Hi everyone!
Basically I want to change my legal name to something way more non-binary, including my middle names. I already know there’s a state application process and I’ll have to get my passport changed and all that.
Are there any more hurdles I’m not considering? I don’t even know what I want to change my names to yet, but I know at least one of my middle names won’t be “normal” so I’m a little worried about how that might work legally? Maybe I’m worried about nothing. I live in Texas if that makes anything different.
If anyone has advice or had any experiences they hadn’t considered at first, please let me know. I’m kinda excited about this.
Oh, and I still haven’t decided on any names, so feel free to suggest any lol. I’m looking for mainly like neutral to femme stuff and also naturey sciencey words that aren’t typical names. I kinda have a punk vibe too.
Thank you everyone and I love my trans comrades!
Texas name changes go through the courts from my understanding. If you are a cis person getting a normal cis name change, it’s probably no problem. I know someone who had their first and last named changed.
If you are a trans, then it’s more dependent on what judge you get I think? But if you are going with normal gender neutral names, it’s probably not a big deal. I haven’t looked that much into it since the biggest hurdle for me would be finding a name I want. If you have a criminal history it’ll also probably complicate the process.
Hey so first off, congrats! Changing your name can be an intimidating process even at the best of times and I’m proud of you for getting started!
Now some tips:
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Third party certified birth certificates are a scam, 100%, a scam. Your state board of vital records will have them available cheaper, and sometimes those certified copies are the only “real” ones.
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You do not have to navigate this alone and there are organizations that exist to help you, I found this page that might point you in the right direction. LGBT Law on the Texas State Law Library Website
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I am not a lawyer but… You probably don’t need to worry about your choice of name impacting your chances of getting it approved, AFAIK the courts primary concern with name changes are fraudsters and people on the run from debt collectors. Some courts view the name change laws in the US as clunky and outdated and won’t require you to have a day in court or take out a classified ad in the newspaper. Instead they would just push it through, this varies from place to place but you might get lucky in this regard.
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I would recommend that you get at least 5 or so certified copies of the court order when you get it. Most offices won’t give back any of the documents you gave them and having spares is always handy for any unforeseen situations where it may be needed.
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If you fill out a form digitally make sure that you save it some place where you can retrieve it later. These offices are run by people and sometimes things get lost along the way.
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No one looks good in their ID photos but legit one of my biggest regrets about the whole process was how I didn’t prepare for my drivers license photo. Looking at it makes me feel yucky ._.
Good Luck!
If you decide yo legally change your name, don’t use that name in organising spaces. I’m really regretting using my chosen name in activist spaces, I’ve met heaps of people i wish didn’t know my name lol
if youre looking for a nonbinary name, i think youre obligated to go with a noun :p science and nature?
- beaker
- flask
- rock (feminine, think iron or something)
- burn (maybe this is actually a nice name?)
Obviously Im kidding, change youre name to hammer sickle lastname
you absolutely dont have yo change your name to use your chosen name on almost any form
the thing thats stopping me is the admin :(
What’s wrong with using your name in organizing spaces? Now I’m a little worried since I’ve been doing that for more than a decade already. Should I be using an alias? I’m already a minor D-list commie organizer around these parts, everyone from the socialist student orgs to the local Republican Party knows who I am. Also I did have some fire-y words on my short list, like Scorch and Bonfire, but I’ll still try to figure that out lol