LGBT Project: Name and Gender Marker Changes

Who needs a legal name change?

Anyone who wants to update the name on their government-issued IDs (BMV ID or driver’s license, social security card, passport, birth certificate).

Who needs a legal gender change?

People who want to update the gender marker on their Indiana birth certificate. You don’t need a legal gender change to update the gender marker on your passport, social security card or BMV ID.

Do I need to have surgery or be on hormones to legally change my name or gender?

NO! You don’t need to be seeing a doctor or have any medical transition to get a name or gender marker change.

Who can change their name or gender marker?

Adults (17 and older) who are not in jail or prison or registered lifetime sex offenders can change their name. Anyone can change their gender marker.

A minor’s parent or guardian can change their name or gender marker. Parents do not have to agree with each other for a minor to get a name or gender marker change. There are a lot of rules about whether a parent must agree to the name change. If you have questions about your situation, please contact us at lgbtgroup@ilsi.net or 317-829-3180.

Do I need a lawyer to change my name?

For help with minor name and gender marker or gender marker only cases, please complete an online intake here and put LGBT name change in the problem description. Someone from the LGBT project will contact you to follow up and get more information. You can also call us at 317-829-3180 or email us at lgbtgroup@ilsnet to schedule a phone intake.

How do I start a legal case to change my name or gender marker?

Fill out legal forms and follow the step-by-step instructions at Name and Gender Marker Forms.

The packets will also tell you how to prepare to talk to the judge and what will happen in court.

Click here to return to the main landing page for the LGBT Project.

Name and Gender Marker Forms
Name and Gender Marker - Updating ID

Name and Gender Marker Forms

Below are the forms needed to represent yourself in a name and gender marker change case. If you would like the LGBT project to represent you in court or fill out the papers for you, please complete an online intake and put LGBT name change in the problem description. Someone from the LGBT project will contact you to follow up and get more information. You can also call us at 317-829-3180 or email us at lgbtgroup@ilsnet to schedule a phone intake.

Forms for Adults

Adult Name and Gender Marker Packet

Adult Name Change Only Packet

Adult Gender Marker Only Packet

If you have been convicted of a felony, get the Adult Name and Gender Marker Packet with Conviction Packet

Forms for Minors

Updated forms for minors coming soon.

ILS encourages parents to contact us for advice about minor name/gender marker changes in your county. For advice about your specific circumstances, or for help with minor name/gender marker changes, please complete an online intake here and put LGBT name change in the problem description. Someone from the LGBT project will contact you to follow up and get more information. You can also call us at 317-829-3180 or email us at lgbtgroup@ilsi.net to schedule a phone intake.

Name and Gender Marker - Updating ID

After a judge has signed the order that legally changes your name and gender marker, there are two things you need to do to update your IDS:

1: Get copies of your order

To use the court order to update your IDs, you need to get it certified. A certified order has a special stamp that tells people it is an official court document.

To get certified copies of your order, go to the clerk’s office. This is the same office where you started your case.

It can cost up to $2 a page to get the order certified. You should get 3-5 orders.

2: Update your IDs

Updating IDs requires a lot of paperwork and running around. Each place that gives you an ID has its own rules about how to update the name and gender marker.

Get our instructions and forms for updating your IDs. The guide includes info about: