File a Petition: To change your name in Pennsylvania, you must file a Petition for Change of Name in the Court of Common Pleas of the county where you reside. The following documents and information are generally required:
- A completed name change petition form, which is available from the local court or online.
- Proof of Pennsylvania residency (e.g., a utility bill or state-issued ID).
- A criminal background check: Pennsylvania requires that you submit a background check to the court.
Publication Requirement: Typically, you must publish your name change in a local newspaper. However, you may request to waive this requirement for safety reasons by filing a petition for an exemption (often for cases involving domestic violence).
Court Hearing: A hearing may be scheduled, during which the judge will review the petition and, if all requirements are met, will grant the name change.
Fees: The filing fees for a name change petition generally range from $150 to $300, depending on the county. Fee waivers are available if you meet the criteria for low-income applicants.

Social Security Card: After receiving the court order, you can submit the court order to the Social Security Administration (SSA) along with an SS-5 form to update your name.
Driver’s License/State ID: To update your driver’s license or state-issued ID, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). Bring your court order as verification.
Birth Certificate: To update your name on a birth certificate, submit the court order to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Vital Records Division.

Requirements: Pennsylvania allows individuals to change their gender marker on a driver’s license or state-issued ID through a self-attestation process. No medical or court documentation is required to update your gender marker.
Process:
- Complete the Gender Designation Change Request form at PennDOT.
- Select the appropriate gender marker (male, female, or nonbinary).
- Submit the form in person at a PennDOT driver’s license center.
Fees: Standard replacement or renewal fees for a driver’s license or ID apply.

Requirements: To change the gender marker on your Pennsylvania birth certificate, you must provide medical documentation that affirms your gender identity.
Steps:
- Submit a completed Application for Correction of a Vital Record form to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Vital Records Division. You must also include a letter from a physician or therapist who attests that your gender identity has been affirmed and that you are undergoing appropriate medical treatment for gender transition.
- Submit the form, medical letter, and applicable fee (typically $10–$20) to the Department of Health.
Processing Time: The Department of Health typically processes birth certificate amendments within several weeks.

Social Security Update: To update your gender marker with the Social Security Administration (SSA), you will need a physician’s letter or other medical documentation. You can submit this documentation along with the necessary forms to update your records.
Passport Update: If you are updating your passport, you may need to provide a medical letter, along with forms, to the U.S. Department of State to change the gender marker on your passport.
Other Records: It’s important to update other personal records such as bank accounts, insurance policies, and medical records after your name and gender marker have been updated.

Name Change:
1. File a petition for a name change with the Court of Common Pleas.
2. Attend the hearing, and obtain the certified court order for the name change.
3. Update Social Security, PennDOT, and other records with your new name.
Gender Marker Change:
1. Self-attest to change the gender marker at the PennDOT driver’s license center.
2. Submit a medical letter to the Department of Health to amend your birth certificate.
3. Update Social Security, passport, and other records with the new gender marker.