Tennessee

ID Documents Center

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.

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Last updated July 2023

Name Change, Driver's License & Birth Certificate Policies in:

Federal IDs and Records:

Tennessee Name Change Laws

To obtain a legal name change in Tennessee, an applicant must submit a petition to the court. No publication is required. Individuals who have prior felony convictions must provide additional documentation, and individuals who have been convicted of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, or sex offense are not eligible to change their name. (Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-8-101 to § 29-8-105 (West))

For instructions on legal name changes for minors under 18 in Tennessee, see NCTE's Name Changes for Minors in Tennessee resource.

Tennessee Drivers License Policy & Procedures

In order to update a Tennessee ID, the applicant must submit:

If updating the name, a court order certifying the name change
If updating the gender marker, "A statement from the attending physician that necessary medical procedures to accomplish the change in gender are complete" or a court order recognizing gender change.

See Tennessee Department of Safety Rule addressing name and gender marker changes 1340-1-13-.12 (5) and (6) here. See the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security website addresses name change here.

Tennessee Birth Certificate Laws

Tennessee specifically prohibits amending sex on a birth certificate: "The sex of an individual will not be changed on the original certificate of birth as a result of sex change surgery." Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-3-203(d).