Finally a bit of good news re:name change.

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Catherine Linda Michel

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I've been working on several legal documents, namely: a Will, a Health Proxy and a Power Of Attorney. Those I can afford. I've been putting off my name change because of the costs and another matter that concerns only me and one other nameless person. The matter between me and that person seems to be settled, and I am proceeding with the name change because... I've been informed that our local Legal Aid thingie will not only fill out the paperwork for me, but they can also get the fees waived due to my financial status... one step below poor. LOL My lawyer wanted 500 dollars to do the name change, plus court fees. Almost 800 dollars all told.

Additionally THEY can assign a lawyer to represent me, Pro Bono and will inform me when everything is ready to go. I don't know how things work, outside of New York State, but this might be a way for those who need their names changed to get it done without going into the poorhouse.

In truth, I wasn't going to do this at all because of recent events. In fact I had already decided to begin de-transition, but the reasons for that have resolved themselves and my transition is finally back on track.

I hope this info helps someone else.

Cathy

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Catherine Linda

...not so much a name change but as a confirmation of who you are. As you probably know, your names have wonderful meanings. Catherine - Pure; Linda - soft or pretty. Your tender heart is evident to all here, and you're aptly named, dear one. I'm so glad that things worked out for you, and I'll continue to pray for your continued success in your journey forward.

Dio vi benedica tutti
Con grande amore e di affetto
Andrea Lena

To be alive is to be vulnerable. Madeleine L'Engle
Love, Andrea Lena

When I changed my name in

When I changed my name in Oklahoma, it cost me $125, + $25 publication announcement in the local paper. That included 20 copies of the certified name change documents so I could change all my other docs. Still less than the $500 your lawyer would have charged you, but from what I have heard, that is about a standard fee for an "easy" job.

It's been more difficult to get the gender marker changed on documents post op. I changed my name in 2006 as I began to live full time, and in the intervening 4 years, Thomas Beatty became the "pregnant man" with lots of publicity. In the absence of Federeal guidelines, our state legislators passed an addendum to the name change law that the letter from the doctor certifying your gender change has to have the words, "permanent and irreversible" in the description of the surgery. I didn't know the law had been amended (buried in the budget bill a few years back), so those two words were missing from the letter. So I have had to get a new letter (an additional $35.00 charge for the notary added to the cost of the surgery, etc.) and hopefully that will take care of things.

CaroL

Happy Days

Happy Days are here again , good for you I am very happy for you HUGS RICHIE2