UPDATED 5/16/18: This blog post was originally published 3 years ago. While the general information remains relatively current, the forms and some of the links are outdated. I will update soon; in the meantime please visit your local court’s website for forms. If you are in San Diego, there is a free clinic to help with name and gender marker changes, held once a month. Please email TransClinic.SanDiego@gmail.com. Thank you!
I have been meaning to post this for quite a while, but I have been shorter on time than I have on good intentions. 🙂 I know this is something that many people need assistance with, as filing a name and gender change (for yourself or your child) can be a daunting undertaking. Please keep in mind it typically takes 6 weeks from filing the documents to court date with a completed court order.
I want to give a huge “thank you” to Emmett for putting together a list of step-by-step instructions for filing a name and gender change and providing me with the court paperwork for an adult. Also, special thanks to Britt for providing the sample paperwork for a name/gender change for a minor.
I took the paperwork and filled out “sample” packets for each. The areas you need to fill out are highlighted. These didn’t scan well, so I apologize for the poor quality. If you have any trouble reading them, please let me know and I will either re-scan or I can answer specific questions. The files are too large to email. I know these are specific for San Diego, but I hope they will be useful to those in other parts of the state as well. If you are one of my clients and see me in my office, please ask me for a copy of the sample packets- I have several on hand!
Click here for the Transgender Law Center’s page with links to forms needed. (San Diego County link listed below.) For those of you not in San Diego, simply Google your county and “name and gender change”. PLEASE NOTE, DUE TO AB1121, IF YOU ARE CHANGING YOUR NAME TO REFLECT YOUR GENDER IDENTITY, YOU NO LONGER HAVE TO PUBLISH ANYTHING IN THE NEWSPAPER. If the court is unaware of this, educate them.
Here is the Transgender Law Center’s awesome resource, “ID Please” that includes UPDATED information on changing name, gender, etc. If you are interested in pursuing a name and gender change, start on page 9. If you ONLY need to change your child’s gender marker (keeping birth name), and your child was born in California: click here.
Filing the packet costs $435 (at least in San Diego), but the fee can be waived based on low income. (“In Forma Pauperis“.)
Youth (minor) name and gender change sample packet HERE.
Adult name and gender change sample packet HERE.
BEFORE YOUR COURT DATE
(Thanks again to Emmett for these detailed notes!)
Print all necessary forms and fill them out (or have them filled out, as is the case for the doctor one, NC-210). Here is the website for printing the forms for San Diego.
Forms needed for an both an adult or a minor name/gender change:
CM-010
NC-220
NC-230
NC-200
NC-210
NC-110
-Make a copy of signed/filled out paperwork for your records. Bring the original packet and a copy of the packet to 330 W. Broadway. (Downtown San Diego).
-Once you pass the security check, take the escalator up to the second floor & the Civil Business area.
-It can be a little confusing, so ask someone if you are lost.
-Get in line on the far left of the room and wait to file your forms with the clerk.
-They will go over all your forms, stamp them and give you a case number.
-They may try to tell you that you need to publish your name change, REMEMBER that AB 1121 went into effect July 1, 2014 that states that a person changing their name for gender purposes is not required to publish.
-They will give you a court hearing date and time.
DURING YOUR COURT DATE
-Show up early.
-Bring both copies of all the documents and a pen.
-Give yourself time to find the court room.
-Sit down and wait outside.
-A lot of people will likely start showing up because people legally change their names for a variety of reasons (marriage, divorce, etc).
-Someone will come out and point to a list that is up on the wall. The list has everyone’s name on it and a number next to it. Find out what number you are and write it down. They call out cases by number and sometimes last name (so don’t worry about your birth name being called out!)
-They sometimes call in everyone that is getting both a name and gender change first because there are fewer people and it’s a more private matter than a marriage.
-You will get called in, you will be seated, the judge will come in, they will review your documents, and if everything is in order: declare your new legal name. (Congratulations!)
-After that they will tell you to go wait outside and they will bring you four signed copies of the court order.
