NEXT STEPS AFTER COURT APPROVAL

UPDATE (Feb. 2025): Remember that you still have the right to change your legal name. Nothing about your right to change your name has changed because of President Trump. ###

Birth certificates are frequently used as a document to prove age and identity, so it is important your birth certificate reflects your name.  You also need the birth certificate in order to get the "Real" ID.  We believe that in the coming years everyone will need a "Real" ID to vote in future elections, enter some government buildings, and board airplanes.

The birth certificate can be updated in person or by mail.

You will need:

• Certified Court Order/Judgment granting the name change

• Any pedigree information you know, such as parents' names and your city of birth OR a valid ID.

• Application for Certified Copy of a Birth Record

Next, head into the Department of Vital Records and present your documentation while stating you need to make an amendment to your birth certificate due to a name change.

• For Missouri birth records, you will have to mail your court order with an application for a copy of your birth certificate, as well as a payment for processing fees. (Missouri Vital Records charges $15 to process a court order, on top of the $15 fee to get a copy of your new birth certificate. If you are submitting more than one court order at a time, for example a separate name change order and gender marker change order, then you will have to submit *$15 PER ORDER*.)

  • Missouri and STL: Everyone in the state of Missouri is entitled to a free birth record from any state for the purposes of getting their ID to vote. You get this once in your lifetime. For transparency and warning, it is reported to the Missouri State Department once used. To take advantage of this, you may email VitalRecordsInfo@health.mo.gov or call (573) 751-6387. You may also fill out their online form. 

  • St. Louis City/County: If you cannot afford the $15 for the birth certificate copy, there are resources in St. Louis City that can help that process. This would not be reported to the Missouri State Department.

    • In that case, send your court order into the state. Thereafter, reach out to our team to get a voucher for St. Louis City's vital records.

Additional Help
For people in Missouri who need additional help paying for a birth certificate or navigating the processes to obtain an out-of-state birth certificate, we recommend you reach out to our FREE partner organizations in the Missouri State ID Access Coalition. Go to their website and click "Get ID Help" in the menu for a list of ID programs by city.

Updating your name on your Social Security Card is an important early step soon after your name change approval. The amended Social Security Card will be useful as a proof of age and secondary form of identification when working to update other aspects of your life.

You will need:

• Court order stating the approval of your name change

• Completed Form SS-5 found here.

  • pg 5 is used to state your changed name as it should appear on the card in correlation with your SSN

  • Current ID or Passport

  • Birth Certificate (if you do not present a passport)

Some offices allow correction and replacement requests to be completed by mail or online while others will require you to bring documentation in person. Contact your local Social Security office, which can be determined here.

The Social Security Administration's website has a tool to help you determine if you can complete the SSA's name change process entirely online. Answer the questionnaire here.

UPDATE (Feb. 2025): Remember that you still have the right to change your legal name. Nothing about your right to change your name has changed because of President Trump. ###

Whether your passport is used for travel, identification, I-9 employment verification, or anything else, it is imperative that the passport reflects your name change. Important documents and steps are listed below.

If your passport was issued in the last year, you will need to complete, gather and mail the following documents:

• Court order of name change approval

• Form DS-5504 (found here)

  • Make sure you select the gender marker you are comfortable with, as the marker you select will be printed on the passport no matter what is listed on supporting documentation such as birth certificates and state IDs.

• A recent color photo graph that follows requirements (found here)

• Most recent passport

Mail these documents through USPS to :
National Passport Processing Center
P.O. Box 90107
Philadelphia, PA 19190-0107 

If your passport was issued more than one year ago, you will need to complete, gather and mail the following documents:

• Court order of name change approval

• Form DS-82 (found here)

• Most recent passport

• A recent color photo graph that follows requirements (found here)

• Fee amount based on the Passport Fee Calculator 

Mail these documents to:
National Passport Processing Center
P.O. Box 90155
Philadelphia, PA 19190-0155 

There are several governmental agencies that will need to be contacted to update your name to ensure you receive proper service.

• Department of Motor Vehicles

  • Car title, boat title, and other property titles and documents 

  • To obtain an update title from the Department of Motor Vehicles you must bring the following documents into any MO License Office:

    • current title

    • court order of name change approval

    • completed Form 108 (found here)

    • fee of $14.50

• Voter Registration

• Post Office 

• Department of Human Services 

  • SNAP

There are many moving parts to owning, renting, or staying in a home, all of which are likely linked to your name.

• Home/Property Deeds

• Home Owner's Associations

• Landlords/Leasing Agencies

• Home/Rental Insurance

• Utilities

  • Electricity, Trash Collection, Water, Gas, Internet, etc.

Think of end-of-life documents and other legal declarations.

• Life Insurance

• Extraneous Care Plans

• Estate Planning Documents