Update Your Records

WHAT YOU NEED: Certified name change final decree and DR-2083 (if you are also correcting your gender)

To change your name on a Colorado Driver’s License, make an appointment online with your local DMV office and bring your court-ordered name change documentation.  They will change your name, retake your photo, and a new license will be issued.

To change your gender marker on your driver’s license in Colorado, use form DR-2083 to update your DMV records.  The options available are M, F, and X.

If you are also updating your address, you’ll need a second form of identification with your address on it (utility bill, insurance card, etc)

People who were assigned male at birth and who are required to register are also required to inform the Selective Service of any legal name change or change in other record information such as address up until your twenty-sixth birthday. This does not include gender marker correction as the Selective Service policy is entirely based on birth-assigned sex. For trans women and others who were assigned male at birth and have registered with the Selective Service, notification of a name change is legally required within ten days.

To update your records, fill out the Change Of Information Form attached to the Registration Acknowledgement Card with your new name. Alternatively, you can fill out a Change of Information Form (SSS Form 2), These are also available at any United States Post Office, U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. You may also change your information with the Selective Service by letter. In the letter, include your prior full name, Social Security Number, Selective Service Number, date of birth, current mailing address and new legal name. With any of these three methods, you must attach official documentation of your name change and mail it to the Selective Service. Updates take four to six weeks, after which you will be mailed a new acknowledgement card.

People who are required to register:

• All U.S. citizens assigned male at birth (including trans women) and born after December 31, 1959, who are 18 but not yet 26 years old
• National Guardsmen and Reservists not on active duty
• Cadets at the Merchant Marine Academy
• Delayed Entry Program enlistees
• ROTC Students
• People who have left Active Military Service for any reason before age 26
• Men rejected for enlistment for any reason before age 26
• Civil Air Patrol members
• Immigrants with permanent resident status
• Immigrants with I-688 special (seasonal) agricultural worker status
• Refugee and parolee immigrants and immigrants seeking asylum
• Undocumented immigrants
• Dual-national U.S. citizens
• People with disabilities who spend time in public with or without assistance
• Residents of Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Northern Mariana Islands Citizens of American Samoa, Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia only if they are habitual residents of the United States (habitual residency is presumed when one resides in the United States for more than one year in any status, except as a student or employee of the government of his homeland)

People who are NOT required to register:

• People who were assigned female at birth (including trans men)
• People born between March 29, 1957, and December 31, 1959
• Students in Officer Procurement Programs at The Citadel, North Georgia College and State University, Norwich University, Virginia Military Institute, Texas A&M University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
• Members of the Armed Forces on active duty (active duty for training does not constitute “active duty” for registration purposes and those leaving active duty are required to register within 30 days of release unless already age 26, or already registered when released, or unless exempt during entire period age 18 through 25)
• Cadets and Midshipmen at Service Academies or Coast Guard Academy
• Lawful non-immigrants on visas (e.g., diplomatic and consular personnel and families, foreign students, tourists with unexpired Form I-94, or Border Crossing Document DSP-150)
• Incarcerated, or hospitalized or institutionalized for medical reasons
• People with disabilities who are continually confined to a residence, hospital, or institution
• Immigrants with I-688A special agricultural worker status

For more information, consult the United States Selective Service System website and the Status Information Letter request form.

Updating Your Gender Marker on an Existing Valid Passport or Getting a Passport for the First Time

As of April 11, 2022, X gender markers are available! The options on non-expedited general passports are now M, F, or X for Passport Books. (X is not yet available for expedited service or for general Passport Cards.)

The State Department does not require a physician’s letter to accompany your request to update your gender marker.

If you are applying to change your gender marker, submitting a passport application for the first time, or applying for a passport when your old passport has expired, you must apply in-person so that your signature is witnessed.

NEW, FIRST-TIME PASSPORTS FOR ANYONE -AND- ALL PASSPORTS FOR UNDER 16 YRS OLD
If you are applying for a Passport for the first time, or if you are under 16 years old (even if you have a current one), you will need to complete and submit:

• NEW Application for U.S. Passport (Form DS-11);
• Proof of U.S. Citizenship (such as a previous U.S. Passport, certified Birth Certificate, Certificate of Naturalization, or Report of Birth Abroad);
• Proof of Identity that contains your signature and photograph that is “a good likeness to you” (such as a previous U.S. Passport, a Driver’s License, a Certificate of Naturalization, Military Identification, or a Government Employee Identification Card);
• Two recent color photographs, 2×2 inches in size (these can be obtained at Walgreens, CVS, etc); and
• Fee (See the Department of State fee schedule for costs: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/information/fees.html). 

