FTM Chronicles: Name Change Info in the U.S.

Ever go to use your bank card for a purchase and the cashier give you a weird look because of your current name and your appearance before demanding for your identification? Well, for a trans guy that could be extremely embarrassing especially after starting hormones. Changing your name is a big deal for transgender folks.

When I did mine, it cost me nothing for the actual name change. My lawyer was pro bono, the filing fees waived, even publication was waived. It could have cost me hundreds of dollars in my state if I did not find this lawyer (link will be posted below next to PA). So, to help my brothers out, I did a little research on each state in the U.S. for filing a name change. Some states have LGBT legal centers that handle these issues, but not all do. If I cannot find a center, then I will post a link to a form or how to in your state. If anyone has done a name change in any of these states, please write to us and help provide information for others to do so as well. Or if any information or links are incorrect, please let us know so it can be fixed. We are all here to help each other out as best as we can.



NATIONAL: http://www.lambdalegal.org/ ; http://www.nclrights.org/site/PageServer?pagename=issue_transgender ; http://www.aclu.org/hiv-aids_lgbt-rights/know-your-rights-transgender-people-and-law


AL: I could not find a legal center that handled these issues at this time, but from acquaintances of mine in this state, all they had to do was go to their local Probate Judge’s Office to file. A judge was not seen, but a small $18-19 fee was charged and their name was changed.

AK: http://www.courts.alaska.gov/shcname.htm

AZ: http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/SuperiorCourt/Self-ServiceCenter/ ; http://supreme.state.az.us/selfserv/Phase_1a/nmchg_p.pdf

AR: http://sherrylanina.tripod.com/arkansasnamechange.htm

CA: http://transgenderlawcenter.org/cms/content/community-legal-services

CO: http://www.ittakesavillagecolorado.org/programs/transaction.htm

CT: www.twentyclub.org/docs/paper.html ; an acquaintance in Avon also said they just went to the court office with ID and Birth Certificate, made an appointment and it went through fairly quick; http://conference.transadvocacy.org/documents/translegal.pdf ; see New England for more links

DE: http://courts.delaware.gov/Help/ChangeName/

DC: Apply for a case with the civil division by calling (202)-879-1133 or see a clerk in JM-170 of the Moultrie Courthouse. Fill out Application at http://www.dccourts.gov/docs/civil/dcsc31.pdf , then apply in person at the Moultrie Courthouse. A fee will be needed, not sure on the actual amount. Then you get a court date and appear before a judge. Not all in the same day. ; http://dctranscoalition.wordpress.com/resources/how-to-legally-change-your-namegender-in-dc-va-and-md/

FL: http://www.transgenderlaw.org/resources/floridakit.pdf ; http://www.eqfl.org/

GA:http://www.kwomacklaw.com/more/index.cfm?Fuseaction=more_5531#Name_Change_Petitions ; http://www.megafamilyproject.org/informed/trans.html

HI: http://hawaii.gov/ltgov/office/name/index.html/

ID: http://www.courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/namechange.asp

IL: http://www.genderadvocates.org/?q=node/17

IN: http://www.tgboards.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=1113 ; http://www.in.gov/pla/3053.htm

IA: http://www.tsroadmap.com/reality/name/iowa.html

KS: see AL for the same procedure though costs may be different

KY: see AL for the same procedure though costs may be different

LA: see AL for the same procedure though costs may be different

ME: http://www.mainetransnet.org/trans/legal.html ; http://www.mainelgbtlaw.com/blog/about/ ; see New England for more links

MD: http://dctranscoalition.wordpress.com/resources/how-to-legally-change-your-namegender-in-dc-va-and-md/ ; http://chasebrexton.org/wellness/lgbt/transition/

MA: http://www.masstpc.org/projects/namechange.shtml ; http://www.umass.edu/stonewall/transresguide/ ; http://www.robertlapointe.com/ (trans friendly lawyer) ;see New England for more links

MI: http://www.arcusfoundation.org/images/uploads/downloads/tgmanual.pdf

MN: http://www.outfront.org/library/changename

MS: see AL for the same procedure though costs may be different

MO: see AL for the same procedure though costs may be different

MT: http://www.montanatdor.org/tdor/documents/MontanaTDOR%20Name%20Change%20Resource%20Guide.pdf ; http://www.montanatdor.org/

New England: http://www.glad.org/work/initiatives/c/transgender-rights-project/ ; www.gicne.org ; http://www.glad.org/uploads/docs/publications/trans-legal-issues.pdf

NE: http://involved.unl.edu/lgbtqa/trans/records.php

NV: see AL for the same procedure though costs may be different

NH: see New England for links

NJ: http://jplaw.com/transgender.html ; http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/prose/10551_namechg_adult.pdf ; http://mazzonicenter.org/ (the legal services I used for my name change)

NM: http://www.transgendernm.org/Professional_Services.html

NY: http://www.transgenderlegal.org/ ; http://srlp.org/ ; http://www.le-gal.org/site/

NC: http://phoenixtgs.weebly.com/getting-your-legal-name-change.html

ND: see AL for the same procedure though costs may be different

OH: http://www.transohio.org/change/bmvchange.html

OK: see AL for the same procedure though costs may be different

OR: http://www.resourcespdx.org/non-medical/change-sex-oregon-id/ ; http://www.tsroadmap.com/reality/name/ORinstructions.pdf

PA: http://mazzonicenter.org/ (the legal services I used for my name change) ; http://jplaw.com/transgender.html ; www.center4civilrights.org

RI: http://www.youthprideri.org/Resources/TransgenderSpecificResources/tabid/275/Default.aspx ; https://sites.google.com/site/sneftmgroup/gender-marker-name-change-info ; http://www.robertlapointe.com/ (trans friendly lawyer) ; see New England for more links

SC: www.scstatehouse.net/code/t15c049.htm

SD: see AL for the same procedure though costs may be different

TN: http://www.knoxboyz.org/ ; http://transgender.livejournal.com/2450692.html

TX: http://jamiward.blogspot.com/2010/12/documentation-change-101.html ; http://www.texasnamechangelaw.com/requirements.asp

UT: see AL for the same procedure though costs may be different

VT: http://vtveto.wordpress.com/resources/vermont-name-change/ ; see New England for more links

VA: http://www.tsroadmap.com/reality/name/namechangeformi.pdf ; http://dctranscoalition.wordpress.com/resources/how-to-legally-change-your-namegender-in-dc-va-and-md/

WA: http://uwqcenter.wordpress.com/resources/transgender/ ; http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/Abtus/ourorg/distct/dc1faq.htm#namechg

WV: see AL for the same procedure though costs may be different

WI: http://www.forge-forward.org/socialsupport/emergence-disclosure.html

WY: see AL for the same procedure though costs may be different




Well, that is each state in the United States. I apologize for not having a lot of information for each individual state. As I stated above, please contact us at Genderfuk.Boiz@yahoo.com or me personally on my face book page or email at cmdesilvah@yahoo.com if you have done a legal name change in the US so we can share as much information on this much needed process. I know I did a lot of research on my particular state, so others will have more information on theirs. This way we can keep this updated for all.



RAWR!!!!
-WulfBoi