Name Change Update

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

I submitted my name change documents to the circuit court on Wednesday.

I'll find out in 3 weeks if it was approved, denied or if I have to appear in front of a judge.

I had no idea my county in FL had that option where the judge could approve it without you being there, so I hope he does.

I'm both nervous and excited!

Also my mom who has been struggling with this for, oh, 10 years now, actually made some positive improvements in trying to be more open and understanding and we actually had some "girl talk" yesterday about clothes, makeup, hair stuff, etc. She also mentioned how she hates cheap hand bags and offered me one of her Dooney & Burke purses, but since it's white and I would feel really guilty getting something that expensive dirty I politely refused.

But..it's progress!

[Paula ult]

Lizzie my fingers and toes are crossed hoping your name change is approved, in Ohio i have to go before a judge when my time comes.

Sounds like your mother is starting to come around and beginning to accept, guess she realizes this is not a phase you are going thru.

HUGS!

Paula

[Guest Joanna Phipps]

Congrats, hope it all works for you.

I am gearing up to change name and gender marker in 3 countries (Canada, UK, and US ) the first two should be a peice of cake; changing my green card is YIKES $320

[Guest AshleyRF]

I hope it goes smoothly for you. Good luck and keep us posted.

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

changing my green card is YIKES $320

They just upped the filing fees recently (in FL), so including with the $5 courtesy fee of paying via credit card, submitting the forms to the court came to the total of $408.50

on the other hand, the cost of getting finger printed where I live was listed (on a site somewhere) as $8.50 but I only paid $5.30 or something like that. plus it's done with electronic sensors now so no messy ink!

[Guest Isabella]

I don't know the laws in your state, but in mine there's an option to not appear in court personally. It involves extra paper work, longer waiting time & possibly extra cost. Whatever the case in your state I would strongly advise you to appear in person for the simple reason of being able to answer any questions the judge may have on the spot to avoid needless games of paper tag. Good luck! Isabella

[Carolyn Marie]

I wish you all the luck in the world, Lizzie. Hope everything goes without a hitch.

Carolyn Marie

[Guest mia 1]

Yes Lizzy you would think it would be a no brainer..but it is hell.....my best to you the happy women that you are....Mia

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

I think my name change was approved.

Looking up the case in public records now:

on 9/8 we have:

FINAL JUDGMENT OF NAME CHANGE OR16695PG1257-001

FINAL DISPOSITION FORM

on 9/16 (today)

C/C FINAL JUDGMENT MLD TO PETITIONER

NAME CHANGE REPORT OF FINAL JDMT TO FDLE

..if it was denied there wouldn't be a report sent to Florida Dept of Law Enforcement, right?

[Guest ~Brenda~]

Lizzie hon,

Gosh, I do hope that your petition is approved!! It sounds like it is, but to be honest, I don't have a clue to what it is saying

Wish you well hon.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Love

Brenda

[Guest Kayliegh]

Congrats, Lizzie!

Hope all works out! It's great to hear that your mom is finally "coming around!"

Let us know what happens!

Hugs - Kayleigh

[Guest Joanna Phipps]

They just upped the filing fees recently (in FL), so including with the $5 courtesy fee of paying via credit card, submitting the forms to the court came to the total of $408.50

on the other hand, the cost of getting finger printed where I live was listed (on a site somewhere) as $8.50 but I only paid $5.30 or something like that. plus it's done with electronic sensors now so no messy ink!

that 320 is on top of the $217 that stays here in the state.. but then I have about 150 to go to Canada, for income reasons I might get the UK one free (which is good since thats the one which changes my birth certificate). 

[Guest angie]

Yaaaaay Lizzie!

It is majorly affirming when you are granted your name change.

Regardless of the wait,you will be engergized on your court day.

Congratulations for taking that giant step forward into your real life.

Warm Hugs,

Angie

[Guest Joanna Phipps]

WOOO HOO congrats Lizzy M, that must feel good

[jessica_282]

That is progress with your mom that will be cherished for a life time. Nothing better than knowing that she is trying.

