So You Wanna Change Your Name?

This could apply for anyone really that wants to change their legal name, not just for transgendered individuals as there is no real difference for anyone wishing to change their name. Everyone has to go through (pretty much) the same process, I’m sure there are a few wacky places out there that requires you to do more or less but generally this is what you would have to go through.

Where I live there are several steps that must be taken in order to change your name.

1. Setting up the Appointment. You have to first realize that all name changes are considered business for the probate court so you need to find out where the probate court is in your area and apply for a name change with the secretary or whoever handles name changes there. Name changes are not a free service, you will have some fee that will cost anywhere between $100-130 dollars just to get an appointment scheduled. Your scheduled date is usually made two months from the day you file.
2. Letting the World Know. This is a pretty common requirement for name changes which requires you to give a copy of your receipt from the court stating you had filed for a name change to have it published in a local newspaper or legal journal for thirty (30) days. Newspapers usually have a service where they will forward a copy of the ad to the Court of which you’ll need on the day of your name change. I HIGHLY recommend that if you are trying to be covert about changing your name that you find a reputable legal journal and have it published there. Not many regular people are going to have a subscription to a legal journal for obvious reasons.
3. Day of the Name Change. On the day of your name change you need to bring several things with you. Transgendered individuals should have either a signed letter from your therapist and/or medical doctor stating as to why you are seeking a legal name change which should include your date of birth and social security number especially. This is REALLY important I cannot express this enough! If you are acting on your own behalf without the aid of a lawyer this may be your only chance on convincing the magistrate or judge that what you want is perfectly sane. I had a really old, really conservative magistrate take on my case and the first thing he told me straight out was “we can’t allow this.” He had made up his decision beforehand, before meeting me despite the fact I had fulfilled and jumped through every legal hoop I needed to in order to get this done. I flipped the switch in a moment by giving him a letter from my therapist, and he instantly knew I wasn’t some random, crazy person off of the streets wanting to change my name to something that didn’t fit my birth gender. The second thing I needed, which isn’t the case in a few areas, is that I was required to bring a character witness to attest that I was who I was and all that jazz. If you are required to do this it is probably best if you yourself are under thirty years old to bring someone a little older than yourself. I imagine it had helped that my friend seemed to be of working age devoid of all the immaturities brought on by youth. At this point, if you have brought those two things they pretty much can’t deny your name change. Just remember to PLAY THEIR GAME BY THEIR RULES and you will succeed in doing this.
4. Changing Your Name on your Bank Accounts, IDs, and SS Card. Essentially after you receive documentation from the court detailing your name change that will be all you need to change everything else over. I had zero problems getting my driver’s license, my bank card, my social security card, and bank accounts changed. Every place has different stipulations as to what they need proving your new identity. I would recommend getting your driver’s license changed first. It will help immensely in changing everything else.

I guess that’s all I really have to say about name changes. It’s not hard just time consuming and frankly can be a little scary to go through. Oh yeah…a word to the wise…don’t try to use those legal websites where you have to pay for the forms to change your name. It’s a waste of time and money believe me, and more often than not the forms on those websites are by no means identical to the actual ones the clerk will be filling out in court.