Closer still to name change!

[Lana Mae]

I went to an appointment with my attorney today! I went early and she was late! While I waited the receptionist/secretary had me fill out some forms for info purposes! She complimented me on how pretty I looked and then noticed my necklace and said she loved it! It is a beaded tassel on a gold chain! She said I had good taste! Attorney arrived and we discussed the things that need to be done! I had to give two personal references that live in the county! I gave my boss and a co-worker! I did not know the co-worker's middle initial so I had to get that! Total cost is $605 and other than getting my fingerprints for the criminal checks, she does the rest! She said she would immediately post the letter for name change in the courthouse(has to be there 10 days)She is just so bubbly! She shook my hand and then gave me a big hug! She stated the criminal report from the SBI will take the longest! I had read it would be the FBI but she said no, they are quick about it! She answered all of my questions!
I then went to work to get the co-worker's middle initial! I walked to a few residents' rooms and greeted them as Lana Mae! The middle initial was "H"! I called the attorney's office after I got home with that info! While I was at work they asked if I could work 3-11 as the med tech was sick! I reluctantly said yes! Tomorrow I am going to get my fingerprints done for the criminal reports! I will keep you advised!
Hugs Lana Mae

[Rhonda Darling]

Yea! A great first step on this path!! Congratulations.

[Devi SM]

Congratulations Lana Mae.

[Jeri Ann]

I remember that day several years ago when I walked out of the Bexar County Courthouse in San Antonio with a folder full of official copies of my name and gender marker change. I was on cloud nine. I looked around for someone to take my picture but I had walked out a side door and was by myself on that beautiful Spring day. After a few minutes I just started walking the three blocks back to my hotel. As I walked I contemplated what came next - Social Security Office first, then Department of Transportation after that.

Over time I changed records on everything I could think of. Some of the procedures were a pain in the ass. Letters, copies of photo I.D., court orders, some things even had to be done in person. Two years later I was getting copies of some of my college diplomas with my legal name on them. Sometimes you might deal with a rep or employee that doesn't even know where to begin. Every entity, it seems, has their own procedure, kinda like a box of chocolates.

Believe it or not, I am still going through hell with the name thing. I recently applied for a home loan. I am looking for a home to buy and wanted to get pre-approved. My bank gets credit scores from three different sources and then goes with the middle score. There was a glitch with one of the credit agencies, not with my score but with a conflicting identity. Yep, my dead name was associated with my credit history. Just yesterday I mailed packets of documentation to creditors that I haven't used in years. I am now changing the records on accounts that have been closed for years.

None of this should affect my getting a home loan because my credit score from the two agencies that did report was almost perfect. And, it has forced me to go through with a name change on an account that is still open. I have been reluctant to change that one because it is a small, regional credit union in the area that I came from. I know 3/4 of the people there and didn't want to start up the rumor mill. Also, I'm pretty sure it is not legal to have bank accounts under different names associated with the same SS number.

So, hang in there Lana Mae. The name change will happen and then the real work will begin. You will be wanting to come back to my house for a vacation.

To everyone who has gone through with a name change, or might in the future, be very thorough. Think about accounts, businesses, agencies, any one that might have a record of you.

And that's all I have to say about that.

[Lana Mae]

Sophie, go to the section marked Forum news, issues and help! Go to the closed thread marked name change by Di and follow the instructions! Piece of cake but you may have to add to the name to clarify which Sophie is you! Best wishes Hugs Lana Mae

[Lana Mae]

Today, had fingerprints done and took them to attorney's office! I had to sign the letter of name change and bring in my birth certificate! Mine was the original from 1951! I had to give it up as she is going to change my gender marker as well! I will receive a new birth certificate with Lana Mae W------ and female on it! I will truly be Lana Mae! My two personal references have to go to the attorney's office and sign something! Moving forward at the speed of light! LOL Hugs Lana Mae

[Lana Mae]

Orchid: Aww, thank you so much! It has been my pleasure to be here and share my life's journey with so many wonderful people!
Jeri Ann: Thanks for sharing that, Jeri Ann! I have been giving thought to who as well as how they are all interconnected! I would be very pleased to have a vacation at your new home and play ball with Obi! By next year my name change should be a reality!
Thanks ladies for your replies!
Hugs Lana Mae

[JeanTG]

Lana Mae, I hope things work out soon. My own name change is on hold as well. I don't live in the province I was born in, so my first step was to ask that my birth be registered in my current province. I sent the application in just before lock-down. I quickly got a letter back that the application was received and was "being studied". Then lock-down happened. And the processing of that application is not a priority service. So I have to wait. Once that step is done then I can send in the actual name change documents. It's a fairly lengthy process but not all that bad. It just requires notarized signatures and "send money...". I was the sponsor for my trans daughter, she will likely be the sponsor for her trans parent! Then I have to change everything else: passport. health card, driver's license, banks, etc. Otherwise most of the transition is also on hold. I'm living with my soon-to-be ex but we can't split because we're confined. And I can't present female in front of her as she'll go ballistic and I don't want to antagonize her any more; it will not be a "friendly" divorce but I don't want it to descend into acrimony either. I was scheduled to start laser for my face on March 30. That's not considered a priority service either. So we both need to hang in there, and any one else caught in pandemic paralysis...

I am anxious about my own name change as I have to travel to Rome in November (if things open up by then) and it will have to be under my male name and passport.

Hugs to all!

[Devi SM]

Those are great news Lana.
Now I'm stuck with my name and gender changed because courts are just receiving paperwork but mine are not considered "essential" so judge doesn't read them....

[AllieSF]

Lana Mae,

Remember to contact them again and make sure they filled out the corresponding forms to change your name with the IRS, Medicare/Medicaid, and any other Federal agency that relies on the Social Security identification for ID info. I had to return later to get that done and it should have been done the first time around. They forgot to do it!

Congrats,

Allie

[Lana Mae]

OK, great day but discovered I am a block head! I called the local Social Security office after getting the number off their door! They can do my name change by mail! They are doing with the form SS-5 and the court order only, as the court order has both names on it! Mailed it next day delivery via UPS! It should not be long now! LOL Hugs Lana Mae

[Devi SM]

Yeah! Very fast!

[Sarah Doepner]

That's all great news Lana Mae. I like the way that sounds and I think you will wear it well.

[Lana Mae]

Jean: Yes, we must be patient and let things work their way out! At least we have something to look forward to after all of this is done! LOL Hugs Lana Mae

[Lana Mae]

I spent the afternoon trying to find what is needed for name changes for different entities I must deal with in the near future! Mostly contact customer service! I need birth certificate and court order for social security and drivers licence! (Hope PA is on the ball with that birth certificate!) Got a folder and notebook to help keep track of it all! I got a handy brochure at the local DMV! This is going to be a lot of work but the end result is worth it! Hugs Lana Mae Thanks everyone for your responses!

[Jeri Ann]

You do not need your birth certificate for Social Security. You already have a SS number. All that is required is a photo ID and the court order. That is why you get the DL changed first. You do not need a birth certificate to change your name and gender marker anywhere. The birth certificate is needed to get a passport by not change one.

[Pat]

You do not need your birth certificate for Social Security. You already have a SS number. All that is required is a photo ID and the court order. That is why you get the DL changed first.

It might depend on the state you're in. In Massachusetts, the registry coordinates name data with the Social Security database, so you have to change your SS card before you change your license, otherwise the changes you make at the registry will get overwritten. So in MA, we change our SS card first, then change our driver's licenses and bank records (banks also coordinate with the SS database.) I did all of them in one day because the banks and the registry accept the receipt from SS as evidence you made the change. I don't know if that works everywhere. Jeri Ann is in Texas and I'm in MA, so you're going to have to check what it's like in NC.

[kathtx]

Great progress, even with the birth certificate hang up!

It will take a long time to get your name changed on everything. For me, I changed the everyday stuff quickly, but for various rarely-used accounts and stuff I always had more pressing things to do, especially since some places don’t make it easy to process a name change. A bit over two years since my legal name change, and I’m still tying up a few loose ends.

I had the same issue with what I’d always thought was my birth certificate; years before transition, I found it out when I’d applied for a passport. When our kids were born, they didn’t give us official birth certificates either, so we had to order the real thing later for their passports. Silly that hospitals don’t automatically provide the correct type of birth certificate.

[Jeri Ann]

After over two years of name changing on stuff a birth certificate has never been required, even for passport. If you are not changing your name on a passport but getting a new one yes, it is required. I have not changed my birth certificate. I never think about it.

Pat,
In Texas changing the name and gender marker on a DL required the proper form completed, the court order and $11.

[Lana Mae]

Contacted my attorney and she will get it fixed! I have typed it that way a few times and it was probably a typo! Should get it before long! LM

[Lana Mae]

OMG! OMG! I received a call on my answering machine and...I am now officially Lana Mae W------!!!!! The orders are in the mail! I can hardly wait for them to arrive! Praises to my attorney for getting this through during a pandemic! I am about to burst with joy!!! Hugs Lana Mae

[JeanTG]

Wow BIG surprise Lana Mae! Congrats on this very significant milestone on your journey! May the road continue to be smooth!

[Lana Mae]

Devi, wishing your better luck with yours! Thanks!
Allie, I will do that when I get the card back! Thanks!
Hugs Lana Mae

[Jeri Ann]

When I did my name/gender change I was told at the SSA that Medicare would automatically update. It does not. It took me three trips and several months before Medicare got changed. The third trip I insisted on talking to a person who knew how to do it. Of course, that was several years ago and things change.

DL and SSA are just the tip of the iceberg. Every company, organization, data base of any kind that you deal with will have their own rules and procedures for changing your name.

Also, it is important to recall any and all accounts, loans, memberships, etc. and change them too. Your credit history will get messed up when the same SS number is attached to different names. I found this out the hard way when getting preapproved for a home mortgage.

[Lana Mae]

A very happy/important day!!!LOL I received my Medicare card today! Yeah! LM