The name change is a great thing, I am sure that you will not have any problems with it.

Just be patient, I know when I got mine done, it was the waiting game that was the worst of it all.

Hang in there,

Jessica Hayden

[Guest Joanna Phipps]

That is progress with your mom that will be cherished for a life time. Nothing better than knowing that she is trying.

The name change is a great thing, I am sure that you will not have any problems with it.

Just be patient, I know when I got mine done, it was the waiting game that was the worst of it all.

Hang in there,

Jessica Hayden

It seems that the name change is a waiting game all over, I have to file my papers with the court, then go to the local newspaper(pay them even more money) and have them run the announcement for a minimum of two days, over two consecutive weeks. Then I sit tight and wait for my court day. I think my 15 minutes before the judge will be kind of anticlimactic. 

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

Just a lovely update filled with highs and lows:

My legal name is now Elizabeth Anne.

please update your records.

Of course I cannot totally enjoy this moment and get all giddy because, of course, there is DRAMA that came along with it. I texted my mom to -please- let me know when the letter from the court came about the name change and that it is VERY important that she tell me when it arrives.

She, condescendingly, asked what was so VERY important.

So I told her that after the name change I have 10 days to get my records changed and that it's a Florida law. She didn't know that, and advised me (albeit at 9pm) that the letter came.

She then told me that in sorting through the mail, my father saw the letter from the Circuit Court, opened it, read the enclosed document, and spent the rest of the afternoon crying.

the one person whom I was trying to hide this from finds out.

guess I don't need to get that P.O. box after all. (I was going to get one after the name change and have all my mail routed there so my dad wouldn't find out and get all upset that I changed my name)

all I can hope for now is that since my dad is now visibly upset and my mom is still coping with this that they will admit they need to talk to a professional about their feelings.

...but I doubt it. they're old and stubborn, but I'm always hopeful.

Now to explain this to my brother and sister......

[jessica_282]

It seems that the name change is a waiting game all over, I have to file my papers with the court, then go to the local newspaper(pay them even more money) and have them run the announcement for a minimum of two days, over two consecutive weeks. Then I sit tight and wait for my court day. I think my 15 minutes before the judge will be kind of anticlimactic. 

Being in the same state you as well as I know how long things can take our government. I was just happy to get the gender marker changed.

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

I got my name legally changed at the Social Security office and the Driver's License office today (which also included changing my voter registration there as well).

So the day started off going down to the court house to get some certified copies of the name change. $3/each, got 10 to be safe. Went to S.S. and waited not even a minute before my number was called. She verified my identity and so on and so forth, gave her all my info about changing my name, she came back with a paper to sign verifying the changes and I started to sign it....and then had to cross out the first 2 letters as I was signing my OLD name. whoops! heh heh. we both had a laugh about that. She would be the first person to call me Elizabeth today.

Next stop was the Driver's License office. Got my picture taken, got my electronic signature, showed them my paperwork, etc...etc... a few minutes later I hear "Elizabeth!" and got my new CDL license with new name and better picture (couldn't get them to change M to F but oh well).

So I pick my mom up from her Dr's appointment and got to meet one of the ladies that works in the office since my mom talks about me so much and she really wanted to meet me. So we talked a little and how awesome that the lady came up to me and said "you must be elizabeth?" so I loved how my mom told her my new name.

Well, after some chatter we went to get some chinese take out. Not really sure how well my mom thinks I pass as a female, we go inside the chinese place to get our order in. As we're standing there the lady behind the register looks at my mom and says, "Is that your daughter?" She replies "yes, yes it is." and I just smile because I don't think my mom was expecting people to just look at me and think 'female'.

