Name and Gender Change Interactive Roadmap
Click on the purple Legal Name Change box to get started and always
read all information thoroughly and carefully
Legal Name Change
Change Gender on Birth Certificate
Change Federal Documents
Social Security Administration - Change Name & Gender
State Department - Passport - Change Name & Gender
Selective Service - Change Name & Gender
Military ID
Certificate of Citizenship
Certificate of Naturalization
DMV
Driver's License: Change Name & Gender
Auto Registration & Title
Banking & Financial
Checking
Credit Cards
Student Loans
Savings
Mortgage
Credit Agencies
Car Loans
Retirement
Insurance
Health
Auto
Life
Property
School and/or Employment
School Registration/ID
HR/Boss Payroll
Diplomas
Certificates
Licenses
Benefits
Other Transactional ID
Voter Registration
Costco Card
Shopper Loyalty Card
Frequent Flyer ID
UTILITIES
Water
Sewer
Gas/Electric
Phone
Cable
Trash
Miscellaneous Items
Leases
Deeds
Property Tax Rolls
Letterhead
Pilot's License
CCW
AAA
Welcome to the Name and Gender Change Interactive Roadmap. This is meant to be a basic guide to walk you through the process of changing your name and gender marker on the various documents with government and private entities. While everyone has different needs and may have different priorities, this general guide will get you through the process that covers most people's needs. Always ACCURATELY and COMPLETELY fill out all forms. Do not try to take shortcuts. If you have questions, ASK

Primary steps are shown in purple and these represent tasks that most other steps depend on, are generally related to daily identification and should be done first.

Secondary steps are shown in red and are things that you will use on a frequent basis and should be changed as soon as possible if they apply to you, but aren't typically used for identification on a daily basis.

Tertiary steps are in green and these are tasks that can probably wait until they are convenient for you.

Miscellaneous items are in black and, if they do apply to you, can generally wait a longer time.

Boxes in the first column are only there to organize the groups, except the Legal Name Change box. Boxes in the other columns have more information if you click on them.

Name change processes and forms differ from County to County. If you live in Washoe County, Nevada, you can find the Second Judicial District Court form packet here. For other counties, check with your county's family court.

You will probably need several certified copies of your name change order. Take a look over the list and get an estimate of how many you will need. They do cost money (at the time this is being written, Second Judicial charges $1.50 per copy) and you will also need to budget the time to get to the Court and wait while they are prepared.

To simplify the process for those businesses or agencies that accept copies by email or fax, keep a file that has your name change order, copies of your old and new Social Security cards and the front and back of your new driver's license so that you can send it all quickly if that's all they need. Close
Birth Certificate change in Nevada.

If you are doing this, do it when you change your name (if possible) so you only have to pay once for a new birth certficate that will match your identity.
These are the new rules for changing your birth certificate that only apply in the state of Nevada:

An amendment process may be applied for by the person of record (the person who the birth certificate refers to), a parent or guardian of that person or the legal representative of that person.

1. One of those people must file an Affidavit for Corrections of a Record. It must be completed and notarized.

2. A Supplemental Affidavit from a person who has personal knowledge and can attest that the person of record "has assumed, identifies with and intends to maintain" the gender identity as noted in the change. This personal knowledge must come from firsthand experience or observation through personal, familial, medical or a professional relationship with the person of record.

OR

3. A written statement from a licensed healthcare professional on facility letterhead that affirms they have treated, evaluated or consulted with the person of record and their request is consistent with the identified gender. A list of options for which healthcare professionals are accepted is available in this packet. A court order is still acceptable as well. The packet also includes the necessary forms.

Summary: Nevada will issue a birth certificate reflecting the proper sex. From: Lambda Legal (last updated 7/14/2014)

Click here for a list of almost all states, so if you were born somewhere else, check it out to see the process to get your birth certificate changed. NOT ALL STATES ALLOW YOU TO CHANGE THIS.
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Social Security Administration
Name and Gender change (if desired)

While your social security card does not display a gender on it, the Social Security Administration does have a record of your gender and it will cause conflicts if you change your gender information in one location and do not change it with SSA.

We recommend that, if possible, you should change your gender information at the same time as you change your name. You will likely spend around 2 hours waiting at the Social Security Office, so getting it all done in one trip will save you from doing it all over again.

You will need to change your name with the SSA before attempting to change it with the DMV. If you do not, the DMV will turn you away and send you to SSA.

All you need to change your name with the SSA is a certified copy of your Order Changing Name.

The gender change requirement from the SSA is a letter from your physician on their letterhead with specific information. You can find the form on our website here or on the SSA website here for the most up-to-date requirements.

SSA does not charge to fix this information on your records and mail you a new card. Close
U.S. Passport Office

The Passport Office will change your name on your passport with a certified copy of your Order Changing Name.

The requirement to change your gender information are similar to the SSA requirements, but with some additional details. A letter from your physician on their letterhead stating the status of your gender transition, whether "in process" or "complete". If your doctor notes that your transition is "in process" you can obtain a passport valid for 2 years, with the option of extending it to the full 10 years by submitting an additional form within that 2 year period for no additional fee.

You can find all forms, requirements and a sample on their website here. Close
Selective Service

Selective Service will change your name on your Acknowledgment with a certified copy of your Order Changing Name. Indicate your new name on your Acknowledgment, attached the Order, sign and date the card and return it to selective service. Click here and look for the question about correcting an incorrect name for full information.

