Timeline for legal changes

[Guest Nova Maria]

I'm not going to be able to live full-time until I graduate in six weeks. Although this is frustrating, transitioning in my high school would present a legitimate safety hazard, and it's simply not worth the risk over a month and a half.

Should I wait to start my name change, etc. until I'm full-time, or would it be advantageous to start now?

Another question...my genital surgery is, realistically, many years from now. I can change my drivers license, social security card, passport, etc, etc beforehand, but not my birth certificate, as I'm sure you all know. Are there any negative repercussions to walking around with all information say one thing, and my birth certificate say another?

Also, how do I change the name on my bank accounts?

Thanks for all the help!!! Nova

[Carolyn Marie]

Timing is a very individual thing, Nova, and there is no one right answer. I know a transwoman IRL who has been living for years as a woman, has a career and is very active, and yet she has not gotten her paperwork yet. On the other hand, I would not go full time until I had my legal name change signed, sealed and delivered.

If you are planning to look for a job or do anything else that requires documentation, like traveling, its best to get the name change first. It prevents a lot of explaining and embarassment and having to out yourself. If you are living at home or are already working, you might be able to wait.

There isn't much reason to show your birth certificate to anyone, so unless you need a passport and don't now have one, or there is some other unusual situation, changing your BC is usuallly not essential. For me, it isn't even worth the bother.

Regarding bank and other kinds of accounts, you'll need that court decree, hon. Get at least two certified originals, and make lots of copies.

HUGS

Carolyn Marie

[Ravin]

The main thing that would be impacted at this point is the name on your high school diploma, which you can have re-issued with your new name later (for a small fee, probably). I wouldn't worry about rushing anything. Do it when you're ready, have the money, and feel safe.

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

You will have to check Colorado's laws regarding the name change. I don't know how long it takes between when you initially submit the paperwork and when your court hearing date is. Mine, down in Florida, took a month or two. Apparently down in Louisiana it takes a day. I believe the website for the Clerk of Court for your county should have all the info as far as what you need to do, how long it takes and what the associated costs will be.

As for the birth certificate, I haven't changed mine and I got a passport after my name had already been legally changed. All I did was present my original birth certificate and also the official name change letter.

[Paula ult]

I'm not going to be able to live full-time until I graduate in six weeks. Although this is frustrating, transitioning in my high school would present a legitimate safety hazard, and it's simply not worth the risk over a month and a half.

Should I wait to start my name change, etc. until I'm full-time, or would it be advantageous to start now?

Another question...my genital surgery is, realistically, many years from now. I can change my drivers license, social security card, passport, etc, etc beforehand, but not my birth certificate, as I'm sure you all know. Are there any negative repercussions to walking around with all information say one thing, and my birth certificate say another?

Also, how do I change the name on my bank accounts?

Thanks for all the help!!! Nova

I waited for over a year on hormones and six months full time before i got my name change, it is up to you how you want to do it, after my name change was finalized i was able to change the name on my social security card but not the gender marker in their system till after my surgery, the social security card has no gender marker on it, to change.

Bank accounts will require you to bring your name change document to the bank, see the bank manager.

Credit cards if not through the bank will require you to call and ask what you need to do to change the name, they will issue you a new card with your new name, same with any store cards subscriptions etc, it is best to make a list and check them off as you contact people.

In almost 60 years the only time anyone needed to see my birth certificate was when i applied for my passport, though i think bmv's are now required to see a birth certificate if you are applying for a dl.

Colorado name changes on birth certificates is here:

http://www.courts.state.co.us/Forms/Forms_List.cfm?Form_Type_ID=25

Colorado drivers license information is here:

http://crystlanngray.weebly.com/colorado-drivers-license-gender-marker-change.html

Passport information is here:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_5100.html

Paula

[MackenzieB]

I did my name change, driver's license and social security the week prior to going fulltime at work. But the reason for that was my old name was just way too testosteronian for after coming out. That and I had to in order as work would not use another name until it was legal (Fed Government). Now I'm just waiting for my Dept of Licensing form from my Doc in order to change the gender marker on my DL. He said that he was signing that today. Once I have that, the Fed's will change my gender (except those darn social security people).

[Guest MadisonRose]

Personally, as a college junior/senior, I found myself setting "deadlines" for all my legal changes to be underway however those dates came and went and so finally I was driving one day and was like... I have the filing fee... I am going to the court house. I filed the paper work for legal name change (in Vermont you can also submit a letter from your doctor at the same time as your hearing and have your birth certificate changed, not amended, changed.) The time between the filing and the court date was about 2 weeks for me and another 4 weeks from the court date to the changed birth certificate. I did this all mid-semester though everyone (peers/professors) knew me at school by Madi.

Long story short it is up to you... Don't get me wrong, it is quite a process from the name change to driver's license and social security card, but it can all be done and worth it in the end.

Good luck to you!!!