For persons who are U.S. Citizens but were born outside the United States: You can change your name and gender on your U.S. Department of State issued birth certificates. One must obtain a legal name change (original or certified copy) from the court of the county for which they reside, the original birth certificate, plus an original letter of SRS from the surgeon and forward such information to: U.S. Dept of State 1111 19th Street N.W., Suite 510 Washington D.C. 20502-1705 (202) 955-0307 The State Department will then re-issue a new birth certificate (not amended) and the process takes approximately 6-8 weeks. As of 1999, the fee was $40, but one should call them to obtain the current fee for this process. Alabama Alabama will issue an "amended" birth certificate noting change of name and sex, but will not issue a new birth certificate replacing the original. The fee to prepare an amended birth certificate is $15.00, which includes one certified copy. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $4.00 each. You will need an original or certified copy of the court order for your name change, as well as an original or certified copy of a COURT ORDER for change of sex (not just the surgeon's letter). This enters another step into the procedure and is best handled through an attorney, although at extra cost. You must file a "petition to amend a vital record," state what you want to amend, provide documentation of the reason for your petition, and name the Center for Health Statistics as defendant. This is the actual portion from the Alabama Vital Statistics Law which deals with gender reassignment: § 22-9A-19(d): “Upon receipt of a certified copy of an order of a court of competent jurisdiction indicating that the sex of an individual born in this state has been changed by surgical procedure and that the name of the individual has been changed, the certificate of birth of the individual shall be amended as prescribed by rules to reflect the changes.” On the positive side, if you live in another state they will accept the court order from that state, if issued from “a court of competent jurisdiction” (court with authority to issue such orders in that particular county or state). The fee for the court order is a separate fee, and varies from one court to another. Contact information: State Board of Health Center for Health Statistics P.O. Box 5625 Montgomery, AL 36103-5625 (334) 206-5418; (334) 206-5426 Ms. Dorothy S. Harshbarger State Registrar and Director dharshbarger@adph.state.al.us Alaska Alaska will issue an amended birth certificate noting change of name and sex. You will need an original or certified copy of the court order for the name change, and an original or certified copy of the letter from your SRS surgeon. Mr. Alfred G. Zangri Chief, Health Research and Vital Statistics Department of Health and Social Services azangri@health.state.ak.us Alberta Please refer to the Alberta government Web pages regarding vital records. Vital Statistics requires statutory declarations signed by two doctors before a notary public, plus a statutory declaration by the applicant signed before a commissioner of oaths or a notary public. Fees to amend a birth certificate are $20. Name change to a gender-appropriate name does not require SRS or the alteration of the legal sex. Arizona Arizona will change both name and sex, and will issue a new birth certificate rather than amend the old one. The original certificate is "closed" to further inspection. As of 2011, the fee for the change process is $301.00. You will need an original letter from your SRS surgeon, and an original or certified copy of the court order for your name change. IMPORTANT: The court order must specifically state "the name may be changed on the Arizona birth certificate." Contact information: Office of Vital Records Arizona Dept. of Health Services P.O. Box 3887 Phoenix, AZ 85030-3887 (602) 255-3260 Fax: (602) 249-3040 http://www.hs.state.az.us/vitalrcd/index.htm Ms. Renee Gaudino Administrator and Assistant State Registrar Arizona Department of Health Services rgaudino@hs.state.az.us Arkansas Arkansas will change both name and sex, and will issue a new birth certificate if the court order so specifies. The request for the court order must include medical documentation (letter from SRS surgeon). Arkansas Department of Health Division of Vital Records 4815 West Markham Street Slot 44 Little Rock AR 72205 (501) 661-2174 British Columbia Sex on a birth certificate issued in BC can be altered if 1) the sex was recorded in error at the time of birth, or 2) the person has undergone SRS. The applicant must provide a certificate from the physician who performed the SRS; evidence that the physician is licensed in the jurisdiction where the surgery was performed; and a certificate from a physician licensed to practise in the jurisdiction where the applicant resides, stating that the person has completed SRS. (The government does not require a specific type of surgery to be performed, but that the physicians certify that the sex has been reassigned according to accepted medical standards.) Formerly, the applicant had to be unmarried; now that same-sex marriage is legal in British Columbia, this requirement is no longer enforced. The fee to amend the birth certificate is $27; if a new certificate is to be issued, there is a fee of $27 for that service as well. A person may change their name to one appropriate to their gender of identification without undergoing SRS or changing their legal sex assignment. Please see the BC Vital Statistics Agency for details. California (Update 2009) See this pamphlet: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/birthdeathmar/Documents/4-2008%20Gender%20Reassigment%20%20PAMPHLET.pdf California will change both name and sex, and will issue a new birth certificate rather than amend the old one. California Health and Safety Code, Section 103425-103445, states: "A petition for the issuance of a new birth certificate in those cases shall be filed with the superior court of the county where the petitioner resides." The State Office of Vital Records has made a Web link with a PDF document detailing the procedure for obtaining a new birth certificate after "gender reassignment". The link is: http://ww2.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/birthdeathmar/Documents/Gender%20Reassigment%20PAMPHLET%20(10-08)%20MERGED%20220.pdf There is also a phone number for information on this procedure: (916) 557-6076 You will need an original letter from your SRS surgeon, and acertified copy [not the original!] of the court order for your name change. If you do not have a court order for your name change, you may petition the court for change of name at the same time you petition for the new birth certificate. You will need a complete VS-24 form, which can be obtained from the State Office of Vital Records. A photocopy of this form is not sufficient. A fee of $20 includes one copy of the new Birth Certificate; additional copies are $14 each. Michael Rodrian State Registrar and Chief Center for Health Statistics mrodrian@dhs.ca.gov Colorado Colorado will change both name and sex, and will issue a new birth certificate rather than amend the old one. In order to change the name and gender for a person born in Colorado, we need a certified copy of a legal name change and the judge ordering us to change the birth certificate because of gender reassignment. Once the surgery has been completed and you have the court order, we need a notarized letter or our correction form (website-www.cdphe.state.co.us) and $20.00 to correct the certificate, $15.00 for one copy of the birth certificate and $6.00 for each additional copies. Jake J. Salazar Birth Correction Specialist Vital Records Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South Denver, CO 80246 Phone - 303-692-2226 Fax - 1-877-785-1434 Email - Jake.Salazar@state.co.us Our Website - www.cdphe.state.co.us/certs/index.html Online Credit Card Orders: www.vitalchek.com Credit Card Orders via phone: 1-866-300-8540 Connecticut (updated 2007) Connecticut will change both name and sex. To change your name you need to get a Probate Court order for the name change and take it to to the town clerk of the town where you were born. They will AMEND your Birth Certificate. To change your gender you must contact the Vital Records office in the State Department of Health in Hartford. You can contact Maria Colon at: (860) 509-7956 or email at: maria.d.colon@ct.gov. They will send you two affidavits you must have completed and NOTARIZED. One affidavit is for a therapist to confirm your female identity and the other is for the SRS surgeon to confirm you had SRS. If you had SRS outside the United States, you'll have to get an affidavit from a US Doctor confirming that SRS