Working for basic rights for transgender and transsexual people to be open, honest, and safe at home, at work, and in the community.
SAGA is a program of Wingspan, Southern Arizona's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center
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California
CALIFORNIA Statute:, Cal. Health & Safety Code 103425-103445 (2004)
California will change both name and sex, and will issue a new birth certificate rather than amend the old one.
California Health and Safety Code states: “A petition for the issuance of a new birth certificate in those cases shall be filed with the superior court of the county where the petitioner resides.” PER CODE: “Whenever a person born in this state has undergone surgical treatment for the purpose of altering his/her sexual characteristics to those of the opposite sex, a new birth certificate may be prepared for that person reflecting the change of gender and any change of name accomplished by an order of a court of this state, another state, the District of Columbia, or any territory of the United States. A petition showing the issuance of a new birth certificate in those cases shall be filed with the superior court of the county where the petitioner resides.
You will need an original letter from your SRS surgeon, and an original, or certified, copy of the court order for you name change. If you do not have a court order for your name change, you may petition the court for change of name at the same time you petition for the new birth certificate.
Fees are determined by the superior court of the county receiving the petition.
The State Office of Vital Records has made a web link with a PDF document detailing the procedure for obtaining a new birth certificate after “gender reassignment”. You cannot copy this document; you must order an “ORIGINAL” from the State of California. A sample of the documents and accompanying literature is contained in the appendix.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Michael Rodrian
State Registrar and Chief
Center for Health Statistics
(916) 557-6076
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