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ID Project: Connecticut
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Transgender ID Project

Name and Gender Marker Change:

Connecticut Quick Reference Guide

ABOUT THE TRANSGENDER ID PROJECT

The Transgender ID Project is a resource for transgender people living in New England seeking to update their legal name and gender marker on federal and state documents. It is a joint project of GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), Ropes & Gray LLP, Goodwin Proctor LLP, and Shipman & Goodwin LLP. Visit us online at www.GLAD.org/ID.

ABOUT THIS GUIDE

This guide was created as a legal resource for transgender and non-binary people living in Connecticut who are seeking to change their name and/or gender marker on federal and state identity documents. In most cases, you do not need to work with an attorney to update your ID documents. However, if you believe your situation will require legal assistance, the ID project may be able to pair you with an attorney from Shipman & Goodwin LLP pro bono (without legal fees). If you have questions or would like to be matched with a lawyer, please reach out to the GLAD ID Project at www.GLAD.org/ID.

This guide is meant to be a starting point for you, and in many cases, it may be all you need to complete the process. For more complicated situations, like if you have a criminal record, are facing housing insecurity, or are a minor with a parent who does not consent to your desired changes, more detailed assistance from an attorney may be needed. This guide provides information regarding the most common forms used to complete the name change and gender marker change process. Please note that not every section or every form will apply to your situation—you will need to read carefully to understand which forms you will need.

Disclaimer

This document is intended to provide general information only and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance on your particular situation, you must consult a lawyer. The provision of this information does not create an attorney-client relationship.

This guide was last updated in October 2022.

INTRODUCTION

The order in which you change certain documents, or whether you decide to change them at all, is somewhat flexible, but we generally recommend proceeding in the following order:

Gather existing legal documents: birth certificate, social security card, license/
ID and passport.

Once the documents discussed above are changed, it is generally easier to change other documents such as records with employers, schools, financial institutions, healthcare institutions, and the like. This guide does not provide forms for changing those types of documents, as the process varies greatly depending on location, institution, and type of document. Most of these documents can be changed administratively with a simple phone call, but there are certain documents (such as children’s birth certificates) that may require additional effort and/or assistance from an attorney.

A Note About Obtaining Certified Copies of Vital Records in Connecticut:

The cost of a certified copy varies depending on the type of record and where it is obtained. Certified copies may be issued by the town or the state. If available, VitalChek offers Expedited Processing, but there are certificate fees plus additional processing and shipping fees.


A Note About Non-Binary Gender Marker Changes:

Many people may choose to have a non-binary gender marker on identifying documents. If you are interested in using a non-binary gender marker, we recommend that you wait to speak with an attorney before making this change. Not all identity documents currently permit people to use a non-binary gender marker. Currently, certain federal documents such as Social Security records do not allow a non- binary gender marker. However, as of April 2022, U.S. passport applicants may select an “X” gender marker if they are applying for a U.S. passport book and selecting routine service. Connecticut does provide for a non- binary gender marker. There may be implications for people who have inconsistent gender markers on their documents. An attorney will be able to discuss these potential implications and help you plan how to manage them.

Appendices

To help you complete the necessary forms, we have included in Appendix A to this guide blank copies of the various forms and in Appendix B to this guide sample completed forms from the perspective of a fictional adult person using the following biographical information:

Current Name: Jane Smith Doe
Name at Birth: John Smith Doe

Gender Identity/Marker: Female
Sex Assigned at Birth: Male

Date of Birth: January 1, 1980
Place of Birth: Hartford, Connecticut
Citizenship at Birth: United States
Social Security Number: 123-45-6789
Mother’s Name at Birth: Mary Smith
Father’s Name: Robert Doe

Marital Status: Never married
Current Address: 555 Main Street, Hartford, CT, 01234
Phone Number: 860-111-2222
Occupation: Teacher

Vehicle Registration
Plate Number:
1ABCD2
Driver License Number: 111222333

Jane has had no other legal names. Jane is seeking to change her name to “Jane Smith Doe”
and to change her gender marker to “female” on all relevant documents. Note that certain of
the forms may be different for a minor child.

Note:

We understand that the steps for changing your name and gender marker may feel overwhelming.
We know that this process is not always a smooth one—government offices can make mistakes or ask questions that may be confusing. If you run into any issues along the way, feel free to reach out to us at
GLAD.org/ID. We wish you all the best!

Table of Contents

Introduction        3

Appendices        6

Table of Contents        8

Connecticut Name Change        9

Social Security Card        19

Physician Letter for Gender Marker Change        24

U.S. Passport        25

Driver’s License Name and Gender Marker Change        30

Birth Certificate Name and Gender Marker Change        34

Connecticut Marriage Certificate        39

Other Documents        42

Connecticut Name Change

The process for legally changing your name in Connecticut has many steps, described in the instructions below. We recommend that you read through the entire set of instructions first so that you are familiar with the whole process before getting started. Many of the steps can be taken at the same time to expedite the process. For example, you can work on getting your Change of Name Petition notarized at the same time you are working on obtaining a certified copy of your birth certificate.

Note that Connecticut residents may apply to the Probate Court or the Superior Court for a change of name or to resolve inconsistencies in identification documents, but the following is a summary of the procedures for applying to the Probate Court for a Name Change. There are 54 Probate Districts and 6 Regional Children’s Probate Courts in the state of Connecticut. The Children’s Probate Courts assist in children’s matters regarding temporary custody and guardianship, termination of parental rights, visitation, adoption, emancipation and paternity. For any purpose within this guide, whether you are a minor or an adult, you should contact the probate court that handles matters for your city or town.

Before beginning, we recommend calling or visiting the clerk or probate court of your  city or town to confirm the procedures that must be followed. Below we lay out step-by- step instructions that apply in most towns and cities for legally changing your name in Connecticut.

STEP 1 

Contact the probate court of your city or town to confirm the procedures that must be followed.

Each Probate Court in Connecticut serves a specific community, and the Probate Court that has jurisdiction over your matter will depend on your city or town. Contact your local probate court or visit its website to find out what you will need to submit to obtain a legal name change. You can search by town or city for the appropriate probate court online. This directory also lists the contact information for the clerk’s office of each probate court.




We recommend calling your local probate court and speaking with the clerk. Ask them for clear  instructions regarding their name change process, including details about the following:

Below, we have done our best to provide the steps that generally have to be completed in most towns
and cities.

STEP 2

Petition for Change of Name and Confidential Information forms. If you are an adult over the age of 18, you will need to complete forms PC-901 and PC-901CI. If you are a minor under the age of 18, you will need to complete forms PC-900 and a PC-900CI.

Copies of these forms are included in Appendix A to this guide. You also may ask your local Probate Court for a copy or use the fillable forms available online.

A completed sample version of the adult forms PC-901 and PC-901CI is included in
Appendix B to
this guide.

Adults must have two forms of identification, one of which must be photographic identification.

Adults – Forms PC-901


Minors – Forms PC-900 and PC-900CI

If you are filling out the PC-900 and accompanying PC-900CI instead of the PC-901, follow the steps below and disregard the steps listed above.

Additionally, a PC-900CI form must be filed with PC-900. The PC-900CI provides the Probate Court Name, district number, name of the minor, and social security number for the minor.

STEP 3

Download and fill out an Affidavit Re Change of Name (Form PC-910 for adults, Form PC-910A for minors).

Copies of these forms are linked above and included in Appendix A to this guide. You can also ask your local Probate Court for a copy or use the fillable forms available online.

A completed sample version of the adult form PC-910 is included in Appendix B to this guide.

filing and the district number of the Probate Court respectively. The Probate Court

District Numbers can be found in the CT Probate Court directory.

box located at numeral 2, list your town of residence. In the third box located at

numeral 2, list the number of years you have lived in your town of residence.

where you currently own real estate.

criminal charges currently pending against you. If yes, check box “B.” and explain

in the larger box provided. If not, check box “A.”

been convicted of any criminal offense. If not, check box “C.” If yes, check box

a change of name in the Probate Court or Superior Court of CT or any other state.

STEP 4

Sign your Affidavit Re Change of Name (Form PC-910 or Form PC-910A) before a notary public.
You also may sign before a judge, court clerk, or a commissioner
 of the Superior Court.

What is a notary?

A notary is a member of the public who is authorized by the government to serve as an impartial witness in assisting with the signing of important documents. Learn more about notarization from the Connecticut Department of State website.

How do I find a notary?

friends for recommendations or connections.

discussing your name change at your workplace, this may be a place to start.

medical provider may have notaries on site who can notarize your documents.

What should I do in my meeting with the notary?

Bring a current government-issued photo ID with you to the meeting. Bring your completed version of the ‘Affidavit Re Change of Name’ (Form PC-910 of Form PC-910A) to sign before the notary.

When you are in the presence of the notary, you will sign and date in the boxes near the bottom of the page labeled, “subscriber” and “date.” Do not sign until you are before the notary. The notary will fill in their signature and the other identifying information in the box located at the very bottom of the page.

According to Connecticut Notary Public Standards of Conduct, the notary may charge you up to $5.00 per document for their services.

STEP 5

Get a certified copy of your long-form birth certificate.

For both adults and minors, the appropriate ‘Petition for Change of Name’ form (Form PC-901 or
Form PC-900) requires you to attach a
certified copy of your long-form birth certificate. If you were
born in Connecticut, you can obtain a certified copy of your long-form birth certificate online, by mail,
or in person.

Online: VitalChek issues certified copies of Connecticut birth certificates.

By Mail: Send the application to the town where the birth occurred (visit the Town Directory), or to the State Vital Records Office.


In Person: At the Connecticut Department of Public Health

If you were born in Connecticut, you can also call the clerk’s office in the city or town where you were born to ask about obtaining a certified copy of your birth certificate from their office.

If you were born in another state, you will need to obtain a certified copy of your birth certificate from the state where you were born. We recommend starting with the website of the National Center for Health Statistics, which maintains a helpful index that is a good place to start for accessing certified birth certificate copies from all U.S. states and territories.

STEP 6

Wait to collect all four documents described above:

  1. Notarized Change of Name Affidavit (Form PC-910 or Form PC-910A)
  2. Confidential Information Sheet (Form PC-200CI or PC-900CI)
  3. Change of Name Petition (Form PC-901 or Form PC-900)
  4. Long-Form Certified Birth Certificate

You cannot take any further steps until you have all four documents.

STEP 7

Once you have obtained and/or completed all four documents, you are ready to submit your files to your local city or town’s probate court.

STEP 8

If the probate judge grants the name change request, they will sign the Decree section of your Change of Name Petition.

Congratulations! You have changed your legal name.

Ask the probate court clerk to make multiple certified copies of your signed Decree, because you will need this to change your name on other legal documents. It is usually less expensive to get an extra copy when you are there rather than going back later. We recommend getting at least two copies of the document. Keep these copies in a safe place! If you mark your petition “take papers,” the court will mail a certified copy of your signed Decree to you at the address you provided.

SOCIAL SECURITY CARD

After legally changing your name with your local probate court, next you must change your name and/or gender marker with the federal Social Security Administration. It is important to do this soon after changing your legal name. Sometimes, if you do not update Social Security with your name change, it can lead to delays with your taxes and/or cause issues with yourSocial Security benefits.

Unfortunately, the Social Security Administration does not currently allow a non-binary gender marker, so the only options are “female” or “male.”

Below we will lay out the steps to follow if you are a U.S.-born citizen. If you are not a U.S. citizen or if you were born abroad, visit the Social Security website to find specialized instructions. Note that we separately lay out the instructions for changing your name and changing your gender marker, but you can do both at the same time.

Changing Your Name

STEP 1
You will need to gather the following original documents:

Note that the Social Security Administration does not accept photocopies of these documents. All documents must be certified and current (not expired). You may also use one document for two purposes. (For example, you may use your U.S. passport as proof of citizenship and identity.)

STEP 2
Download and fill out an “Application for a Social Security Card” (Form SS-5)

You may change your gender marker at the same time as the name change, so you only need to complete the application once if you have all the necessary documentation.

