Trans Legal Survival Guide

September 2025 Update

A4TE has released an updated version of the Legal Survival Guide, current as of July 2025. The guide linked below is now out of date. You can find the July 2025 edition of the Trans Legal Survival Guide here.

November 2024 Update

Given the upcoming administration’s anti-trans track record, our community is preparing for increased political and legal attacks. Whether you're younger or older, single or married, parenting or not –and no matter how long you’ve been out as trans—it’s worth taking the time for a legal “checkup.” In our Trans Survival Guide, we outline steps that can help you protect yourself.  

We can’t predict exactly how the Trump administration or anti-trans state officials will attempt to undermine or rollback protections for trans people, but these steps can help protect you by making certain types of trouble less likely to happen, or less harmful if they do.  Our 17-page guide clarifies legal terminology, breaks down major topics, and offers practical advice on changing your name and gender marker, setting up power of attorney, protecting your family and parenting decisions, end-of-life planning, fixing your name on your credit report, and much more.  Addressing these issues can provide some peace of mind and allow you to prepare for the upcoming administration and beyond.