Actually, another great state -- CONNECTICUT-- will actually reissue my birth certificate with my new legal name and my "correct" gender with a letter from the surgeon who performs my hysterectomy along with a statement from my therapist that I am in transition. 

It is actually one of the things my fiance and I are tremendously glad of.  It will make life much easier for her, as she is on active duty.

I just see it as another cosmic affirmation that I am doing exactly what I am truly meant to do and be the person I am truly intended to be (externally and internally).

As far as I know the Birth certificate is a different process and I'll do the name change when I can get the gender change.

Anyone here legally changed their name in NJ? Anyway, there is a question on the form asking what's the reason why you want to change your name. Did you have to tell that you are transexual? or can you just say you don't like your name?

Changing your name is a legal right that the 14th amendment to the constitution has been interpreted as protecting.

The main legal concern is that you are changing your name to fraudulently get out of debts.

Changing from "Billy Bob" to "Betty Sue" (or visa versa) is just your personal choice and has nothing to do with any transsexuality.

The simplest reason to give is "common usage" which means that everybody uses your new name already and you thought that you'd get it officially registered.
If you have a susceptible conscience just make sure that somebody actually addresses you by your new name already.

You could also put down "personal" or that you dislike your old name.

Quote from: Renate on February 26, 2009, 06:19:26 AM
Changing your name is a legal right that the 14th amendment to the constitution has been interpreted as protecting.

The main legal concern is that you are changing your name to fraudulently get out of debts.

Changing from "Billy Bob" to "Betty Sue" (or visa versa) is just your personal choice and has nothing to do with any transsexuality.

The simplest reason to give is "common usage" which means that everybody uses your new name already and you thought that you'd get it officially registered.
If you have a susceptible conscience just make sure that somebody actually addresses you by your new name already.

You could also put down "personal" or that you dislike your old name.

Thanks Renate. I'll just put down that I don't like my current first & middle name and would like to change it to something I like better. 

I just put down personal reasons.

The judge at the hearing (private, just me and him) signed everything with no problems, but did mention he didn't think his decree was enough to get my gender marker changed on my DL.  Apparently they see it enough that it's pretty obvious when you're going from Jane to John why you're changing your name.  But they're opinions don't count; as long as you're following proper procedure you're good.

Jay

Quote from: sneakersjay on February 26, 2009, 09:13:51 AM
The judge at the hearing (private, just me and him)...

Oh, mine was private too. Just the judge, me, a dozen legal hanger-oners, an audience of 100,
4 or 5 armed sheriffs and a dozen guys who decided to show up in orange pyjamas and handcuffs!

Quote from: pong on February 26, 2009, 06:59:26 AM
Thanks Renate. I'll just put down that I don't like my current first & middle name and would like to change it to something I like better.

My mom moved me to NJ during my High School/College Years.  I have been amazed at how progressive NJ has been concerning GLBT issues over the past 10 years. 
http://smallbusiness.lawyercentral.com/NJ-Transgender-Workplace-Protections-video--12-25845-63.html
http://www.prideatwork.org/page.php?id=410

http://www.southernvoice.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=13088

Personally, I would hope that you would find a way to state you are transgender, or allude to it.  (Of course, that is just my hope.)  I found that the more I have spoken the truth out loud, the less frightening I find it to be.

Then again.... well, that's another post.

Quote from: MrMann on February 26, 2009, 11:36:34 AM
My mom moved me to NJ during my High School/College Years.  I have been amazed at how progressive NJ has been concerning GLBT issues over the past 10 years. 
http://smallbusiness.lawyercentral.com/NJ-Transgender-Workplace-Protections-video--12-25845-63.html
http://www.prideatwork.org/page.php?id=410

http://www.southernvoice.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=13088

Personally, I would hope that you would find a way to state you are transgender, or allude to it.  (Of course, that is just my hope.)  I found that the more I have spoken the truth out loud, the less frightening I find it to be.

Then again.... well, that's another post.

You are right - the more you're open about something the less frightening to talk about it. but then again, I still want things to be private. But who knows I could still change my mind and put down the real reason (but not liking my current name is actually a real reason too why I want to change it).     

Quote from: pong on February 26, 2009, 05:26:35 AM
Anyone here legally changed their name in NJ? Anyway, there is a question on the form asking what's the reason why you want to change your name. Did you have to tell that you are transexual? or can you just say you don't like your name?

Yes, I actually going through the process myself and should be done by late next month.  "common usage" is what I put on mine. Nice to see another from NJ.

Quote from: noxdraconis on February 27, 2009, 03:39:21 PM
Yes, I actually going through the process myself and should be done by late next month.  "common usage" is what I put on mine. Nice to see another from NJ.

Oh Great! Can you please let me know how it went and what the procedures are? I am actually thinking of doing it next year but I am planning ahead. And yes, it's really nice to see someone from NJ. I thought I was the only one;D.

Sure thing.  What I can tell you right now though is that it costs $200 to file, and about $70 for the legal notice that you are forced to put into the newspaper of the judge's choice at least 2 weeks before the court date.  I already went once but I did not get my "order of the fixing of the date" in the mail, which says what paper you have to put your notice in and the day you go to court, only a phonecall from the judge's clerk telling me that my case was the next day and asked if I was going to be there, so I have to do it again.  No, unfortunately it is not private.  But on a side note, the judge called me "sir" the entire time even though he had my application in front of him  .

Wow! The judge calling you "sir"! That's wonderful! I know that you have to change your SSN#, your DL, passport etc. Are you going to try to have the gender marker change to M? Oh by the way, how did you contact the newspaper? Is the phone # or address in the "order of the fixing of the date" form? Anyway, I hope you won't mind but can I email you later on if I have questions once I start the process?  Thanks again!

Quote from: pong on February 27, 2009, 06:29:16 PM
Wow! The judge calling you "sir"! That's wonderful! I know that you have to change your SSN#, your DL, passport etc. Are you going to try to have the gender marker change to M? Oh by the way, how did you contact the newspaper? Is the phone # or address in the "order of the fixing of the date" form? Anyway, I hope you won't mind but can I email you later on if I have questions once I start the process?  Thanks again!

Not changing the marker yet because you need surgery to do that, and I am not that far yet.  There is no number or address for the paper on the order, so you have to find it yourself. I personally just walked there because it was only 4 blocks from the court house so I went there the moment that the newly issued order touched my hand. 

Feel free to email or pm anytime.

Quote from: noxdraconis on February 27, 2009, 07:03:34 PM
Feel free to email or pm anytime.

Thanks Noxdraconis! I really appreciate the help.

Don't forget about the Financial Waiver Affidavit.

If you are poor enough (and can prove it) the county may pick up the court costs and the cost of the newspaper ad.

Quote from: Renate on February 27, 2009, 07:58:38 PM
Don't forget about the Financial Waiver Affidavit.

If you are poor enough (and can prove it) the county may pick up the court costs and the cost of the newspaper ad.

Thanks for the info, Renate! Unfortunately (or should I say fortunately?  ), I don't think I am poor enough to apply for a Financial Waiver Affidavit.

Does anyone know how this works in Canada. (Ontario to be exact). I keep getting directed to an error page through the link on Wiki, and to the same page when I search it through ontario.ca

Thanks for mentioning the dead link, krptcmschfmkr128. It moved on us.

The corrected, correct link is Changing Your Name (Ontario). Corrected again 2/28

They must of moved it again since that link didn't work either.