A copy of this form is available in Appendix A of this guide. You can also download a copy of Form SS-5 from the Social Security Administration website.

A sample completed Form SS-5 is available in Appendix B of this guide.

STEP 3 

Submit your application and documents to your local Social Security office. There are over a dozen Social Security Administration offices in Connecticut, located in Ansonia, Bridgeport, Bristol, Danbury, East Hartford, Hartford, Meriden, Middletown, New Britain, New Haven, New London, Norwich, Stamford, Torrington, Waterbury, and Willimantic.

You can take your documents to the office in person or submit them by mail. Any documents you submit by mail will be returned to you.

PLEASE NOTE: As of July 2022, all Connecticut Social Security offices are open to the public for
in-person service without an appointment. Appointments are encouraged because people
without an appointment should expect long lines.
Visit the website for more information.

If your documentation meets certain criteria, you may only need to submit your SSN card application
and your original or certified name change document. The name change document can be used as
Both an identity and name change document if (i) it is not a birth certificate; (ii) the name change
event occurred within the past two years; and (iii) has your prior name and biographical information
(such as age, date of birth, or parent’s names), which matches the data contained in the Social
Security Administration’s records.

After all necessary information has been submitted, you will be issued a new Social Security card. Your new card will have the same number as your previous card, but will show your new name. It will take anywhere between one and four weeks for Social Security to process your application and send your new Social Security card.

Changing Your Gender Marker

STEP 1
Gather the following original documents:

Note: The Social Security Administration does not accept photocopies of these documents or notarized copies of these documents. All documents must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. You may also use one document for two purposes. (For example, you may use your U.S. passport as proof of citizenship and identity.)

STEP 2
In order to change your gender marker, the Social Security Administration requires “proof” of your gender identity. For this purpose, you can submit any of the following documents:

Note: We recommend using your new U.S. passport to change your gender marker with Social Security because changing your gender marker on your U.S. passport is an easier process. Additionally, Connecticut courts do not issue court orders legally recognizing a change of gender. However, if you choose to complete the steps in a different order or if you have a court order recognizing your gender change from another state, you can submit any of these documents to Social Security.

If you choose to submit a letter from a physician, here are some tips:

STEP 3
Download and fill out an “Application for a Social Security Card” (Form SS-5). You may change your gender marker at the same time as the name change, so you only need to complete the application once if you have all the necessary documentation.

A copy of this form is available in Appendix A of this guide. You can also download a copy of Form SS-5 from the Social Security Administration website.

A sample completed Form SS-5 is available in Appendix B of this guide.

STEP 4 
Submit your application and documents to your local Social Security office.

You can take your documents to the office in person or submit by mail. Any documents you submit by mail will be returned to you. You must include all of the documents listed above.

PHYSICIAN LETTER FOR GENDER MARKER CHANGE

Sample Physician Letter Certifying the Individual’s Gender Change

(Physician’s Address and Telephone Number)

[INSERT SSA ADDRESS]

I, (physician’s full name), (physician’s medical license or certificate number), (issuing U.S. State/Foreign Country of medical license/certificate), am the physician of (name of patient), with whom I have a doctor/patient relationship and whom I have treated (or with whom I have a doctor/patient relationship and whose medical history I have reviewed and evaluated).

(Name of patient) has had appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition to the new gender (specify new gender, male or female).

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the forgoing is true and correct.

Signature of Physician

Typed Name of Physician

Date

U.S. PASSPORT

This is an optional step and can be skipped and returned to later, because a passport is not required to update your state documents. However, first updating your passport will simplify the process of updating your information with the Social Security Administration. In turn, your Social Security record must be updated before you can update your Connecticut driver’s license.

The process for updating your U.S. passport varies depending on several factors.

The U.S. Department of State provides additional information on both the Name Change process and on selecting your gender marker on its website.

STEP 1 
Verify your eligibility to renew your passport by mail using “
U.S. Passport Renewal Application for Eligible Individuals (Form DS-82).

