How to Legally Change Genders in California

While the physical process of changing your gender is difficult, making the legal change in California is far less complicated. Most of the process involves filling out legal forms and getting an affidavit from your doctor. Follow these steps to make the process as efficient as possible.

Things You'll Need

• Petition for Change of Gender and Issuance of Birth Certificate (NC-300)
• Notice of Hearing on Petition for Change of Gender and Issuance of Birth Certificate (NC-320)
• Civil Case Cover Sheet (CM-010)
• Declaration of Physician - Attachment to Petition (Change of Name and Gender/Change of Gender) (NC-210/NC-310)
• Order for Change of Gender and Issuance of New Birth Certificate (NC-330)

Instructions

1. Get started by logging onto the California Court's website (http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/) to download the necessary forms or go to the courthouse and pick them up in person.

2. Fill out the forms and answer the questions. Most of the questions are simple and don't require too much explanation and mainly fulfill an administrative function. Answer the questions to the best of your ability. Make sure you understand the questions before you answer them. After you've filled out all the forms, make two copies of each.

3. You'll also need to have your doctor fill out an affidavit telling the court that you have undergone gender reassignment surgery. Your doctor can use Form NC-310 or write out his own declaration. You should also make a copy of this before you submit your petition to the court.

4. The court requires that you also publish a Notice of Hearing on the Petition for Change of Gender and Issuance of New Birth Certificate for Change of Name and Gender (Form NC-320) and file this with a local "general circulation" newspaper. Make two copies or this too. The court will set a date for your public hearing.

5. Once your court date is set, make sure you take copies of all the forms you've submitted. Make sure you bring the Order for Change of Gender and Issuance of New Birth Certificate (Form NC-330) for the judge to sign. After you get your Order for Change of Gender, get a certified copy from the court. The court will update its records and you free to change the rest of your legal documents to reflect your legal gender.

Tips & Warnings

• The Notice of Public Hearing must appear in a newspaper of general circulation on at least one day per week for four weeks in a row.

• You will need the signed Order for Change of Gender to change your birth certificate, driver's license and other legal documents, like your insurance policy.

Resources

• Click here for the forms you'll need to change your gender in California.