Start by situation

Choose the path that matches your real life, not a generic checklist.

Some people are navigating a gender-affirming name change. Some are updating records after marriage or divorce. Some need the most private or lowest-cost route available. Start from the path that fits your situation — then we layer in your state and county details.

Trans PathView this path

Trans-affirming name and gender marker path

For people changing their name to better reflect who they are and preparing for possible gender marker updates across court, DMV, passport, and SSA.

Best if

You want your legal name to reflect your identity.
You may be updating both your court order and your gender marker records.

Start here

Start with your state guide to confirm whether gender marker updates run with or separate from the court filing.
Check publication, hearing, and privacy options before filing anything publicly.

Nonbinary PathView this path

Nonbinary and X-marker planning path

For people prioritizing X-marker availability, self-attestation rules, and agency-specific differences when their state, birth certificate, and federal documents do not all match.

Best if

You want to know whether your state supports M, F, or X markers.
You may need to coordinate court, DMV, passport, and birth certificate updates separately.

Start here

Confirm which agencies in your state support X markers and which still require binary markers.
Check whether self-attestation is allowed or whether supporting documentation is still required.

Family Status PathView this path

Marriage or divorce name change path

For people updating their name because of marriage, divorce, or family status changes and needing a clear order for courts, SSA, DMV, payroll, banking, and travel records.

Best if

You are changing your name after marriage, divorce, or another family status transition.
You want to avoid payroll, banking, or travel record mismatches.

Start here

Confirm which document is your legal basis for the change in your state: marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order.
Update SSA before DMV, payroll, or banking systems to reduce verification failures.

Privacy PathView this path

Privacy-first and safety-sensitive filing path

For people trying to reduce public exposure, publication risk, or deadname disclosure while still moving forward with a legal name or marker change.

Best if

You are concerned about publication requirements or public court records.
You want to minimize deadname exposure during downstream updates.

Start here

Check whether your state offers publication waivers, sealed filings, or address confidentiality programs.
Prepare privacy-related paperwork before the petition so those protections are not missed on filing day.

Low-Cost PathView this path

Lower-cost and fee-waiver-focused path

For people who need to reduce filing fees, publication costs, and other downstream expenses while still getting a workable state-specific plan.

Best if

Court filing fees are a real barrier for you right now.
You need to know whether your state offers fee waivers or reduced-cost options.

Start here

Check whether your state court offers a fee waiver and whether it must be filed with the first petition packet.
Estimate publication, fingerprinting, certified copy, and downstream ID costs before filing day.

A calmer first step

Start free, browse privately, and commit to nothing.

Use the free intake to preview your state path. Then open the pathway that best matches your situation for deeper guidance on privacy protections, filing costs, gender marker steps, and downstream institution updates.

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