was done. Delaware Delaware will change both name and sex, and will issue a new birth certificate rather than amend the old one. You will need an original letter from your SRS surgeon, and an original or certified copy of the court order for your name change. Mr. Michael L. Richards Director Office of Vital Statistics mrichards@state.de.us District of Columbia The District of Columbia will NOT issue a new birth certificate, but will amend the original birth certificate upon receipt of certified copies of the court order for name change and the letter from the surgeon who performed SRS. Mr. Carl W. Wilson, M.P.H. Registrar and Director DC State Center for Health Statistics cwilson27@aol.com Florida (updated 2008) Florida WILL change name and sex on the birth certificate. Information as of 2008 indicates that the old name remains "on the bottom of the new birth certificate". I do not know if the same applies to the old gender marker. If anyone has an update of how that looks, please let me know. To process a request for birth certificate amendment as a result of gender reassignment surgery: · The registrant must present a court order entered pursuant to Section 68.07, Florida Statutes OR if the order is from another state, there must be evidence that the proceeding for name change is substantially similar to that outlined in Section 68.07, Florida Statutes. The registrant may submit a copy of the petition for change of name or the applicable state statute that indicates what procedures the foreign court utilized. · The existing birth record must be amended to reflect the name change prior to processing for gender reassignment surgery. · Once the name change is recorded, the registrant must file a notarized affidavit, i.e., DH 430, Affidavit of Amendment to Certificate of Live Birth. Additionally, pursuant to Section 382.003, the applicant must submit medical records indicating that the patient has completed sexual reassignment in accordance with appropriate medical procedures and that they are now considered to be of (male/female) gender) for all medical purposes . The medical records must be signed by the physician who performed the reassignment surgery. The physician must include his/her medical license number. · The required amendment fee must be submitted and the record will be amended as outlined in Florida Administrative Code Rule. 64-V.1.003 (1)(f) to correct the gender, which conflicts with the given name as recorded. Here are the details: (1) the court order for a name change must be effected first - and the person should choose a clearly female name, e.g., don't change your name to Pat, Dana, Frances/Francis, Meredith or any other name that could be construed as a male name. (2) the birth certificate must be amended to reflect the new, clearly female name. (3) After the birth certificate has been amended to reflect the new "clearly female" name, then you can apply to change the gender based on the fact that the gender is clearly in conflict with the name. You should include an affidavit from the physician who performed operation and who will state that you are female. Office of Vital Statistics Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services P.O. Box 210 Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042 (904) 359-6900 ext. 9005. Georgia Georgia will change both name and sex, and will issue a new birth certificate rather than amend the old one. Contact Information: Vital Records Service State Dept. of Human Resources 47 Trinity Avenue SW, Room 217-H Atlanta, GA 30334 (404) 656-4750 Email: GDPHINFO@dhr.state.ga.us Mr. Michael R. Lavoie Director, Vital Records Unit mrl0600@dhr.state.ga.us Please contact the Legal Section of the Vital Records office (404-656-4901) and ask for instructions for correcting a vital record. Hawaii Hawaii will change both name and sex, and will issue a new birth certificate rather than amend the old one. You will need an original or certified copy of the letter from your SRS surgeon. A court order is not required. Alvin T. Onaka, Ph.D. State Registrar and Acting Chief Office of Health Status Monitoring alvino@hawaii.edu Idaho Idaho does NOT change sex on the birth certificate. A bill to permit the changes was rejected by the Idaho legislature. Idaho will, however, change the name on the birth certificate. Details on how to accomplish this can be found at the state site: http://www2.state.id.us/dhw/vital_stats/appmenu.html Illinois Illinois will change both name and sex, and will issue a new birth certificate rather than amend the old one. There's a new revision of the form, out in 2005, which requires either a letter from a surgeon licensed to practice in the United States, or an examination post op by a physician licensed to practice in the United States. * As of 2006, unfortunately, Illinois is refusing applications from persons whose surgery was outside the US, even with a post op exam by a US physician. Now, however, Dr. Brassard has obtained a US license, so his Montreal patients can proceed with the Illinois requirements. Stay tuned. First you should follow the instructions on their website: http://www.idph.state.il.us/vitalrecords/gender.htm This definitely appears to be the easiest way to start the process. Or you may write to the following address: Department of Public Health Division of Vital Records 605 W. Jefferson Street Springfield, IL 62702 Ask them to fax you what you need to get signed by the doctor and notarized, top and bottom (see below). Make sure you specify name and sex aka gender change form. They can also mail it to you snail mail; but it is easier to get it faxed then signed, notarized, and send in your fifteen dollars for one copy, two dollars for each one after that. A third alternative is to call 217.782.6554 and ask for Vital Records, then ask for the birth certificate change department. My correspondents don't recommend the telephone contact because some persons in the office have been less than helpful on the phone. and ask for a "request for change of name and sex form." This form has two parts. The top is "affidavit by physician as to change of sex designation." If you get the form before SRS, you can ask your surgeon to fill it out and get it notarized. Otherwise you can send a separate notarized letter from the surgeon as usual. The bottom part is "affidavit by parent, guardian, or applicant, if of legal age." That part is obvious except for the line: "THAT the following were the personal particulars at the time of birth of_____________ " Complete this line using "John Doe, now Jane Doe" or the opposite as indicated. Complete this form and return it to this address: Department of Public Health Division of Vital Records 605 W. Jefferson Street Springfield, IL 62702 IMPORTANT: Send it by Priority Mail! Include the original letter from your SRS surgeon (unless the surgeon complete the top part of the form as above) and a certified copy of the name change order, and a check for $15.00 made out to "Vital Records". Additional copies are $2.00 each. Indiana (update 2009) Send a check for $10 made out to ISDH for new birth certificate. Indiana will issue a new certificate, not amend the old one. Old record will be sealed. Send copy of old birth certificate and an original court order to change name and gender. Indiana still requires a court order to change the gender on a birth certificate. Mary Keltner (Mary K) Corrections Supervisor at the Division of Vital Statistics 1.317.233.7515 mkeltner@isdh.in.gov ISDH Indiana State Department of Health 2 N. Meridian Street Section B4 Indianapolis IN 46204 Iowa From Lambda Legal and the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, 2006: Iowa changed its birth certificate statute to allow the state registrar to issue a new birth certificate when the state registrar receives a "notarized affidavit by a licensed physician . . . stating that by reason of surgery or other treatment by the licensee, the sex designation of the person has been changed." This language recognizes that not all transgender people will complete their transition by having surgery, but that they can still be recognized as the new sex if they have completed whatever treatment is necessary as determined by their doctors. Iowa will change both name and sex, and will issue a new birth certificate rather than amend the old one. You will need an original letter from your SRS surgeon, and an original or certified copy of the court order for your name change. Ms. Jill France Chief, Bureau of Vital Records Iowa Department of Public Health jfrance@idph.state.ia.us (515) 281-4944 Kansas (updated 2010) Kansas will issue an amended birth certificate. The following information is required: Affidavit from applicant documenting dressing and living as new gender; documentation of hormone treatment and surgery ("physiological and hormonal change"). Note: taking hormones without surgery does not qualify. Breast surgery (mastectomy) does not qualify; genital surgery is required. The cost is $15 for amending the certificate and another $15 for each certified copy. Elizabeth W. Saadi, Ph.D. State Registrar and Director Center for Health and Environmental Statistics vital.records@kdheks.gov See the Web site: http://www.kdheks.gov/vital/amend_birth_adults.html Kentucky (Update 2011) Kentucky will change both name and sex, and will issue a new birth certificate rather than amend the old one. You will need an original letter from your SRS surgeon, and an original or certified copy of the court order for your name change. Please note that current interpretation (2005) of Kentucky law requires a notarized letter from your SRS surgeon, which can be difficult if your surgery was performed in the past or in another country. Office of Vital Statistics 275 East Main Street 1E-A Frankfort, KY 40621 (502) 564-4212 You can start the process by calling the number above. Louisiana (updated 2009) Louisiana will change both name and sex, and will issue a new birth certificate rather than amend the old one. According to the Louisiana Department of Public Health/Vital Records Registry, a person born in Louisiana may change their name and gender on their birth certificate pursuant to Louisian Revised Statute (RS) 40:62, which can be found here: http://law.justia.com/louisiana/codes/48/98725.html The statute allows a person to change their gender if they have “sustained sex reassignment or corrective surgery which has changed the anatomical structure of the sex of the individual to that of a sex other than that which appears on the original birth certificate.” RS 40:62(A) It is unclear what types of surgery constitute “sex reassignment of corrective surgery.” However, in determining whether a person has had such surgery, the court “shall require such proof as it deems necessary to be convinced that the petitioner was properly diagnosed as a transsexual or pseudo-hermaphrodite, that sex reassignment or corrective surgery has been properly performed upon the petitioner, and that as a result of such surgery and subsequent medical treatment the anatomical structure of the sex of the petitioner has been changed to a sex other than that which is stated on the original birth certificate of the petitioner.” RS 40:62(C). To change name and gender on a Louisiana birth certificate, a person must first submit a legal petition and include a surgeon's letter and any other supporting materials detailing how the person has met the requirements of the statute. A person will likely have to get a Louisiana attorney to write the petition. The petition has to be submitted to the court in the parish where a person was born, or to Orleans parish (where the Vital records registry is located). Louisiana does not accept name and gender change orders from any other jurisdiction, so even if a person has obtained these orders in another state, Louisiana still has the discretion to refuse to change a birth certificate. Nevertheless, a person should include these (if they have already obtained them) with their petition. The court will hear the petition, and if granted, will issue an order to change name and gender. The person will then submit the order, with a fee, to the Louisiana Vital Records Registry, and it will issue a new birth certificate. If a person has questions about the process, they can email the Vital Records registry at dhh-vitalweb@la.gov or contact them at (540) 219-4500. The state of Louisiana maintains this page telling how to change the sex and name on the driver's license. Maine (update 2011) Maine will change name and sex. The details are listed under 'department rules' for the Department of Health and Human Services, on their website, here: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/10/chaps10.htm under Office of Data, Research, and Vital Statistics. Specifically Chapter 2 can be downloaded as a Word document here: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/10/146/146c002.doc . LEGAL CHANGE OF NAME When a person born in this State acquires a new name by judicial decree from a court of competent jurisdiction, the clerk of the court shall file the appropriate notification form (VS-14) with the Office of Vital Statistics upon the written request of the registrant (aged 18 or older), his or her parents, guardian, or legal representative if under the age of 18. If the applicant wishes to amend items on his or her birth certificate in addition to the change in name, it must be done in accordance with sections 5 and 6 of this chapter. A line shall be drawn through the name(s) to be changed and the new name(s) entered above or to the side thereof. Entries shall be typewritten whenever possible or clearly printed in black ink. An asterisk shall be placed next to the name. A notation of the date of the court action, the name and location of the court, and the date the record was amended shall be entered on the certificate, placed so that it will become part of any copy issued. Certificates altered under this section shall be regarded as amended and be labeled accordingly. Certified copies of records with legal name changes finalized from January 1, 1982 through the effective date of this chapter, January 1, 1993, may not be issued by photocopying. Certified copies shall be typed and shall show only the name acquired by judicial decree. The copies shall have a marginal notation that the name was changed by judicial decree and shall show the name and location of the court. The fee for processing each court ordered legal name change shall be paid at the time that the request and court order are presented to the Office of Vital Statistics. It includes a complimentary certified copy of the record after amendment. If other amendments, in addition to the legal name change, are requested at the same time, the additional fee may be waived by the state registrar. LEGAL CHANGE OF SEX Any person born in the State whose sex has been changed by surgical procedure and whose name has been changed by judicial decree from a court of competent jurisdiction may present a certified copy of the notification form (VS-14), a notarized affidavit by the physician who performed the surgical procedure to the Office of Vital Statistics and a form VS-7 requesting that his or her birth certificate be amended accordingly. A new birth certificate shall be prepared in accordance with section 6, subsection C of this chapter. A notation shall be entered on the certificate indicating that the name of the registrant has been changed pursuant to court order. The date of the court action, the name and location of the court, the date surgical procedures were completed, and the day the record was amended shall also be entered on the certificate, in such a way as not to become a part of any copy issued. Certificates established under this section shall not be regarded as amended. The fee for processing a legal sex change shall be paid at the time that the request and the surgeon’s affidavit are presented to the Office of Vital Statistics. It includes a complimentary certified copy of the new record after amendment. Call: 1 (888) 664-9491 or (in Maine) 1 (207) 287-3181 and ask for Form VS-7: "Correcting a Vital Record in Maine." The completed form must be notarized. Mail the notarized, completed form, along with an original letter from your SRS surgeon, an original or certified copy of the court order for your name change, and a check for $25.00 (made out to State of Maine Dept. of Health and Human Services) to: State of Maine Dept. of Health & Human Services Vital Records Section 11 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0011 Manitoba In order for a person's legal gender to be reassigned, an application is required accompanied by two medical certificates: one from a doctor who performed sex reassignment surgery, and a second from a doctor who assisted at the surgery. Both certificates must attest that the sex of the applicant was changed through the surgery. There is a $25.00 fee to amend the record, and $25.00 for each new birth certificate requested. Application forms may be requested from the Vital Statistics Agency. Names may be changed using the normal procedure, and do not require legal gender reassignment in order to proceed. Maryland - updated information needed 2009 - address below not working Information direct from Kathryn Morris, Birth Section Chief, DVR: In order for the Division of Vital Records to change your sex and name on your birth certificate, we require a Court Order indicating that both your name and sex are to be changed. You can most likely obtain an amended Court Order to indicate the correct sex along with your new name. We cannot change the sex on a birth certificate with just a Physicians letter. [The amended birth certificate does not retain any reference to the original.] Once you obtain this information, send True Test Copy or Original Court Order to my attention at the Division of Vital Records, P.O. Box 68760, Baltimore, Md. 21215-0020 c/o Birth Section Chief. (410)764-3145. For the State of Maryland there is a Fee of $12.00 for any change made on a birth certificate if the person is over one year of age/ for an adoption/ paternity name change/ court order name change or gender change. Checks or money orders should be made payable to the Division of Vital Records. Massachusetts Massachusetts will issue an amended birth certificate. You will need an original letter from your SRS surgeon, and an original or certified copy of the court order for your name change. The letter from the surgeon must use the word "completed," not just "performed." Denise O’Gara Registry of Vital Records 150 Mount Vernon St. 1st Floor Dorchester,MA 02125-3105 (617) 740-2679 http://www.state.ma.us/dph/bhsre/rvr/vramend.htm Note: in Massachusetts, people can change names free of charge if they are “indigent.”  