When To Make Legal Name Change?

[Guest Huff]

Hey guys...

I'm wondering at what point is it legal in the US to make name and gender changes on driver's licenses, etc.? Can I do it when I first start taking T or do I need to wait until I've had one surgery or do I need to wait until I've had both surgeries?

I'm wondering all of this because I'm going to be applying for grad school and am highly likely to start T between now and next fall and I don't know if I should apply under my male name and gender or whether to use my birthname. My GRE's and college transcripts obviously have my birthname and gender, so maybe it would be really confusing to look at an application file that had a mixture of names? I'm a little afraid to actually ask the universities about what they think... I'm afraid they'll just dump my application in the garbage for being a person that is too difficult or weird to deal with. I mean, of the hundreds of applications to look through, why bother with one that's confusing or more work? Why select a person that right off the bat is a pain to deal with? Or, do I wait until I get accepted and then try to get the university to change my name after I've enrolled? Will they even do that?

fear, fear, fear... any advice?

thanks.

[Guest Mani]

As far as changing your name, you can do that anytime. As for gender, it varies from state to state, but most of them require at least one surgery. I know that there are lists online that tell you the policy by state, I just don't have a link.

~Mani

[Guest matthew41]

Huff,

Yes you can change your name about the same time you start T. Once you have your court ordered name change document, you can go the the university registration office and have them change your name on your transcript. I had no problem at all when I changed my name at the university I went to. You can contact the GRE office and ask them if you need a specific form to change your name and send them a copy of the court order also. Each state has its own policy on gender markers on drivers licenses from you asking for it, to having a letter stating surgery is complete, but often a friendly clerk is all you need. I would look into the name change process in your state soon, it can take months to get on the courts schedule. Good luck,

Matt

[Guest Huff]

Thanks for the info, Matt.

MK

Huff,

Yes you can change your name about the same time you start T. Once you have your court ordered name change document, you can go the the university registration office and have them change your name on your transcript. I had no problem at all when I changed my name at the university I went to. You can contact the GRE office and ask them if you need a specific form to change your name and send them a copy of the court order also. Each state has its own policy on gender markers on drivers licenses from you asking for it, to having a letter stating surgery is complete, but often a friendly clerk is all you need. I would look into the name change process in your state soon, it can take months to get on the courts schedule. Good luck,

Matt

[Guest corrin]

ive heard that in some places, some medical covrage will cover having the overys removed if there is alot of pain during the period, or if there is a risk of cancer, but that they wont pay for it if you change your gender leagly. so you might want to look into that.

[Guest Cal]

ive heard that in some places, some medical covrage will cover having the overys removed if there is alot of pain during the period, or if there is a risk of cancer, but that they wont pay for it if you change your gender leagly. so you might want to look into that.

I'm not sure about complete legal gender change, but I just went to the DMV yesterday to get my driver's permit. I filled out the forms and circled female, and my birth certificate says female, and my middle name is very, very feminine. But the man took one look at me and put male into the computer. He turned the screen around and had me review it to make sure all the information was correct (SSN and address and such). I noticed it said male, but I didn't say anything.

I took my test, passed, and as I was being issued the card, a lady noticed that my birth certificate said female, but the computer form that had just been filled out said male. She called my mom over and asked if my birth certificate was a mistake. My mom said no. The lady asked if "there had been a surgery." My mom said no. The lady said she needed to put an F on my lisense until I either had a surgery or brought in a letter from my doctor or shrink.

Then they'll reprint me a card with an M on it.