Name Changes In Florida, Early 2025

This was compiled before the incoming Federal administration took office. Executive orders may come swiftly about name changes at the federal level on Social Security records and on passports. Remember that executive orders don’t necessarily go into effect immediately and that they can be challenged.

We are heartened by these words posted by Chase Strangio (on Insta):

and Gillian Branstetter (on Bluesky):

Back to information on getting your name changed in Florida:

The best resource for a name change in Florida is Florida Name Change (FNC) , which was created by Southern Legal Counsel. Much of this information comes directly from their tool.

Florida Name Change can take you through the necessary forms step-by-step. You can fill out the forms online at FNC and a completed copy will be emailed to you, or you can download blank forms and fill them out when you’re ready. They also provide a checklist so that you can keep track of where you are in the process.

Both minors and adults can use Florida Name Change.

Florida has made some choices that make this a difficult process. It may take a couple of months to complete, and there are a lot of forms and steps. It can sure seem designed to be intentionally hard to do, and especially so for marginalized people. Oh, yes, choices were made, and those choices are racist and classist and transphobic and xenophobic, among other things.

To get your name changed in Florida, you will need:

1. To complete a crap ton of paperwork.
2. A valid driver’s license or state ID with your current address.
3. Your civil rights must not be in a suspended status.
4. You must have lived in Florida for at least six months.
5. Cost is about $450. Some organizations may have funding available to help, such as Transsocial.org, and you can apply for a waiver when you submit your forms at your County Clerk’s office. (link to florida resources)
6. You will need to have your fingerprints taken, a background check completed, and attend a court hearing.

Important:

• If someone who is not a lawyer is helping you, fill out the Disclosure From Nonlawyer form.

The Paperwork:

• Fill out the Cover Sheet for your court filing. This tells the court what to expect.
• Fill out the Limitation of Services form. This form is your statement that you understand the the Clerk’s office is not giving your advice and that they are not your lawyer.
• Fill out the Notice of Related Cases form. This is let the court know if you have any other cases currently moving through the court system.
• Fill out the Final Judgement form. This is the one the judge signs.
• Fill out the Final Disposition form.
• Fill out the Petition for Change of Name. You will be asked about:
  • Your previous addresses.
  • Any times you have changed your name in the past.
  • Your job history for the last 5 years.
  • Your education history.
  • Any criminal history.
  • Any bankruptcy events
  • Any $$ judgements that creditors have entered against you.
• Get your Petition for Change of Name notarized. This may cost some money. You will need an ID for this step. Best practice: do not sign your petition until the notary is present. The notary’s job is to affirm that you are who you say you are, that the information on the form is correct, and that you are the one signing the form.
• Notary options:
  • Your bank, if you have an account with a bank that has physical branches. UPS and Fed Ex stores often have a notary on staff. Your library may have a notary available.
  • The County Clerk’s office where you file your petition may have a notary available.
  • www.notarize.com
• Check your local LGBTQ+ community center and support groups.
• Prepare for filing.
  • The court will charge a filing fee of around $400. It may differ by county.
    • You can pay by cash or check.
    • You can request a payment plan.
    • You can apply for a fee waiver (the form is available on Florida Name Change.) This form will ask about your job(s) and financial situation.
  • Stamp two envelopes and address them to yourself. When your petition is signed, the clerk will send you your copy and associated information using these envelopes.
• If you were born in Florida, you will also need to fill out the Florida Health Vital Statistics Report of Legal Change Of Name form.

Review all of your forms.

Make sure that your name, address, and telephone number are on each document and that all forms are correctly signed. If a nonlawyer helped you fill out your forms, their name, address, and telephone number must be on the bottom of the last page of every form that they helped you complete.

Make a copy of all of your forms.

• Copy, scan, or take a picture of your forms.

You’re Ready To File Your Petition For Name Change

In Person

Go to your County Clerk’s office.
Or
File Online at the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal

• You will need an account
• See the tips for online filing at Florida Name Change

Then, Get Your Fingerprints Taken

See FNC’s fingerprint process page for information for your county.

• You may need to fill out the Fingerprint Information Sheet
• Go to a location with fingerprinting services and get your fingerprints taken.
• Bring a photo id.
• Provide the Originating Agency Identification number to the fingerprinting agency (see the resources for your county.)
• Pay the fee.
• Record and keep the Transaction Control Number that they give you. You may need this for your background check.

NEXT:

Your county clerk should receive the results of your background check. Once this happens, you can schedule your hearing. You will need to contact them to schedule.

Florida Name Change recommends contacting your County Clerk’s office about three weeks after your fingerprinting to schedule your hearing.

Schedule it!

Contact your County Clerk’s office and request to schedule your name change hearing.

At Your Hearing

FNC recommends that you wear “nice” clothes. Courtrooms tend to be formal places where casual or inexpensive clothes may further marginalize you, and judges may be offended if you do not show deference through your outfit. Yes, that’s fucked up. Arrive at least 15 minutes early so you have plenty of time to find your courtroom.

Bring with you:

• A copy of all of your forms.
• Your photo ID.

The judge will ask you some questions, likely including:

• Is everything on your petition true and correct?
• What is your current name and what are you changing it to?
• What is the correct spelling of your new name?
• Are you doing this of your own free will?
• Why are you changing your name?
  • YOU DO NOT NEED TO DISCLOSE THAT YOU ARE TRANS.

You may have a private hearing, or be seated in the courtroom with many other people there to change their names. (Witnessing others going through the same process can be a powerful act of community and joy!)

If the judge grants your petition for name change, they will sign your order.
Get multiple certified copies of your order from the county clerk when it is ready. You will need proof of your name change for other documents (and to have proof, just in case.)

Once your Florida Name Change is completed:

1. Update your social security record (during the Biden administration, you could update your gender marker on your social security record. We do not know if this will remain.)
2. Update your driver’s license (Florida is not updating gender markers for individuals with existing licenses. If you are getting your first license, you can file with your correct gender as long as you have a primary identification document such as a US passport with your correct gender on it.)
3. Update your passport (during the Biden administration, you could update your gender marker on your passport. We do not know if this will remain.)
4. Update your birth certificate (Florida is currently only allowing name updates. Other states may allow you to update both your name and gender marker on your birth certificate.)

Updating Your Social Security Records

Name Change
Go Online: Change Name With Social Security

Go through the widget to determine if you can complete the task online or need to make an appointment at a Social Security office.

Gender Marker Change With Social Security
Go Online: Change sex identification

NOTE: Early reports of executive orders with the new administration indicate that gender marker changes will not be allowed.

Go through the widget to determine if you can complete the task online or need to make an appointment at a Social Security office.

Florida Name Change has links to download the forms needed to update your social security records if you are not able to file online.

Note: Florida Name Changes states that you need a physician’s letter to change your gender marker with Social Security. The Social Security website as of 1/19/25 states that you do not.

Updating Your Passport

• $130 (6 – 8 weeks)
• $60 for expedited (processed in about 2 weeks)
• Emergency updates – make an in person appointment with a passport office near you.

Determine if you can renew your passport or if you need to get a new passport at this link. (Links may change after 1/20/25.)

You may be able to renew by mail if your passport was issued within last 15 years

See the widgets to:
Change or Correct a Passport (Names)

Selecting your Gender Marker

We expect an executive order stopping self-attestation of gender markers for passports early in the new administration.

Florida Birth Certificate Updates

$20.00

You can amend your name, but Florida is not currently allowing gender marker updates.

• Fill out application for amendment(form available from Florida Name Change.)
• Fill out affidavit of amendment of certificate of live birth.
• Sign the form in the presence of a notary and notarize.
• Mail these two forms along with a certified copy of your name change order and $20.00 to:
• Department of Health
  Office of Vital Statistics
  ATTN: Amendment Section
  P.O. Box 210
  Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042

Stay in Touch With Us

Earlier QueerDoc Articles:

• Protecting Your Identity: The Critical Importance of Legal Transition Amid Current Political Challenges – Fall 2024