One is considered indigent if one is accessing government programs such as MassHealth, food stamps, SSI, SSDI, Section 8 housing, etc.  One can also submit a form demonstrating inability to pay.  The Commonwealth waves fees for these folks. This is a legal name change, not a birth certificate change. Michigan (Update 2011) Michigan will change both name and sex, and will issue a new birth certificate rather than amend the old one. Michigan law also provides for "sealing" of the old record. For further information, see Michigan Compiled Law 333.2831. UPDATE 2011: There have been some modifcations to the forms for the state of Michigan. Now you must change your birth certificate before you are allowed to change your Michigan drivers license. That is the exact opposite of the previous policy. In addition to that, people who were born in other states may not be able to change their Michigan license unless their BC lists the 'new'/correct gender. There are no longer restrictions on the type of surgery one must have. As long as they have undergone some sort of procedure, and their doctor (PCP or surgeon) will verify it, they may correct their BC. UPDATE 2010: To alter a birth record, Michigan requires a standard form available on the website: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/over6_6643_7.pdf You may download this PDF by right-clicking (Windows) or control-clicking (Mac). UPDATE 2008: You will need an original letter from your SRS surgeon [SEE UPDATE BELOW], and an original or certified copy of the court order for your name change. The fee is $26.00. Update 2008 from a Michigan correspondent: Myself and several other transsexuals have had our requests to change our BC's denied in Michigan. The law says that a signed affadavit is required, however they do not accept surgeons letters anymore. The state mails out a form (sorry, it does not have a form number, go figure) that states that "All surgeries, including but not limited to genital surgery have been completed." The form does not say which surgeries are 'approved' but so far FTMs with chest reconstrcution have been denied, as well as those who had metiodioplasty and did not op for scrotoplasty. I have a friend who had her breast augmentation done and was also denied.   So if you could please note that the form must be filled out and that a surgeon's letter is not accepted that would be helpful. I am consulting the ACLU to see if it is possible to get the form to be more specific since the law only dictates that "sex reassignment has been completed." Also note that a photocopy of your state ID or drivers' license is required to be mailed out with the application. Contact information: Michigan Department of Community Health Changes Unit (517) 335 - 8660 http://www.mdch.state.mi.us/ Ms. Connie Sopocy State Registrar and Chief Office of the State Registrar Center for Health Statistics sopocyc@michigan.gov Minnesota As of August 2000 the following information applies: There are essentially 2 ways to amend a birth record.  Method one is to provide 2 documents per item being amended that were established at least 7 years ago or more which show the information the way your want it to appear on the birth record. Method  two is to provide a court order which specifically directs the birth record be amended for the specific items that are desired to be changed.  For either the cost is $20 to amend the record. Contact: Mr. Kim W. Jeppesen Records Management Unit Office of State Registrar Center for Health Statistics Phone: (612) 676-5128 FAX:     (612) 676-5667 Mississippi Mississippi will NOT issue a new birth certificate. If a court order is received, Mississippi will issue an amended birth certificate with the new name and gender typed in the margin, but the old name and gender remain unchanged. Contact information: Vital Records State Department of Health 571 Stadium Drive Jackson, MS 39216 (601) 576-7981 Fax: (601) 576-7505 vrinfo@msdh.state.ms.us Missouri (update 2010) Missouri will issue an amended birth certificate. You will need an original or certified copy of the court order for the name change "if the name is 'typically' used for the opposite sex." There is a $15 charge for the change and another $15 for each copy. Updated 2006: You must have a court order for legal name change (original or certified copy) AND a court order to change gender (original or certified copy). It can take 4 to 5 months to amend and receive the copies. Checks can be made to: Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Bureau of Vital Records PO Box 570 Jefferson City, MO 65102 573-751-6378 Update 2011: There must be two separate court orders, one for the name change and one for the gender change, and the court orders must SPECIFICALLY name the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records and specifically order them to make the changes. Court orders that do not specifically order the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records to make these changes will not be accepted. The order can come from a court in another state as long as it specifices the MISSOURI Bureau of Vital Records. Clarification from a correspondent in Missouri: The law was passed to make the process easier. Preceding 2006, each circuit court and member judges had their own methods of processing petitions in court. Some rural county circuits made it next-to-impossible for a petitioner to get a name change, yet it was easier for someone in a larger metro such as St. Louis and Kansas City. Some rural circuit judges remanded the case be sent to agencies that had no constitutional party to process such matters and issues. The law in 2006 was passed to make the process uniform in all circuits. By petitioning to have the Dept. of Vital Records declared, judges could not waive on that petition or remand it to another party. The only matter left for them to decide in hearing was the reason for the name change to prevent deception and/or fraud, and to allow for anyone to challenge the petition, provided the plaintiff publicly advertised the petition as required even before the revised 2006 statute.   Montana Montana will issue an amended birth certificate, but the item(s) amended are not designated. You will need an original letter from your SRS surgeon, and an original or certified copy of the court order for your name change. Debra M. Fulton Acting State Registrar and Acting Chief Bureau of Vital Statistics defulton@mt.gov Nebraska (update 2009) Nebraska will change both name and sex, and will issue a new birth certificate rather than amend the old one. You will need an original letter from your SRS surgeon, and an original or certified copy of the court order for your name change. Also this form will need to be printed and completed, to send in with your documents: http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/ced/birthamdapp.pdf Stanley S. Cooper, M.S., Ph.D. Service Administrator Health Records Mangement Section doh7151@vmhost.cdp.state.ne.us Nevada Nevada will change both name and sex, and will issue a new birth certificate rather than amend the old one. You will need an original letter from your SRS surgeon, and an original or certified copy of the court order for your name change. Emil DeJan Bureau Chief, Health Planning and Statistics Office of Vital Records edejan@govmail.state.nv.us New Brunswick/Nova Scotia The following information is current as of March 2002, according to my sources: I live in New Brunswick, Canada, I was born in Nova Scotia, Canada. First I had to visit the Vital Statistics New Brunswick office on-line to change my name: http://www.gnb.ca/0379/en/change.htm They have all the info and you can order the 'kit' on-line. I was asked to provide a letter from a therapist as to verify the nature of my request. I also had to provide an original 'long-form' birth certificate, because I was born out of province. I ordered that on-line from this site: http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/onlineservices.stm It cost $25 and was delivered promptly. After all that, and $100 later to PNB, I got my 'Change of Name' certificate. Then you go back to the PNS (Province of Nova Scotia) site. In order to change name and sex, you will need to supply this Change of Name certificate, a letter from your SRS surgeon, and a letter from another physician who has examined you post op. New Hampshire New Hampshire will change both name and sex, and will issue a new birth certificate rather than amend the old one. New Hampshire now requires a document of a court-ordered legal sex change....just a surgeon's letter is not enough. They made this change in Nov 2001. NH State Vital Records Code 7007.03(e) "Upon receipt of a court order advising that such individual born in the state of New Hampshire has had a sex change, a new birth record shall be prepared in accordance with He-P 7007.02 to reflect such change." You will also need an original or certified copy of the court order for your name change. Ms. Karen Grady State Registrar and Chief Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics kgrady@dhhs.state.nh.us New Jersey New Jersey will change both name and sex, and will issue a new birth certificate rather than amend the old one. Updated New Jersey information as of June 2005: Changes such as we require are handled by the Modification Unit and are accepted ONLY by mail. YOU CAN NOT DO THIS IN PERSON AS BEFORE. Along with the letter requesting the change you must submit the following:     Application fee of $27.00 US in the form of Personal Check or MO made out to New Jersey State Treasurer. A seal copy of the court order of the name change. A NOTARIZED Copy of the Surgeon's Letter. Your original birth information. It can be hand written including Date, Place (Municipality), Parents. ( Or it may be a copy of a Birth Certificate.) Return Address and Phone number. Mail to: New Jersey Department of Vital Statistics P.O. Box 370 Trenton,N.J.   08625 Attn: Modifications Unit Updated New Jersey information as of November 2002: The filing fee for the name change was 175.00, and I had to post an ad in the local paper, once prior to the judgement being rendered, and once after. I paid I believe about 45 dollars for the both ads to run. There is a fee of 5.00 for each copy of the rendered judgment to be sealed, and the seal is essential for it to be used to change other documents. The document also has to be registered with the State, and that is an additional 50.00 fee.  As far as the gender change, one contacts the State dept. of health to petition the gender change, and you can include the court order only after it's validated by the state. A simple letter however from the surgeon doesn't suffice, what they required in my case was a notarized copy of the actual surgical report. Changing the driver's license also requires proof of SRS having been performed. Contact information: State of New Jersey Department of Health P.O. Box 370 Trenton, NJ 08625 Attention: Corrections Unit Mr. Don Lipira State Registrar Vital Statistics and Registration dll@doh.state.nj.us New Mexico (update 2010) New Mexico will change both name and sex, and will issue a new birth certificate rather than amend the old one. The old information will be "sealed" and cannot be opened without a court order. You will need an original letter from your SRS surgeon, and an original or certified copy of the court order for your name change. You will also need this Birth Search Application form completed : http://www.vitalrecordsnm.org/Forms/birthsearchapp.pdf This can be found on their website www.vitalrecordsnm.org under the birth certificate hyperlink. The fees are $10.00 for changing the information, and another $10.00 for a new certificate. Contact information: Vital Records and Health Statistics Bureau 1105 St. Francis Drive Santa Fe, New Mexico 87503 Phone: (505) 827 - 0121 or 827 - 2338 FAX: (505) 827 - 1751 New York City (update 2011) New York City has its own separate Bureau of Vital Statistics. New York City will issue a new birth certificate rather than amend the old one. You will need: An original or certified court order for name change. This order must have the name given at birth and the new name to be used, and include your complete date of birth. A copy of current valid photo identification. A payment of $15.00 is required for a certified copy of the birth certificate, and a payment of $40.00 is required for the amendment, for a total of $55.00, payable to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. If you purchased a birth certificddate within the past three months, you may provide the birth certificate instead of the $15.00 certified copy fee. Documents that prove that you had convertive surgery. In order for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to determine that a person has had convertive surgery, DOHMH looks for information such as: 1) when the surgery was performed; 2) who performed the surgery; 3) the medically-specific details of the trans-surgeries and reconstructive surgeries performed, including the specific types of surgery performed (for example, penectomy, orchiectomy, vaginoplasty, hysterectomy, and/or phalloplasty); 4) a signed statement or report from the surgeon who performed the surgery providing that the surgery was actually performed and successfully completed; and 5) documentation from a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, or other licensed mental health professional confirming that transition to the acquired sex is complete. Please note that a letter/affidavit from a doctor simply stating that you have had convertive surgery is not sufficient to prove you had convertive surgery. As provided in DOHMH's instruction letter, the following documents are examples of what have been found to be useful and sufficient to demonstrate that convertive surgery has been performed and that one's transition is complete and permanent: Original or certified copies of Surgical Operative reports: These should include the medically-specific details of all trans-surgeries and reconstructive surgeries, their dates and signatures of the surgeons. Post-operative examination: This report should document that the surgical change of sex was completed; it should be signed by a physician. Post-operative psychiatric evaluation: The letter should indicate that the transition to the acquired sex is complete and be signed by a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, or other licensed mental health professional. Also people now can apply for a court ordered gender change in NYC if they feel that they do not want SRS or will be unable to have it, but are living full time in their new gender. The new birth certificate will list the new name but will not have a listing for sex at all. That section is simply omitted. Edna Timbers, Deputy Director, NYC Depatment of Health etimbers@health.nyc.gov   New York State See the 2006 update on the Transsexual Road Map site: www.tsroadmap.com/reality/name/new-york-birth-certificate.html New York State will change both name and sex, and will issue a new birth certificate. New York requires more documentation than most states. You must first complete an application which can be obtained from the following address: State of New York Department of Health, Vital Records Section Corning Tower Empire State Plaza Albany NY 12237 Return the completed application, with fees as indicated on the application, and the following documents (all "original or certified copy"): - the court order for name change, bearing the court seal, certified by the clerk of the court. Certified proof of publication is also required. The court order must include original name, date and place of birth. - the letter from your SRS surgeon, specifying date, place, and type of procedure - the actual OPERATIVE REPORT from your SRS - a letter from your primary therapist "documenting true transsexualism or inappropriate sexual identification." - a letter from your endocrinologist or other medical physician "concerning hormonal, chromosomal or endocrinological information." Once these documents are received, a "medical review" will be performed, and your new certificate issued. Processing takes approximately three months. One certified copy will be provided following the amendment; any additional copies are $15.00 each. Mr. Peter Carucci Director Vital Records Section pmc02@health.state.ny.us Updated information