To be eligible, your most recent U.S. passport must:

If you are ineligible to renew your passport for any reason, you may still apply for a name change with a Form DS-11, described below.

Please note that if your current passport is less than one year old, you can apply by mail using Form DS-5504. The main difference here is that you will not have to pay any fees unless you request expedited service. For more information, visit the State Department website here.

STEP 2 
Gather supporting documents.

You will need to submit the following documents along with your application:

STEP 3 
Download and fill out a “
U.S. Passport Renewal Form” (Form DS-82).

A copy of this form is available in Appendix A of this guide. You can also download it from the State Department website.

Read the instructions on Pages 1–4 of the Form DS-82. Then fill out the information on Pages 5 and 6. Use a black pen.

STEP 4 
Mail in your application and materials.

Once you complete the form and have collected all your supporting documents, you should mail your application to one of the addresses listed on Page 3 of the Instructions. Please note, you must mail your application and accompanying documents using USPS – not UPS, FedEx, or other companies.

For Connecticut residents, the mailing address is:

National Passport Processing Center
P.O. Box 90155
Philadelphia, PA 19190-0155

Once your application has been submitted, you can track your application status online.

U.S. Passport Application – Form DS-11

Reminder: These instructions apply to anyone who is not eligible to update their passport by mail using Form DS-82.

STEP 1 
Gather supporting documents required for your “
U.S. Passport Application (Form DS-11).

You will need to submit the following documents along with your application:

STEP 2
Download and fill out the “U.S. Passport Application” (Form DS-11).

A copy of this form is available in Appendix A of this guide. You can also download it from the State Department website. A sample completed form is available in Appendix B of this guide.

Read the instructions on Pages 1–4 of the Form DS-11. Then fill out the information on Pages 5 and 6. Use a black pen.

STEP 3 
Submit your application and documents in-person at a passport acceptance facility, which you can
find online.
Examples of passport acceptance facilities include authorized post offices, courthouse, public libraries, and other government offices.
Once your application has been submitted, you can
track your application status online.

DRIVER’S LICENSE NAME AND GENDER MARKER CHANGE

This section applies to those seeking to change their name and/or gender marker on their Connecticut state-issued driver’s license, state-issued photo identification, and vehicle registration.

PLEASE NOTE: In Connecticut, you cannot change your name and/or gender marker on your state-issued ID until you have changed your name and/or gender marker with Social Security first. Please complete the steps described above to change your name and/or gender marker on your Social Security card before starting the process of changing this information on your Connecticut ID. It will take up to 48 hours for changes at Social Security to become effective. However, you do not need to wait for your new Social Security card to come in the mail; 48 hours will be sufficient for the changes to appear in the internal system.

Below we will lay out step-by-step instructions for updating your Connecticut driver’s license or other state-issued identification. You can also visit the website of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for more information.

Note that the steps to change your name are broken out separately from the steps to change your gender marker. However, if you would like to change both your name and gender marker, you can do both of these in one trip to the DMV and with a single payment of $30; just make sure you have all the required documents with you when you visit the DMV.

One more thing to note: the process of changing your name and/or gender marker with the Connecticut DMV requires you to appear in person at their offices. This means you will have to deal with some DMV employees. It’s possible that you might come across a DMV employee who is not familiar with the form for changing your name or changing your gender marker. If you come across any problems or push back, you can always ask for a supervisor, who should be more familiar with the process.


Changing Your Name

STEP 1 
Complete the “
Change of Name or Name Correction Request” (Form E-78).

A copy of this Form is available in Appendix A of this guide. You can also download the Form from the Connecticut DMV website. A sample completed version of the Form is available Appendix B of this guide.

Here are tips in filling out the Form:

STEP 2 
Appear in person at your
local Connecticut DMV branch or DMV Express Office (AAA offices and Nutmeg State Financial Credit union). The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles is now offering in-person, appointment only services for specific transactions, including name changes.

Bring with you:

STEP 3 
For a name change on your vehicle registration, the owner must show certified documentation that shows the change of name (i.e. marriage license, civil union certificate, divorce decree, probate court documents, etc.). Only the registration document must be presented, as the ownership on the Certificate of Title is not changing.

