Name Change Application - Advice?

[Guest Neil!]

God this whole thing TERRIFIES me for reasons I don't even really know :l

Sooo I'm finally getting ready to fill it all out and one of the questions is "reason for name change".

I can't remember which (tsroadmap maybe?) but some site I found a long time ago mentioned that not liking my birthname is a perfectly acceptable reason. Buuut my therapist suggested I just be honest and put down "transgendered" instead. Not that I don't trust her judgment, but... that seems really iffy to me. I'm scared that if I do that I'll end up with a biased judge who'll be all like "LOL NO, YOU'RE A FREAK OF NATURE, GET OUT OF MY COURT" and deny my application or something.

...I dunno, I have an overactive imagination.

What should I put as a reason?

I agree that total honesty would make things a lot clearer for the judge or whoever, but it seems like so many things could go wrong that way.

Halp?

[Guest Zabrak]

Know what I put down on mine?

"Sex change"

Yup. And all my papers had to be looked over carefully by the boss in order to be allowed a fee wavier - which can be denied. It was approved.

[Guest Evan_J]

You have the same fear as me (cuz I still haven't done mine yet) But I can tell you that a friend of mine did his and put the honest reason and in a way (or maybe it was why he got "overly questioned"?) it was to his advantage cuz when the judge did scrutinize him about was he trying to sneak out on some bills or something he was able to have his psych and docs submit the supporting paperwork.

[Sally]

The main reason for a denial of a name change request is for escaping debt collection or an attempt to commit a fraud.

If you are honest it does open up the admission of your documents and then the reasons to decline are removed.

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest NatalieRene]

hmm that brings up a interesting question. I have a student loan debt that I am paying off. By the time I am to the point where I am ready for a name change I probably still won't be paid off at the pace I'm going. Is it acceptable to simply tell the judge I'm not trying to escape the debt and that I will honor the debt and continue to pay it off after the name change or should I up my monthly payment and knock it out fast?

[Sally]

If you can pay it off first that would be OK, but your intent to pay it off is fine, there are even form letters that you can send to financial institutions to notify them of the name change and just continue to pay.

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Sex Change seems awfully blunt. How about Gender Reassignment Surgery.

Just an idea...

Lizzy

[Paula ult]

Even though i won't do my name change for 6 or so i do have the paperwork filled out, i put gender change on mine.

Paula

[Guest Zabrak]

Haha yeah its blunt, but it worked!

[Guest Martin]

Personally, I put down that my new name better matched my gender identity. However, other people have put things down like "common use" (which is true if a lot of people in your personal life call you that) and "personal preference." Keep in mind that name changes are public record - so presumably other people can find out what the reason was years after your name change has been completed.

[Guest Zabrak]

Not in Canada(for Candians ever reading this thread and worried about people 'seeing their records') no one can handle those records and many are burned/gotten rid of after the change has been made official and you are giving your certificate(For example, my finger prints I had to do for my name changed where burned after they did a check on me). The only thing I know they kept is a copy of the certificate so you can request another copy whenever you need it. The certificate only has your new and old name, stating it has been changed and its official.

We are a lot more protected in Canada then the US it seems. Which I'm not proud of, I rather everyone gets the same privacy.

[Guest CharlieRose]

The transgender law center (www.transgenderlawcenter.org) suggested I put something down like, "Changing my name to be a better fit for my identity." I don't remember exactly what it was.

[Guest nova]

I changed my name a couple of years ago and I don't recall having had to give any kind of reason. I had to file a petition that said what my proposed new name would be and I had to file a form "order to show cause". I had to run an Ad "order to show cause for change of name" in a local paper. The Ad is a notice to "all interested persons" to come to court and show cause, if any, why the petition should not be granted. The Ad had to run for four consecutive weeks (cost $45.00) Nobody showed up with an objection so the judge simply granted my petition. I suppose if someone showed up, then I would have explained my reasons. If nobody objects, the judge cannot deny your petition and he or she could care less if you're trans. The day the hearing took place, there was nothing but people with name change petitions and not one single person showed up with an objection to anybody's petition. I know because I was called last. I would have said simply, "I'm transitioning", if it came up. I wouldn't have said anything about GRS because that is a separate petition.

That's the way it went in Superior court in San Francisco. Documents in order? Check. No objections? Check. OK, (stamps papers) Next!

[Guest Alex509]

When I did my name change, I answered the why question with this: I'm making many personal changes in my life and a legal name change is one part of it.

[Guest Samm]

To have your name changed in the UK is unbelievably simple, you get a form called a dead poll( i think) costs £10 ish and they send you confermation and i think new certificates i cant rember,

Just thought i would say if anyone needed the help in the uk lol

Sam

[Guest Zabrak]

To have your name changed in the UK is unbelievably simple, you get a form called a dead poll( i think) costs £10 ish and they send you confermation and i think new certificates i cant rember,

Just thought i would say if anyone needed the help in the uk lol

Sam

Thats great info(though wow that seems simple) thanks for posting it.

[Guest julia_d]

It gets better... You can even get it done using legal aid making it completely free.

I have checked the laws surrounding this closely this week after being asked for my name change deed.. (I don't want to supply it.. My name now is my LEGAL name and has been since January 2001.. I don't see why a hospital needs to know my old name.. it feels invasive and unnecessary.. and very likely is. I have protested in writing) and there is only ONE situation where you are legally required to have one.. and that is IF you have been divorced (in your old name) and are applying for a GRC. They just want proof that the person applying is the person named on the old papers. Otherwise under UK law all you actually have to do is adopt your new name and notify the relevant authorities... That's weird.. gires have a lot of info about it in the human rights section of their site.

[Guest Jackson]

When I went to change my name, all I put down was "gender reassignment program". The judge looked at it and said, "Very good reason." And that was it.

I think they were all just so glad to see someone come into court for an early appearance (0800) and be dressed nicely. Shirt, tie, wingtips, and a professional coat. I think everyone at the courthouse thought I was a lawyer.

[Guest Joanna Phipps]

When I go for mine, I will be submitting a copy of my carry letter, and any other relevant documentation from my counselor and shrink, as part of the evidence and to support my claim. My sole reason is my gender status and I will continue to honor any debts incured under my old name. I might even submit a notarized letter to that effect.

[Guest CharlieRose]

I just got my name legally changed a little while ago, and I dunno if I had an especially nice judge or something, but it basically went like this:

Judge: Ok, name change by (mom)?

*Me and my parents stand up.*

Judge, to me: You want your name to be ___?

Me: Yes, please.

Judge: Ok, well you have the proof of publication, your parents are here and no one's here to contest it, so here you go! Have a nice day!

And we were out. Literally. I think she realized I was transgender because my girl's name is obviously female, and so she didn't say "You're changing your name from _____ to _____," like she did with all the other people changing their names when I was waiting for my turn. But, yeah, it was like *no* big deal. (Oh, and I'm a minor, so that's why my parents were there)

[Guest AshleyRF]

I just put "gender change".

[Guest Isabella]

I put down "I'm transgenderd & wish to have a name that reflects my gender identity"

[Guest Joanna Phipps]

Im not sure that the New Mexico paper work asks for the reason, so all i need to do is pay the court and the local newspaper and then thats all the money its going to take, well for the change. There is no telling how much it will cost to change things like my green card, drivers license and things. The bank and dr's office will not cost anything and as soon as I change my name I loose insurance coverage since my insurance is under my GF (and former spouse's) name.

but my hormones wont be affected since both the spiro and estrogen are on the walmart cheap list and both my dr and shrink have sliding scale fees so the less I make the less it costs.