-Do not worry about your physical appearance or gender presentation. If all the forms are filled out, especially the physician form, the judge does not care.
-You can leave and celebrate. 🙂
AFTER YOUR COURT DATE
Your work is not done! There are more documents to change that had your birth name on them. These documents are supposed to “match” in the system, so this is important. Here’s the order you must go in.
1) Social security
-1333 Front St, San Diego, CA 92101. (855) 820-0097
-Fill out this form for a CORRECTED social security card
–You’ll need to bring your court order (form NC-230), identification (driver’s license, ID or passport) and the form above filled out.
-No need to make an appointment, just walk in and take a number.
-Allow 4-6 weeks for the card to come in the mail.
-IMPORTANT The form does not include a specific gender change. So in the “sex” section mark the gender that you legally changed to (transmasculine folks mark male, transfeminine folks mark female) and make sure to point it out on the form when they call you up. It doesn’t say your gender marker on the card, but it does in their system, and that’s how the DMV verifies your gender when you go there to change your documents. Confirm they have changed it in their system.
2) DMV
-Go to whichever DMV is closest to you. Make an appointment, or get there early.
-Fill out this form with your doctor BEFORE going to the DMV
–You’ll need to bring your court order (form NC-230), identification (driver’s license or ID) and the form above filled out.
-You will also need to fill out form DL 44 (name change), but they give you that when you show up.
-They’ll call you up, review your forms, tell you everything is good and send you over to get a new photo taken.
-Allow 4-6 weeks for you Driver’s license to come in the mail. They will send you an ID card sooner than that.
3) Bank
-IMPORTANT you must have your updated ID or driver’s license BEFORE going to your bank. They use it as proof that you are who you say you are.
-Go in and ask to see a teller.
-Bring your court order (just in case), and your new ID or driver’s license.
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In the near future I will be posting more detailed information about how to change your birth certificate and password- stay tuned!
If you have any information that would be helpful to add to this blog post, please email me at tandotherapy@me.com
One more time, here are the sample packets!
Gender Blog by Darlene Tando, LCSW 
Can you please advise on what to do if the non-custodial parent is not in the picture & for all intents and purposes has abandoned the child (they have not seen each other for 10 years and Child Support Services were never able to establish contact)? How would I be able to legally change the name and gender of my minor child without a secondary signature when the father is not present but his rights have also not been legally waived? Thank you!
If you are in CA, try this:
Click to access CIV256_RE.PDF
Hello, I just need the cost for changing only the gender marker in the state of california. I was born there but have lived in washington my entire life. I can’t seem to have the price anywhere.
Thank you so very much for posting the sample legal doc packets. This was helpful and eliminated some stress. Peace&Gratitude
So glad to hear this!! 🙂 Thank you.
Thank you so much for this. I recently did a name-only change for gender reasons filing. The clerk did not know that newspaper publication is not required for a name change to conform to gender identity but instead thought that one must be changing both name and gender for the exception. We went back and forth over the wording in the instructions, and without this post I would have backed down and not gotten a court date. Thanks!
I’m so glad the post helped you!! 🙂 Thank you for sharing.
I went through the name and gender change at the court but was only provided with one signed copy. Can you tell me if the Social Security, DMV, etc will need to keep the signed copy? Lady at the court told me that each additional signed copy is $25 each
Darn, really? That’s a bummer, they should have given you a few certified copies. I don’t thing Social Security needs to keep one, you just need to show it. The DMV might need a certified copy. 😦
Hey there! I’m an out of state student, could I have a friend drop off my papers and get the court date for me or do I have to be there to drop off the papers? How flexible are the court dates?
I am actually not sure about that! I would call the court where you are going to file and see if someone else can drop off the papers/pay the fee. As far as the court date, I think those are pretty rigid once set. Here in San Diego they are usually about 6 weeks out. If your friend drops it off, you could give them your schedule for when you will next be in town. I hope this helps! If you find out more please post back. 🙂
Thanks a bunch, the Transgender Law Center is very useful, but their examples don’t help with the details of helping a minor with a name and gender change … perhaps you should send this link to them?