US STATES & CANADIAN PROVINCES:CHANGING NAME AND GENDER ON ID AND BIRTH CERTIFICATE

by Diane Steen
Fall 2005

SAGA can help you navigate the maze of Arizona government agencies and processes you need to know to update your ID, birth certificates, and other necessary documents when you transition. Our awesome volunteer Diane can help you with forms, court paperwork, and is even available to go with you to court to provide moral support. (Note that Diane is not an attorney or legal expert, but she’s helped several folks, including herself transition in Arizona. Info from Diane should not be considered legal advice, just helpful information.) If you'd like to contact Diane, please email her at dianeintuaz [at] hotmail.com.

Each state and province (as well as the City of New York) has its own rules and procedures for changing the name and sex marker on birth certificates. Jump to the specific information for your state (below) to view what rules may apply to you.

Alternatively, you can Download this document in PDF format

The information given below was compiled from among a number of sources, including: drbecky.com, lambdalegal.org, SAGA legal issues research committee June 2002, and Transsexual Roadmap. There are also samples of a few state required forms at the end of this document.

If there is additional information, not contained herein that you feel is relevant, please contact SAGA and pass it on for inclusion.

SPECIAL NOTE: If you have your SRS surgery performed in a foreign country, be sure to get the letter from your surgeon and take it to the American Embassy, in that country, to get it notarized before you leave that country.


Rules for each of the individual states/provinces are given below: