Welcome to our one-stop hub for name and gender change information. Find out how to update your name and gender on state and federal IDs and records.
COVID-19 disruptions: Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many courts and government offices have made significant changes to their operating procedures. This may cause delays in the processing of your name or gender marker change requests as a result. Contact your local court or other government offices for more details. You should keep dated copies of any materials you submit by mail or electronically. We understand this is a hardship for many, and we encourage you to reach out for support if you are distressed.
Not sure where to start? Here's a quick overview.
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Last updated February 2023
To obtain a legal name change in Missouri, an applicant must submit a petition to the court. The applicant must publish notice of the name change at least once a week for three weeks in a newspaper within 20 days of the court order. The publication requirement may be waived for victims of domestic violence or child abuse. (Mo. Ann. Stat. § 527.290).
For instructions on legal name changes for minors under 18 in Missouri, see NCTE's Name Changes for Minors in Missouri resource.
In order to update the gender on a Missouri ID, the applicant must provide ONE of the following:
If the applicant requesting the gender designation change does not have one of the required documents above, the license office should contact the central office at (573) 526-2555 before turning the applicant away. The central office may allow alternate documents to be submitted for review from the applicant to determine eligibility.
In order to update the name on a Missouri ID, the applicant must present a document demonstrating the current name, such as a Certified Court Order, a U.S Passport, a Social Security Card or a Medicare Card. The Missouri Department of Revenue has information on name change here.
According to Missouri statute, the Department of Health will issue an amended birth certificate "upon receipt of a certified copy of an order of a court of competent jurisdiction indicating the sex of an individual born in this state has been changed by surgical procedure and that such individual's name has been changed." Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.215-9.
To apply for an amended birth certificate the applicant should submit the certified copy of the court order, a written request for the birth certificate (stating where the new certificate is to be sent), and the applicable fees to Missouri Dept. of Health and Senior Services, P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102.
Note that some individuals have been able to get a court order for gender change on a Missouri birth certificate without proof of surgery, as exhibited in this court order for gender change. Template forms for requesting a court order for gender change are available on the Transas City website.