Name Change Roadmap · Step 5 of 5
Update Your Birth Certificate
Birth certificate updates are handled by the vital records office in the state where you were born — not where you currently live. Each state has different rules, and some states do not allow gender marker changes at all.
How it works
For name changes, all states accept a certified court order. For gender marker changes, about 15 states use an administrative process with no medical documentation required, 10 states require documentation of appropriate treatment, 7 states require both a court order and proof of surgery, and several states do not allow changes at all. Check the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) for your birth states current policy.
Policy alert: Birth certificate rules are set by the state where you were born — not where you live now. Name and gender marker rules often differ within the same state, so check both before you apply. Last reviewed August 2026.