So 10-15 minutes on the chinese food, we hop over to a greek bakery to get dessert. Of course in the baked goods case they have tiramisu, baklava, canolis, etc.. I couldn't decide what to get. Mom said "well since it's your special day you can have two." *glee!!*

Oh and I think the guy at the license office thought I was definatly female because the renewal fee was $31.25. So I go into my wallet....$30. ugh. so I tell him, hold on, I have the change. so I start tilting, shaking and digging through my purse for $1.25 in change. Meanwhile he's sitting back in his chair rocking and I'm sure he was thinking "oh lord, this is going to be awhile...." Dig up $1.25 in quarters and hand him $30 in paper bills.

I found out this morning on the way to dropping my mom off at work that since my dad is having a very difficult time dealing with this, he decided to get a hotel room for the entire time I'll be home, so instead of talking with me or seeing me, he's choosing to avoid me until he can handle this better. Kind of a somber start to the day and knowing he's sitting in a hotel room while mom and I are having some girl-time. She loved my lip color choices as well and complimented me a few times on it as well but I digress.

Tomorrow is the bank, Dr's office and faxing the notification over to work and probably filling out a new W2 as well. Oh and maybe a mani/pedi if I have the time.

[Guest ~Brenda~]

Lizzie sweetheart,

It is so wonderful hear about your name change!! Your mother accepting you and promoting you is just fantastic. I do hope your father gets his act together and comes around. At this point, he is missing out on developing a truely wonderful relationship with his daughter. I am sure he will get it together. Your mother sounds like a wonderful lady as you are

Lizzie, you have always been a great source of inspiration!!

Love you hon,

Brenda

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

Another pretty good day today. Got my name changed at work, the bank and the Dr's office. The bank was my first stop and it made me smile when the lady asked if I was changing the name on my account due to getting married.

Went in to Office Depot to get some things faxed over to work and at first the store manager and assistant didn't recognize me until they really took a look and both were like "OMG!" I casually mentioned that I've been going through some 'changes'. lol

After I picked mom up from work we went to Bell's Outlet and Lane Bryant hoping to do some clothes shopping and I found out shopping with your mom can be a real chore if the two of you have totally different styles.

But all in all, it was a good day. I don't go back to work until Sunday so my dad has to spend yet another night in a hotel room. (mind you, this is all his choice)

[Guest angie]

Well yay for you Lizzie!

It is majorly affirming when we have everything corrected

to show the real you to the world.Heck yeah girlfriend I am

very happy for you!

Huugggzzzzzzz,

Angie

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

2 big things happened today. Today was "let's just put it out there in the open and finally talk about it" day with me, my mom, my dad, my brother and my sister. There were some very emotional moments, much heartfelt talking, some tears, more talking, more explaining. I think my dad is under the impression of "if I don't accept my new daughter I run the risk of never seeing her again", so I think he's going to work towards accepting this and partly because my mom said "hey, this is still our child and our love will not change because of this."

My brother gave me a hug and said that he would try to work on accepting me but it's going to be weird for awhile and awkward.

...then, I had to leave for an appointment (which was made before all this went down) and I got my very first pedicure!

and when I came back, everyone was talking and laughing like nothing had changed. Not sure what the conversations were like while I was gone but when I came back it was like everyone was back to their old selves again.

So we'll see how it goes from here, but at least it's all out in the open now and everyone knows about it.

[Guest Robin Winter]

YAYYYY! I'm both proud and jealous of you! But in a good way!

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Oh Lizzie

I am so happy for you!

Oh my goodness - Ihave to tell you I watch your progress with such great interest. I think I am about ten steps behind you - and you are so good at explaining.

And "because you are getting married?" HEAVENLY!

And the good purses? YES - but after you study what you want, go on ebay and find a used handbag in good condition like you like. Be careful because you will bid and bid before you find one sometimes. Women are sneaky and they wait to the end and outbid you by 50 cents! I have a BEAUTIFUL black leather fossil shoulder strap bad I got for under $50 - and its $350 new - and it had virtually NO WEAR!

Yea

And West memphis - wow - we never knew!

Call me when at I55 and I12 and you have time - I will met you at the Iron Skillet! PM me for my cell number - i sam not working right now.

Love you

Lizzy two