smile*

But, if he is far away and outta mind for the people you work with, you may find that they are much more accepting and will not rock any boats, at least not publicly.

Just a wild guess, but he prolly read your memo as an ultimatum and was thinking, "o, this is gonna be a real pain-in-the-tush." So, I need to be very firm." He was prolly thinking "lawsuit' and just wanted you to know that there was no legal requirement that anyone calles you by the pronouns that you wish unless you are adjudged 'female' in a court-of-law.

Nichole