A “Registration Affidavit” (Form B-301) must be completed. If changing a name on both a driver’s license and vehicle registration, you can perform both services with one appointment at a DMV office.

Note: If you do not turn in your current registration, a $20.00 duplicate registration fee will be charged.

Changing Your Gender Marker

STEP 1 
Complete the “
Gender Designation on a License or Identification Card” form (Form B-385).

A copy of this Form is available in Appendix A of this guide. You can also download the Form from the website of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. A sample completed version of the Form is available Appendix B of this guide.

STEP 2 
Appear in person at your local Connecticut DMV branch.

Bring with you:

What to expect at the DMV:

BIRTH CERTIFICATE NAME AND GENDER MARKER CHANGE

The last place you will need the government to change your name and/or gender marker is on

your birth certificate. In Connecticut, changes to birth certificates are handled by the State

Vital Records Office, which is within the Department of Public Health. If you currently live

in Connecticut but were born in another state, you will need to consult resources specific to

the state of your birth.

As of October 2015, Connecticut allows people to change their gender marker on their birth

certificate to reflect their gender identity, including non-binary gender identity. This means

you can change your sex on your birth certificate to “M,” “F,” or “X.”

Below we will lay out step-by-step instructions for making changes to your Connecticut birth

certificate. Note that the steps to change your name are broken out separately from the steps

to change your gender marker, but you can change both at the same time (and pay only one

set of fees).

If you have questions, please call the Connecticut Vital Records Office at (860) 509-7700.

Changing Your Name

STEP 1 

Gather documents. You will need to submit the following additional documents to the State Vital Records

Office to change your name on your birth certificate:

Note: You can also submit your documents to the Vital Records Office in the town where

the birth occurred. However, you must submit your documents to the State Vital Records

Office in Hartford when making changes to your gender marker.

STEP 2 

Submit documents to the State Vital Records Office in Hartford.

Once you have collected all of these documents, you must present them to the State Vital

Records Office to process the name change on your birth certificate. You can submit by

mail or in person.

To submit by mail, send the documents to:

CT Department of Public Health

State Vital Records Office

410 Capitol Avenue, MS#11VRS

Hartford, CT 06106

To submit in person:

Changing Your Gender Marker

Listed below are the necessary documents that the Department of Public Health will need

to amend the sex designator on your birth certificate:

NOTE: Any subsequent request to amend the sex on this birth certificate will require a court order.

If you also have a new name and want it to be reflected on your amended birth certificate:

If you would like a certified copy of your amended birth certificate:

STEP 1 

Print out the “Instructions and Forms for Amending Sex” packet that can be

found on the Department of Health Website. Minors should use the “Instructions and

Forms for Amending Sex on Birth Certificate – Minor” packet. Print single sided and

on white paper only.

STEP 2 

Sign and notarize your affidavit. First, find a notary in your community. When

you are in their presence, sign the affidavit and have them notarize it. (Visit the Connecticut Name Change section of this guide, above, for more information on finding a notary.)

STEP 3 

Provide your medical provider with their affidavit form. The notarized affidavit must be from a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or psychologist, who is licensed to practice in Connecticut, or in another state.

STEP 4 

There is no processing fee for amendments. All required documentation should be mailed to:

Connecticut Department of Health

Office of Vital Records-Record Replacement Unit

410 Capitol Avenue, MS#11VRS

Hartford, CT 06134

Mail the following documents to the Office:

After you make this request, and upon receipt of all the required documentation, your request to amend your birth certificate will be processed by the Department of Public Health.

Connecticut Marriage Certificate

Once you are married, the marriage license is filed at the vital records office of the town where the marriage occurred. After the document is filed, it is referred to as a marriage certificate. To obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate, you must submit your request to the vital records office of the town where the marriage occurred, or the town(s) where the parties to the marriage resided at the time
of the marriage, or the State Vital Records Office.

Below we will lay out step-by-step instructions for making an amendment to your Connecticut
marriage certificate.

Changing Your Gender Marker and/or Name

Listed below are the necessary documents that the Department of Public Health will need to amend the sex designator on your marriage certificate:

Any subsequent request to amend the sex on this marriage certificate will require a court order.

If you also have a new name and want it to be reflected on your amended marriage certificate, submit a certified copy of the court order granting your legal name change.

If you would like a certified copy of your amended marriage certificate, submit a Request for a Certified Copy of Marriage Record” form (a copy is included in Appendix A). Along with the request form, you will need to send a $20 money order payable to “Treasurer, State of CT.”

STEP 1 
Print out the “
Instructions and Forms for Amending Sex on Marriage Certificate” packet that can be found on the Department of Health Website. Print single sided and on white paper only.

STEP 2 
You and your spouse must both sign and notarize your respective portions of the affidavit. First, find a notary in your community.
When you are both in their presence, sign the affidavit and have them notarize it. You can visit the Connecticut Name Change section of this guide for more information on finding a notary.

STEP 3 
There is no processing fee for amendments. All required documentation should be mailed to:

Connecticut Department of Health
Office of Vital Records-Record Replacement Unit
410 Capitol Avenue, MS#11VRS
P.O. Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134-0308

Mail the following documents to the Office:

After you make this request, and upon receipt of all the required documentation, your request to amend your marriage certificate will be processed by the Department of Public Health.

Other Documents

Once you have made it here, congratulations! You have now changed your legal name and/or gender marker with all of the most important government agencies in Connecticut and with the U.S. federal government. This is an enormous accomplishment!

Now it is important to make sure all of your personal accounts and records reflect your new name. Here is a non-exhaustive list of institutions that you should update with your legal name and/or gender marker, as applicable to your situation:

THANK YOU FOR USING THIS GUIDE.

We hope it has been helpful for you to update your name and/or gender marker on your state and federal IDs.

If you need additional help, please contact the ID Project at www.GLAD.org/ID.

For more information about your rights, contact GLAD Answers, GLAD’s free and confidential legal information line. Visit www.GLADAnswers.org.

If you notice any errors in this guide, please let us know by emailing gladlaw@glad.org.


[1] This is an optional step, as acquiring or updating your passport is not required to update your state

documents. However, the process to change gender identity on a passport does not require legal and/or

medical documentation (only a self-certification of gender identity), and then that passport may be

submitted in furtherance of updating your information with the Social Security Administration. This

avoids the need to submit a physician letter in support of a gender marker change with the Social Security

Administration. (Note: it is anticipated that the SSA will no longer require legal and/or medical

documentation of gender identity starting sometime in late 2022.) Changing your information with the

Social Security Administration is a prerequisite to changing your information with the Connecticut DMV.

[2] Different states have different procedures for updating birth certificates, and your state of birth may

have a different process from Connecticut’s, which is described in this guide.

[3] As an example, in the Hartford Probate Court the name change process costs $250 (cash or check

accepted), the process takes about six weeks, and you will be required to attend a hearing, which typically

is done telephonically.

[4] VitalChek costs are as follows, not including processing or shipping fees: Connecticut-issued birth certificates are $30 per copy; Connecticut-issued marriage certificates are $20 per copy. The VitalChek processing fee is $12.95. UPS domestic standard shipping is $19.75 (variable depending on shipping speed).

[5] Please note that while the name change process typically ends in a formal, in-person court hearing, each probate judge retains discretion to rule on certain civil non-arguable matters that have been marked “Take Papers” without an in-person court hearing. As a self-represented party, if you are interested in having the probate judge exercise their discretion to “rule on the papers,” once you receive calendar notice of the hearing, you can call the number listed on your calendar notice to have your petition marked as “take papers” by the probate court. It is ultimately still within the probate court judge’s discretion on how they will proceed, but that is a viable option and one that has become increasingly popular. Be aware that the number of motions to be reviewed and processed by judges and clerks is exceedingly large so processing times may be long, but you can always call your local probate court with questions or concerns.

[6] As a self-represented petitioner, please keep in mind that although you may bring someone as support, that person cannot formally represent you or address the court on your behalf unless they are an admitted member of the Connecticut bar and have filed an appearance on your behalf.