Name Change
Transgender Health and Wellness Center - Name/Gender Change Resource Page
Includes know your rights information that individuals should know before starting the process of changing their name and/or gender-designation. Explains how to obtain a court order to change your name and gender.
Know Your Rights: Passports - Updated in 2025
Updated information on rights around passports and gender markers for trans and gender-nonconforming people.
Transgender Law Center Resources
This page from the Transgender Law Center has resource guides for different legal issues Trans people may face. They have a legal helpdesk that may help you find additional resources.
Ask for a Fee Waiver if you can't afford filing fees
In most cases, you have to pay a fee to file papers with the court. If you can’t afford the filing fee, you can ask the court for a “fee waiver” in order to file for free. With a fee waiver, you also may not have to pay for certified copies, sheriff's service of process fees, or other costs related to starting a case, such as the cost for a court reporter to be at your trial.
Changing Your Legal Identification in California
The law and risks around federal identity documents is changing. Seek the advice of an attorney for help with federal identity documents. This document was updated in 2023.
Gender Recognition in Court
This section shows you how to ask for a court order changing your legal gender documents, both in cases where you also want to change your name or when you only want to change your gender in legal records.
Name Change After or During a Divorce Case
If you are getting divorced and want to change your name to back to your maiden name, you can usually do that in your divorce case.
Transgender Health and Wellness Center - Name/Gender Change Resource Page
Includes know your rights information that individuals should know before starting the process of changing their name and/or gender-designation. Explains how to obtain a court order to change your name and gender.
Ask for a Fee Waiver if you can't afford filing fees
In most cases, you have to pay a fee to file papers with the court. If you can’t afford the filing fee, you can ask the court for a “fee waiver” in order to file for free. With a fee waiver, you also may not have to pay for certified copies, sheriff's service of process fees, or other costs related to starting a case, such as the cost for a court reporter to be at your trial.
Changing Your Legal Identification in California
The law and risks around federal identity documents is changing. Seek the advice of an attorney for help with federal identity documents. This document was updated in 2023.
Gender Recognition in Court
This section shows you how to ask for a court order changing your legal gender documents, both in cases where you also want to change your name or when you only want to change your gender in legal records.
Name Change After or During a Divorce Case
If you are getting divorced and want to change your name to back to your maiden name, you can usually do that in your divorce case.
Transgender Health and Wellness Center - Name/Gender Change Resource Page
Includes know your rights information that individuals should know before starting the process of changing their name and/or gender-designation. Explains how to obtain a court order to change your name and gender.
Transgender Law Center Resources
This page from the Transgender Law Center has resource guides for different legal issues Trans people may face. They have a legal helpdesk that may help you find additional resources.