June 2002 for New York State: It turns out that NYS has two different forms of birth certificate: (i) a regular "Certificate of Birth" that contains your name, sex, date of birth, time of birth, county/city/town of birth, parent's names, ages and social security numbers, mother's maiden name and address at the date of birth, whether this was a twin birth, etc. (ii) a much shorter "Certification of Birth" that the Dept of Vital Stats internally calls the "short form", which only contains your name, sex, county/city/town of birth, and date of birth. The "short form" isn't mentioned anywhere in the paperwork, but is available by simply asking for the "short form" (it costs the same $15 as the long form) when ordering. The short form carries an impressed seal and serves as a legally valid birth certificate just as well as the long form. The New York State short form can be very useful in cases where both first and last name were legally changed - because it eliminates the incongruity of the child on the certificate having a different last name from the parents (it is also useful in cases where the "father is unknown", etc). Quite a few postops face this problem, which causes unwanted outings if they ever need to use a regular birth certificate. North Carolina North Carolina will change both name and sex, and will issue a new birth certificate rather than amend the old one. You will need an original notarized letter from your SRS surgeon, and a certified copy of the court order for your name change. The processing fee for the preparation of a new birth certificate is $15.00. There is an additional $15.00 to obtain one certified copy of the new record. Each additional copy is $5.00. See Statute 130A-118: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/statutes/statutes_in_html/chp130a.html Ms. Vickie Pearce Assistant State Registrar State Center for Health and Environmental Statistics, DEHNR vickie.pearce@ncmail.net North Dakota North Dakota will issue an amended birth certificate. You will need an original or certified copy of the court order for the name change, and an original letter from your SRS surgeon. Mrs. Beverly R. Wittman Deputy State Registrar for Vital Statistics and Director Division of Vital Records bwittman@state.nd.us Nova Scotia: see New Brunswick Ohio Ohio will NOT change sex on the birth certificate. There was some question whether Ohio will even change the name, but latest information tells me that name change can be done through the Division of Vital Records with a court order. This, however, does not amend the original birth certificate. An "abstract copy" will be created with a court order, and if you request by name this "abstract copy" you will receive an attached statement with your new name. You may, however, be able to have the sex designation on your Ohio driver's license changed. See link below, thanks to TransOhio and Equality Ohio: http://www.transohio.org/change/bmvchange.html Oklahoma (update 2011) We have conflicting information from Oklahoma. Please read this message recently (March 2011) received and compare it with the information below it. I am not sure if this depends on the person you come in contact with or if it has recently changed again. -------------- At the present time, the Oklahoma State Department of Health does not have the statutory authority to amend a birth certificate to modify the gender. A bill was introduced in the Oklahoma State Legislature in 2011 to give the Oklahoma State Department of Health the authority to amend a birth certificate to modify gender, but that provision in the bill was defeated. --------------- Oklahoma will issue an amended birth certificate. You will need an original letter from your SRS surgeon. Information as of 2007 is that Oklahoma issues a two page certificate, with the "amendment" page on top, and the original page unamended on the bottom. What you need to send: 1. Notarized statement from the SRS physician who completed the SRS surgery 2. Court order for your name change. If you already have one send that. If you don't, you must get one from the court of your current state of residence. 3. $40 for 1st amended certificate, $15 for each additional. 4. Photocopy of a government issued ID (passport, driver's license, etc.) 5. Cover letter to the Oklahoma Office of Vital Records stating that you want to amend your birth certificate, specifying what the amended parts should be. Also include your full name at birth, date of birth, city/county, father’s full name, mother’s full maiden name. Sign the letter. Send to: OK State Dept of Health Vital Records Division 1000 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73117-1299 If you have questions, contact: Lucinda (405) 271-5615 at the Oklahoma Office of Vital Records. Ontario Ontario will issue an amended certificate, changing either name or sex, and the certificate will not reveal which items were changed. The change of the sex designation on the birth registry is a separate process from the change of name. A copy of the long form of the certificate will list the original name and sex, along with the new name and new sex, plus annotations describing the changes made. Change of Name: Contact the Registrar General’s office and request an "Application to change an adult’s name". You will need original copy of your birth certificate, a signature of a guarantor, and a signature of a commissioner. Present cost is C$137. Change of Sex Designation: Contact the Registrar General’s office and request an "Application for Change of Sex Designation on Birth Registry" package. There are three forms to be filled in. You fill in the "Application for Change of Sex Designation on Birth Registry" form. The surgeon who conducted the transsexual surgery the "Medical Certificate of Transsexual Surgery". And another physician completes the "Medical Certificate to Substantiate Transsexual Surgery was Performed" form. The cost to have the change performed is C$37. Cost of the short form (certificate) is $C15 while the cost of the long form is C$22. Office of the Registrar General P.O. Box 4600, 189 Red River Road Thunder Bay, Ontario P7B 6L8 (800) 461-2156 or (416) 325-8305 Oregon Oregon will change both name and sex, and will issue an amended birth certificate, without any designation of what has been amended. Updated information as of January 2010: Contact Oregon Vital Records at this link.  The telephone contact is (971) 673-1137.  Send a copy of the name change court order and the court order for gender change (these will not be returned to you) along with $50 to:   Oregon Vital Records PO Box 14050 Portland, OR 97293-0050 Attn: Amendments I would suggest that anyone planning on doing this call for the correct person as the job does move around.  A good referral is the department manager, (971) 673-1178. Pennsylvania Pennsylvania will change both name and sex, and will issue a new birth certificate with no mention of being amended. The original birth certificate is amended and "sealed" so that it is unavailable to the public. Web site: http://www.health.state.pa.us/vitalrecords You will need an original letter from your SRS surgeon, and an original or certified copy of the court order for your name change. The fee is $10.00, but there is no fee for military veterans. Mail to this address: Vital Records, Corrections Unit 101 S. Mercer St. New Castle, PA 16101 Ph. 724-656-3331 Fax 724-656-3153 With your materials, include your date and county of birth. "Please send the certified court order change of name as well as your incorrect birth certificate. We also need a letter from your doctor stating sex reassignment surgery has occurred and you are now functioning in the newly assigned gender." Please note that some respondents report that Pennsylvania kept their original letter from the SRS surgeon and would not return it. Québec In order for a person's legal gender to be reassigned, the person must be of age, unmarried, and a Canadian citizen, and have resided in Quebec for at least a year. Sex reassignment surgery must be completed. A form from the Directeur de l'état civil must be submitted along with: * a medical certificate from the physician who performed the surgery; * a medical certificate from a physician licensed in Quebec, attesting that the surgery was successful; * a declaration and oath from the applicant. Fees are $125 for amending the record, and $10 for extra copies of the certificate of gender reassignment. The fee is not refundable if the request is refused. Formerly, a change of name to one of the opposite gender required a legal gender reassignment. This was successfully challenged in court and now a person can change their name to one of the other gender by the normal name change procedure, without needing a gender reassignment. See the provincial government site (in French). Rhode Island (update 2010) December 2010: While the information below may be correct, the staff at the Department of Vital Records recommend that you contact them directly at www.health.ri.gov for updated information. You will need a notarized statement from the physician that performed the complete surgery. The statement must be on the official letterhead of the hospital or clinic, and must declare that the "complete" surgery was performed and state the correct sex of the patient. The statement must also include the date and place of birth of the patient. Once I receive this document, I will send you an affidavit to be signed in the presence of a notary public. You would then return the signed affidavit, along with the $30.00 fee and a photocopy of your picture ID. If there is also a legal name change involved, you would have to send us a certified copy of the court order for the legal name change. Office open to public: Monday through Friday 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM Recorded message 401-222-2811 State of RHODE ISLAND Office of Vital Records Room 101 2 Capital Hill Providence, RI There is a $20 fee for a certified copy of existing birth certificate and a $30 fee for a certified copy of new birth certificate showing a change of sex (as of 9/15/10). Saskatchewan The relevant legislation is the Saskatchewan Vital Statistics Act. It requires a medical certificate of completed SRS from a physician licensed in the jurisdiction where the surgery took place (or, if this cannot be obtained, other documentation as required by the director of vital statistics); a certificate signed by a second licensed physician attesting that the person was examined and found to be of the target sex; and "any other evidence the director may require." With this, the sex on a birth certificate issued in Saskatchewan may be altered. The fee is $20. See Saskatchewan Health -- Vital Statistics. A person may change their name to one appropriate to their gender of identification without undergoing SRS or changing their legal sex assignment. South Carolina South Carolina will NOT issue a new birth certificate. They will send a "card" that can be attached to the old birth certificate, indicating change of name and sex. They require an original court order for the name change and a letter from the SRS surgeon. The fee is $39.00. Contact Information: Bureau of Vital Statistics Dept. of Health and Environmental Control J. Marion Sims Building 2500 Bull Street Columbia, SC 29201 Phone: (803) 898 - 3630 Mr. Murray B. Hudson, M.P.H. Assistant State Registrar and Director Office of Public Health Statistics and Information Systems hudsonmb@columb20.dhec.state.sc.us South Dakota (update 2006) Contact:  Vonda Abbott, Secretary, Office of Data, Statistics, and Vital Records South Dakota Dept. of Health 600 East Capitol Avenue Pierre, South Dakota  57501-2536 www.state.sd.us/doh phone:  (605) 773-4961, fax:  (605) 773-5683   According to ARSD 44:09:05:02 any amendment of a surname, first and middle name when affidavit already has been filed or any information on a deceased persons vital record requires an order from a court of competent jurisdiction.  When such an order has been obtained, please send a certified copy of it to this office.  The following are the requirements regarding a court order name change.   1.  The court order must order the South Dakota Department of Health or Vital Statistics to prepare the birth record to reflect the change.   2.  There must be enough informaiton in the court order to identify the birth record as it is now such as:  Name on the birth record, date of birth, mother's maiden name   3.  The court order must list the incorrect data as it is listed on the record.  Name, Gender   4.  The court order must have the correct data, as it should appear.  Name, Gender   5.  The court order must be certified.   If you are a member of a tribe:  (If applicable)  If the court order does not state parent or child is a member of a tribe, the following is the requirement:   The Attorney General's Office has advised that tribal court orders for name changes are acceptable if the tribal court has jurisdiction.  Tribal membership will determine jurisdiction in these cases.   * A notarized document that proves membership of parent or child to a tribe.   You may want to seek legal counsel:  the following is the State Bar of South Dakota attorney referral number 1-800-952-2333.  The fee to prepare the birth record is $8.00 for the amendment.  In addition, if you wish to obtain a certified copy of the birth certificate you must complete the SD application form wiht the statutory fee of $10.00.  If you have previously purchased a certified copy of the birth certificate we will exchange for no additional charge, but you must complete the application form for all orders. Tennessee Tennessee will NOT change the sex designation on the birth certificate. Tennessee will issue an amended birth certificate with the old name visibly struck over and the new name typed above it. You will need an original or certified copy of the court order for your name change. Texas (updated 2011) Direct from the Amendment Specialists at the Department of Vital Statistics Go to: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/vs/reqproc/forms.shtm   and open Form VS-2318.1A.   Print it out and fill it out. The fees to file an amendment to a birth certificate are $15.00. The cost of a certified copy of the birth certificate is $22.00 for each certificate. The fees were raised in December of 2005. There are two styles of the birth certificate, a short form or abstract and a long form. The short form is printed from the computer system and will only show the new name, date of birth, place of birth, sex, and parent’s names. The long form is a photocopy of the original birth record filed with our office at the time of birth onto our certified paper that will show the amendment underneath. On the long form you will be able to see the old information and the new information and how it was changed. It is up to you which style of birth certificate you want. We will automatically issue the short form or abstract unless you specifically request the long form. Along with your Application and fees you will need to submit a certified copy of the court order granting the name and gender change. The court order must have the original stamp or seal and signature of the clerk of the court. We can accept court orders from any state within the US. The court order does not have to come from a Texas Court if you do not live in the state of Texas. We do not need a copy of the SRS letter or a photocopy of your driver’s license because the court will have verified all the information. If you send us the Application, correct fees, and CERTIFIED COPY of the court order, your request will NOT be denied. The Vital Statistics Office in Austin, Texas is the only office that has the authority to make any changes or corrections to a birth certificate for a person born in the state of Texas. The normal processing time for requests sent by regular mail is 6-8 weeks. Send your money, court order and application to: Vital Statistics Unit MC 2096, Tx Dept of State Health Services, PO Box 149347, Austin, Texas 78714-9347. If you would like expedited services an additional fee of $13.00 is required. $5.00 expedite fee and $8.00 for our office to overnight the birth certificate to your address once the birth certificate is amended. Please use an overnight service such as Fed-Ex, UPS, DHL, ect… Do NOT use the Post Office. They do not hand deliver the package to our office and your request will only be delayed because it will come to our office as regular mail. If you use our expedite service, send your money, court order and application to: Vital Statistics Unit MC 2096, Tx Dept of State Health Services, 1100 W. 