With regard to the Military Selective Service Act, at the current time, Selective Service does not acknowledge the person's proper gender and still requires registration (or not) based upon birth sex. Click here for full details on this. Close
Military ID / Certificate of Citizenship / Certificate of Naturalization

Military ID. The National Center for Transgender Equality maintains information for Military and Veterans. Click here for more information.

For more information about the military's policies related to transgender people, see this update.

If you need help with dealing with military records, including dishonorable discharge, consider contacting Antoinette Balta at (949) 290-5733 or email ABalta@vetslegal.com.

Certificate of Citizenship/Naturalization.
This page will link you to the form you need to change your name and your gender on your Certificate.

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DMV - Driver's License

The DMV will change your name with a certified copy of your Order Changing Name, after you have changed your name with SSA, along with the standard form for updating your driver's license or ID card.

Nevada DMV will change your gender and has a form specifically for this. Click here for the form. It must be filled out by your physician and submitted along with the standard form for updating your driver's license or ID card. Your gender information should be updated with the SSA first.

Standard fees may apply for both changes, so completing both at the same time may save you some money (as well as time). Close
DMV - Registration/Title

The DMV will change your name with a certified copy of your Order Changing Name. You should, for time purposes, change this at the same time as you change your Driver's License. There will be additional fees to order a new title for any vehicles, so be prepared for that. DMV fees should be available on their website for your state.

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Checking/Credit Cards/Student Loans

Checking. Your bank will probably require you to have your new driver's licence before they will alter your checking account information. You should take a copy of your name change order and new driver's license to your local branch and the teller should be able to change your information without any trouble. If your bank has additional requirements, they will let you know.

Credit Cards. Each credit card company has different specific requirements to update your credit card. Some will allow you to fax or email a copy of your name change order to them with a letter explaining what you would like changed, along with your account number. Other companies will require a certified copy of your order to be mailed to them with a cover letter. Contact your credit agency to find out what is needed. Whenever possible, take an option that doesn't require you to mail a certified copy (these things cost money and you have to make a trip to the Court to get more).

Student Loans. Contact the agency that holds your loans. They will be able to tell you what you need to do to change your account details. Be prepared to need a certified copy to make any changes.

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Savings/Mortgage/Credit Agencies/Car Loans/Retirement

Savings. Your savings accounts can be changed at the same time as your checking accounts and the same way. Take your driver's license and a certified copy of your name change order to your local branch and they should be able to change your information without a problem.

Mortgage. Your bank may have specific requirements as to what other agencies you need to change your name with before they will change your mortgage information - such as your home insurance company. Check with the bank that holds your loan for specific information.

Credit Agencies. If you don't change your name with the credit reporting agencies, this can slow down your ability to obtain credit should you need it. Therefore, the easiest way to update your information with the three major credit reporting agencies is to send a letter with a certified copy of the order to:
Equifax Credit Information Services Inc.
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
TransUnion LLC
Consumer Disclosure Center
P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
Experian
National Consumer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 2002
Allen, TX 75013

Car Loans. Your bank may have specific requirements as to what other agencies you need to change your name with before they will change your loan information - such as your car insurance company. Check with the bank that holds your loan for specific information.

Retirement. Different companies may have different requirements, but plan on having a copy of your order ready to send to your account holder. If this is a retirement account through your employer, then your employer may automatically update your plan, but making sure that happens is still your responsibility. Close
Health/Auto

If your insurance company has a local branch you can get to, you may be able to update your records with them in person with copies of your documents. If there is no local branch, contact your company and find out what their policy is on changing your information. Not every company will require that you mail a certified copy.

Since auto insurance companies frequently communicate directly with the DMV for your state, you may be able to simply update your information online or over the phone without having to send in any copies. Check with your individual company for what they require.

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Life/Property

If your insurance company has a local branch you can get to, you may be able to update your records with them in person with copies of your documents. If there is no local branch, contact your company and find out what their policy is on changing your information. Not every company will require that you mail a certified copy.

Your mortgage agency may require that you update your property insurance information before they will change your mortgage account information.

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School Registration(ID)/HR/Boss/Payroll

School Registration/ID. Your school should be willing to update your information when you present them with an updated ID, such as your driver's license, but take your formal documents with you just in case. If this is an out of state school, contact them for details before sending any information. Depending on the current status of your local school district or university policies, you may be able to obtain a proper school ID without completing the legal process. Check with your school or school district for more information.

HR/Boss/Payroll. Depending on what state you live in and what business you work for, their policies will dictate whether you need to have completed the legal name/gender change process to update informal accounts, such as your email account, work ID, etc. with your preferred name. However, your employer will need to have your legal name on your paycheck at all times. Once your legal name/gender change processes are complete, take the appropriate documents to your boss and/or HR department and ask them to update the necessary records.

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Diplomas/Certificates/Licenses/Benefits

You will need to contact the department or business which holds the original record to change your information on it. Since each could be held in any number of states and fall under any number of different rules and regulations, you will need to contact the appropriate agency to find out what they need to change your records.

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Voter Registration/Costco Card/Shopper Loyalty Card/Frequent Flyer ID

Voter Registration. In Washoe County, you will need to fill out a new voter registration form to change your name. You do not need to present them with proof of name change at this time. If you live in another county, check with your local registrar of voters for details.

Costco Card/Shopper Loyalty Card/Frequent Flyer ID. Check with each company about what they require to update your information.

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UTILITIES
Water/Sewer/Gas-Electric/Phone/Cable/Trash

Check with each company to find out what they require to update your information. Since these companies often have local branches, you may be able to present your documents in person.

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Leases/Deeds/Property Tax Rolls/Letterhead/Pilot's License/CCW/AAA

Check with each company to find out what they require to update your information.

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