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+---
+title: Namechange
+x-toc-enable: true
+...
+
+Table of Content {#pagetop}
+================
+
+-   [United Kingdom](#uk)
+-   [New Zealand](#nz)
+-   **TODO: add information about all other countries here**
+
+United States {#us}
+=============
+
+See:
+<http://www.transequality.org/documents/state/maine>
+
+This has information about how to change your legal name/ID, across various
+parts of USA.
+
+South Carolina
+--------------
+
+<https://www.scequality.org/public/files/docs/SCNameChangePacket-small.pdf>
+
+Name Change info: [here](https://av.trans.chat/common/docs.zip)
+
+United Kingdom {#uk}
+==============
+
+*This is for UK \*citizens\* only.* If you're resident in the UK, but
+not a citizen, you still have to go through your own government in the
+countr\[y/ies\] in which you are a citizen of. See:
+<https://www.gov.uk/browse/citizenship/citizenship>
+
+Go to any decent solicitor and arrange to have your legal name changed
+via *deed poll*. You can also use this to get your legal title changed
+(E.g. Mr. to Ms., or Ms. to Mr., etc).
+
+You don't have to get a lawyer to do it, you can do it yourself too.
+This page has a guide for it: <http://bikkit.co.uk/deedpoll.html>
+
+**If you do it correctly as per that guide (if you're doing it yourself
+without a solicitor) and the deed poll gets rejected, note that this is
+\*discrimination\* according to the Equality Act 2010. Your deed poll is
+equally valid whether you write it yourself or get it from a
+solicitor.**
+
+It's cheap, and anyone (even cis people) can do it, with little or no
+scrutiny. You then contact e.g. bank, utility providers, landlord /
+mortgage provider, etc to get your name/gender changed in their records.
+
+See: <https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/overview>
+
+Getting a new passport (with gender marker changed)
+---------------------------------------------------
+
+The UK government has guidelines:
+<https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/applying-for-a-passport-information-for-transgender-and-transsexual-customers>.
+
+This can also be used to get a new passport, in your new name, with your
+gender marker changed.
+
+You should present as your desired gender, in your new passport photo;
+basically, you should look in that photo like you think you're going to look
+the next time you need your passport (e.g. verifying your ID when you register
+a bank account, or go travelling, etc). So if you're a trans woman, present as
+a woman in the new passport photo. If you're a trans man, present as a man in
+the new passport photo. NOTE: non-binary people are not legally recognized in
+the UK; passports are only issued with M or F gender markers on them. This is
+a current issue in the UK, which ought to change (E.g. X gender marker on
+passports).
+
+You can find photo booths (for taking passports) in or around most supermarkets
+or in shopping centres. These photo booths are often intended for the purpose
+of passport photos, and photos for other official ID in the UK.
+
+**You need doctors authorization to change your gender marker on your
+passport.** This does not have to be at a gender clinic. You can just
+ask your GP to write a letter for you, and give you the letter,
+confirming that you are transitioning. NOTE (non-binary people): you can
+only change your passport to say either Male or Female. The UK does not
+legally recognise non-binary people at present, unfortunately.
+
+Going through your GP is the fastest route, if you're on a waiting list
+(private or NHS, since both usually have waiting lists) for trans care.
+
+Get your doctor (e.g. GP) to write something like this (substitute
+man/woman as necessary):
+
+**The letter from the doctor should say your \*NEW\* name, not your old
+one. So for instance, if you're a trans man and your new name is Gary
+Metcalfe, then the letter should say Mr. Gary Metcalfe on it, when
+referring to you. If you're a trans woman and you're new name is
+Annika Greer, the letter should refer to you as Ms/Mrs Annika Greer.**
+(non-binary people are not legally recognised in the UK, and passports
+can only say male/female on them. This is something that we as a
+community need to campaign to change)
+
+*United Kingdom Passport Agency,\
+London Passport Office,\
+Globe House,\
+89 Eccleston Square,\
+London,\
+SW1V 1PN\
+\
+Subject: Mr/Ms/Mrs \[Your First Name\] \[any middle names\] \[Your
+Surname\]\
+\
+To whom it may concern,\
+\
+The above named is a trans man/woman (female-to-male/male-to-female) who
+\[wishes to receive health services related to gender reassignment and
+is making strides to do so / is receiving private gender reassignment
+health services via \[clinic\] since \[date\]/ is receiving NHS gender
+reassignment services since \[date\]\].\
+\
+I can confirm that Mr/Ms/Mrs \[Your Surname\] has made an official name
+change via deed poll process and has been living successfully in the
+male/female role.\
+\
+In my opinion the patient is stable and permanent in his/her chosen
+gender role and I would be grateful if you would issue a male/female
+passport to him/her in accordance with this.\
+\
+Yours sincerely,\
+\[Doctors Name Goes Here\]*
+
+Gender recognition certificate
+------------------------------
+
+Deed poll only changes your legal name/gender *currently in use*, but it
+does not alter your birth certificate. It also does not alter your death
+certificate (if you die, your death will be recorded according to your
+birth certificate). If you go to prison, quite often they will send you
+to the *wrong prison*.
+
+In 2004, the UK government started allowing transgender people to update
+their birth certificate, by letting them acquire what's known as a
+*gender recognition certificate*.
+
+To get this, you must first complete the *deed poll* process, and you
+need to live full-time in your desired gender for *at least 2 years*,
+with proof that you have done so (name on mortgage/rent, utility bills,
+etc, and/or testimony from others). You usually also need an approval
+letter from your gender clinic, whether NHS or private.
+
+See: <https://www.gov.uk/apply-gender-recognition-certificate/overview>.
+
+New Zealand {#nz}
+===========
+
+New Zealand grants citizens the right to change their name/gender on
+passports and other documents. They also allow for *X* gender to be
+specified, in the case of non-binary trans people.
+
+See:
+<https://www.passports.govt.nz/what-you-need-to-renew-or-apply-for-a-passport/information/>
+
+Under the Births, Deaths and Marriages and Relationships Registration
+Act 1995, you can also change your name/gender on your birth record. If
+you're a child, your parents and/or guardians can apply to the *New
+Zealand Family Court*. Adults can change their details themselves.
+
+See:
+<http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Services-Births-Deaths-and-Marriages-Information-for-Transgender-Applicants?OpenDocument>
+
+TODO: add other countries
+=========================
+