RENEWAL OF A CURRENT, FULL-VALIDITY PASSPORT (16 yrs of age and older)

If you are age 16 or older and currently have a active full-validity (e.g. 10 year) Passport and just need to change your name and/or gender marker, you will need to complete and submit:

• Renewal Application for U.S. Passport (Form DS-82);
• Certified copy of your Name Change Decree;
• Two recent color photographs, 2×2 inches in size (these can be obtained at Walgreens, CVS, etc); and
• Fee (See the Department of State fee schedule for costs: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/information/fees.html). 

RENEWAL OF A LIMITED-VALIDITY OR AN EXPIRED PASSPORT (16 yrs of age and older)

If you are age 16 or older and currently have an active limited-validity Passport, or have an expired Passport of any type and need to renew and change your name and/or gender marker, you will need to complete and submit:

• Renewal Application for U.S. Passport (Form DS-5504);
• Certified copy of your Name Change Decree; and
• Two recent color photographs, 2×2 inches in size (these can be obtained at Walgreens, CVS, etc);
• Fee (See the Department of State fee schedule for costs: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/information/fees.html). 
• **PLEASE NOTE if your expired Passport is over 15 years from the date it was issued, you will need to use the NEW application form, DS-11.**

Take these documents and fees in person to any Passport Acceptance Facility. To find the acceptance facility closest to you, visit the State Department’s website, Passport Acceptance Facility Search Page, at http://iafdb.travel.state.gov or call the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778.

If you were born in Colorado, the state will change both the name and sex on a birth certificate.  Colorado does not require surgery or a court order. Colorado will also issue a new birth certificate rather than amend the old one.

• To request a gender marker change to your birth certificate, submit the following in-person or by mail to CDPHE:
• Completed Birth Certificate Correction Form| In Spanish
• Copy of your identification.
• Non-refundable processing fee(s).
• Completed Sex Designation form
• If your name was changed, submit a certified copy of the legal name change order.

If you were born in a different state, please be aware you may need to file your name change in District Court, if it is a state that requires an extra court order. Please contact us or contact that state’s department of vital records for specific instructions. NCTE has a good website detailing each state’s requirements.

Individual workplaces will differ.  Contact your Human Resources department, if one exists.  If not, speak to your supervisor or employment records manager. Remember to include payroll, email, internal directories, name tags, uniforms, business cards, 401k, etc.

Banks will differ.  Call ahead of time to ask what documentation your particular bank needs. Expect to provide a certified copy of your name change and/or an updated ID.

Credit card companies will also differ.  Call ahead of time to ask what documentation your particular institution needs.

Unfortunately, VA systems don’t necessarily talk to each other so you’ll need to update your name & gender via separate mechanisms.

Medical (VHA)

The Eastern Colorado Health Care System uses their ECHCS Letterhead Identity Trait Change Request form to request updates to name & gender.

1. Name Change: When making a written amendment request for a name change, the individual must provide the following un-expired, official supporting documents from the list below:
   1. One form of Primary Identification and one form of Secondary Identification;OR
   2. Two forms of Primary Identification

   NOTE: Marriage licenses or certificates are not sufficient documents for a name change, as not all people who apply for a marriage license or marry actually change their name.

   

Gender: Along with the written amendment request for a gender change, the individual must provide the following un-expired, official supporting documents from the list below:

1. One form of Primary Identification and one form of Secondary Identification;OR
2. Two forms of Primary Identification, if at least one identifies the current gender

Other Benefits (VBA, GI Bill, etc)

Utility companies will differ.  Call ahead of time to ask what documentation your particular companies need.

PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/hk/smarthelp/article/how-do-i-change-the-name-on-my-paypal-account-faq926 (PayPal is notorious for taking a long time to correct name & gender. If you can, just create a new account.)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/help/173909489329079

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/79/changing-how-your-name-appears-on-your-profile

Twitter: https://help.twitter.com/en/managing-your-account/change-twitter-handle?ref_src=twsrc%25255Eappleosx%25257Ctwcamp%25255Esafari%25257Ctwgr%25255Esearch

For other sites, we recommend a simple Google search of “how to change my name on {insert website here}”

Veterans:

• Service Records (IPPS-A, MCTFS, etc) – Each service has its own method of updating name and gender in their personnel systems. We are in the process of compiling data for each service.  Please know that this information may change at any time, without notice.
• DD-214 military discharge documents – Complete DD Form 149.  Attach a copy of your name change order to the form.  Mail completed applications to the correct service-appropriate address listed page 2 of the form.  If you have multiple DD-214s, you may need to submit a separate form for each DD-214.

