I'm not doing any of this now, but I am mixed up on something.

I was born in Mississippi, so I would have to go down there to have my sex and name changed on my birth certificate.  I've read online that they require a court order to do so.  I'm pretty dumb in this area, so what's a court order and how do you get one and how does all that work?

Also: do you have to do the same for social security?  Go down to the state where it was issued, and go through the system there or can it be done in the state you're living in?

Mississippi will NOT issue a new birth certificate. If a court order is received, Mississippi will issue an amended birth certificate with the new name and gender typed in the margin, but the old name and gender remain unchanged.

Contact information:

Vital Records
State Department of Health
571 Stadium Drive
Jackson, MS 39216
(601) 576-7981
Fax: (601) 576-7505

vrinfo@msdh.state.ms.us


To get a court order to change your gender on your birth certificate is similar to getting your name change ... you have to petition the court and request that the change be made.  Yes, you will have to do it in Mississippi to be sure for it to work.  However if you live in another state you could petition the court there and send it off to vital statics and hope they recognize it.

As for Social Security .. that is federal so you can do it in any state that you choose.