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78756. The processing time for the expedite service is 10-15 business days. You can make one check or money order out for the total fees. One check or money order of $37.00 for the amendment filing fee and one certified copy of the birth certificate OR $50.00 for the amendment filing fee, one certified copy of the birth certificate and the expedited fees. Utah (update 2011) Utah will issue an amended certificate, changing both name and sex, and the certificate will not reveal which items were changed. You will need original or certified copy of a court order for your name change and a court order for your change of sex designation. These court orders can be from any U.S. State or from Canada. Mr. Barry E. Nangle Director Bureau of Vital Records hlvr.bnangle@email.state.ut.us Update 2007: The Utah statute involved is 26-2-11 of the Utah Vital Statistics Act. Name or sex change -- Registration of court order and amendment of birth certificate. (1) When a person born in this state has a name change or sex change approved by an order of a Utah district court or a court of competent jurisdiction of another state or a province of Canada, a certified copy of the order may be filed with the state registrar with an application form provided by the registrar. (2) (a) Upon receipt of the application, a certified copy of the order, and payment of the required fee, the state registrar shall review the application, and if complete, register it and note the fact of the amendment on the otherwise unaltered original certificate. (b) The amendment shall be registered with and become a part of the original certificate and a certified copy shall be issued to the applicant without additional cost. This Utah attorney has experience with filing for court orders and is recommended: Lauren R. Barros, P.C. 261 East 300 South, #300 Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 ph: (801) 746-0670 fax: (801) 532-1597 email:lrb@laurenbarroslaw.com http://www.laurenbarroslaw.com/Barros/index.php Vermont Vermont will issue an amended certificate, changing both name and sex. You will need original or certified copy of a court order for your name change and a court order for your change of sex designation. The court will probably require documentation from your SRS surgeon. Virginia Virginia will issue a new birth certificate as of 2005: 12 VAC. 5-550-320. Change of Sex.   Except as provided in 12VAC 5-550-450-C upon presentation of acceptable evidence (preoperative diagnosis, postoperative diagnosis and description of procedure), and a notarized affidavit from the physician performing the surgery,  a new certificate of birth may be prepared by the State Registrar for a person born in this Commonwealth whose sex has been changed by surgical gender reassignment procedure. A certified copy of the court order changing the name of the registrant as well as designating the sex of the registrant must be in the possession of the State Registrar together with a request that a new certificate be prepared. Update 2008: If a notarized letter from the physician performing the surgery is presented, a court order may not be necessary. Washington Washington State will issue a new birth certificate for name and/or gender changes (after SRS has been completed). Here's what they need: (1) A letter signed by the doctor performing the surgery (on his letterhead) which is also witnessed by a Notary Public stating that the surgery has been done. (2) A certified copy of the Name Change Order (3) Birth info: parents names, date and place of birth; original birth name (we can probably just send a copy of the birth certificate) (4) Address where they should send the new birth certificate (takes 2 to 3 weeks to process) (5) $20 check or money order for the fee -- to Department of Health. Mail all to Kathy Devine at the Department of Health, Attn: Legal Name Change, P. O. Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507-9709 (360) 236-4344 West Virginia West Virginia will change both name and sex, and will issue an amended birth certificate with the old name struck over and the new name and sex typed in the margin. You will need an original or certified copy of the court order for your name change, and an original letter from your SRS surgeon. Wisconsin Wisconsin will change name and sex on the birth certificate. You will need a certified copy of your Court Order for Name Change as well as a certified copy of a Court Order for change of gender (two separate court orders). You will need a signed, dated, notarized letter from your surgeon confirming the date of the procedure. The surgeon should include your name, date of birth, date of surgery, type of surgery (male-to-female), and where it was performed. Finally, you will need your original birth certificate or a certified copy. Contact: Hal Hart Special Records Lead Worker Vital Records Section Bureau of Health Information & Policy Division of Public Health 1 West Wilson Street, Room 158 Madison WI 53702 608-267-0914 Another Wisconsin correspondent gives additional information on having your old birth cdertificate "impounded": Write a letter addressed to: Vital Records Office, 1 West Wilson Street, Box 309, Madison, WI 53701-0309. At the time of this writing, the contact person was Hal Hart. Explain that you are transsexual and seek to amend your name and sex and have the original birth record impounded. They will send you a form called: Report of Order to Change Name & Sex on Birth Certificate Due to Surgical Sex-Change Procedure (Form DOH 5035). This form can be used by any state to order information on a Wisconsin birth record to be changed. Remember, your current state of residence may have their own rules as to what they are authorized to order another state to change on a birth record. You will need to check state law yourself or contact your courthouse or legal advisor. Fill out Form DOH 5035 exactly as specified, making sure that you mark the box that orders the birth certificate be "Impounded and a new birth certificate shall be created for the registrant." If your state of residence allows ordering the record to be impounded, you can get the order certified where you live (otherwise, you should see about returning to Wisconsin and doing it in person). Go to your county courthouse, where the Clerk of Court or Deputy can assist you in preparing the proper forms. It is very likely you will have to pay a fee, and it is also likely you will need to appear before a judge. The cost for the appearance will vary significantly: I paid $221 in my state. Appear in court. You can represent yourself in court (pro se) or have a lawyer help. You should consider having a lawyer or TS friend who has been through this help you if you are uncomfortable filling out forms yourself. You will probably have to fill out a cover sheet, a complaint, and an order. Everyone I encountered at my local courthouse, including the judge, had never done one of these before, and they process almost 20,000 cases a year. I recommend coming in with all of the necessary information. Below is the text of the Complaint and Order I wrote out on the spot, which worked fine. Complaint I, [full name], seek to amend the name and sex on my birth certificate to reflect my Court Order for Name Change and to reflect my surgical sex reassignment to female. I also seek to have the original birth record impounded as allowed under Wisconsin law. I ask the Court to grant relief in this complaint by ordering the Clerk of Court to certify the Report Of Order To Change Name & Sex On Birth Certificate Due To Surgical Sex-Change Procedure. Order In this case which came today, Plaintiff testified under oath in the complaint. Relief in this complaint was granted after presentation of a notarized letter dated [date on letter] from [SRS surgeon], M.D., confirming that he performed surgical sex change on the Plaintiff on [SRS date]. The Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services is directed, upon receipt of appropriate fees, to make the following changes on this birth record: 1. Amend the name as specified on Form DOH 5035 to read [new name] 2. Amend sex to read female 3. Impound the old record and create a new birth certificate for the registrant. The Clerk of Court is so ordered to certify the Order To Change Name & Sex On Birth Certificate Due To Surgical Sex-Change Procedure. Return the form imprinted with the court seal along with the appropriate fees. In 2001, the fee was $20 to create a new birth record. A certified copy was $12 for the first and $2 for each copy ordered at the same time. I recommend you not trust this document to standard U.S. Mail. If you plan to overnight any information through a service that will not deliver to a mailbox, you can send it to Vital Records Office 1 West Wilson Street, Room 158 Madison WI 53702 (608) 267-7821 Processing usually take two to four weeks. RELEVANT LAW (subject to change): Wisconsin Statutes: http://folio.legis.state.wi.us/ click on the link to Statutes Wyoming Wyoming will issue an amended certificate. The certificate will specify the birth name and the birth gender, unless you can obtain a court order mandating a new certificate be created. Yukon Proof of identity is required, along with letters from two doctors attesting that the applicant's anatomical sex has been changed. There is no fee to alter the birth record, but the old birth certificate must be surrendered and a new one ordered. A person may change their name to one appropriate to their gender of identification without undergoing SRS or changing their legal sex assignment.

Please contact me if you have new information for this list, or any corrections.

becky@drbecky.com