Retirees:

• USMC: Contact Marine Corps Retired Services (MMSR-6) at 703.784.9310/9311/9312 and
• US Army:  Contact Army Retirement Services Office at 703.571.7232 or email at ArmyRSO@mail.mil
• USAF:  Contact Air Force Retiree Services at 800.525.0102 or email at  afpc.retiree@us.af.mil.
  • However, a USAF retiree provided her experience:
    • “DEERS told me to call the US Air Force Service Project Office at 800-525-0102.  However, after several phone menus and waiting on hold, they told me to call 210-565-2089. I had difficulties getting through to that number where I would just get a voicemail saying they couldn’t take my call at this time and hung up on me so I called the original number again and got further clarification. They told me to call 210-565-4984, 4985, 4986 or 4987.  Upon calling the 4984 number, I reached MSGT (I think) Ed Yoder.  He told me to send an email to MSGT Jonathan Kang at jonathon.kang@us.af.mil and MSGT Matthew Beezleyat matthew.beezley.2@us.af.mil and ask them to update my name and gender status in DEERS.”
• USN:  No information is currently available; however, the US Navy’s Retired Activities page is at http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/retired_activities/Pages/default.aspx
• USCG:  No information is currently available; however, the US Coast Guard’s Retiree Services Program page is at https://www.uscg.mil/retiree/

Active-Duty/Reserves:  Information is currently being compiled and will be made available as soon as possible.

DEERS:  In order to change your name and gender in DEERS, the DEERS/RAPIDS Service Project Office for your military department must submit a request to Defense Human Resources Activity (DHRA) for review and implementation. A gender (or name) change in DEERS will not affect the eligibility of any of your existing dependents for military benefits.

What Documents Should a Name and Gender Change Request Include?

The Service Project Office of your military department should submit scans of the below documentation for DHRA review, with the subject line “DEERS Record Change Request ICO First Name Last Name”.

Two forms of identification that are listed as acceptable on the federal Form I-9, one of which is a government-issued picture ID. Passports, driver’s licenses and Social Security cards are recommended, but the Department of Defense will accept all documents on page 9 of the I-9 list, available at http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-9.pdf.

• If a name change is requested, a court order legally changing your name.
• If gender marker change is requested, a signed statement, on office letterhead, from a licensed physician. The statement must include the following information:
  • Physician’s full name;
  • Medical license or certificate number;
  • Issuing state or other jurisdiction of medical license/certificate;
  • DEA registration number assigned to the physician;
  • Address and telephone number of the physician;
  • Language stating that the physician is your physician and has a doctor/patient relationship with you;
  • Language stating you have had the appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition to male/female; and,
  • Language stating “I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the forgoing is true and correct.”

How will I know that my DEERS record has been updated?

DHRA will confirm with the Service Project Office when the record has been updated. The Project Office must then follow existing Service procedures to send an update to Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), or the Service equivalent pay office, to allow DFAS, or the Service equivalent pay office, to update its system with the corrected gender.

If you have life insurance through the VA, you will also need to fill out VA Form 29-586

These companies will differ.  Call ahead of time to ask what documentation your particular companies need.

Counties may differ.  Call ahead of time to ask what documentation your particular county needs.

These companies will differ.  Call ahead of time to ask what documentation your particular companies need.

These agencies will differ.  Call ahead of time to ask what documentation your particular agency/agencies need.

Schools will differ.  Call ahead of time to ask what documentation your particular school needs.

Usually, it is simple as filling out a change of name/address form with the publisher.  Look on their website or call.

Government agencies will differ.  Call ahead of time to ask what documentation your particular agency needs.

Libraries will differ.  Call ahead of time to ask what documentation your particular library needs.

If you have an attorney, let him/her know and they will update the relevant documents.  If not, update your name on each document and have it re-executed (signed in front of a notary).  Destroy the old version(s).

No specific form is required.  Your information should update after SSA’s system pushes your information across the various databases.

Companies will differ.  Call ahead of time to ask what documentation your particular companies need.