1. Name Change Process in Washington State

A. Obtain a Court Order for Name Change

  • File a Petition: Submit a Petition for Name Change to the district court in the county where you reside. Requirements may include:

    • A completed name change petition form, which can be found on the Washington Courts website or obtained from your local court.

    • Proof of Washington residency (such as an ID or utility bill).

  • Attend a Court Hearing: After filing, the court will typically schedule a hearing. At the hearing, the judge will review the petition and, if everything is in order, will grant a court order for the name change.

  • Fees: Filing fees generally range from $150–$200, but fee waivers are available if you have low income.

B. Update Your Name on Other Documents

  • Social Security Card: Submit your court order to the Social Security Administration (SSA) along with an SS-5 form (application for a new Social Security card).

  • Driver’s License/State ID: Bring the court order to a Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) office to update your driver’s license or ID.

  • Birth Certificate (if applicable): If you were born in Washington, you can submit a certified copy of the court order to the Department of Health to update the name on your birth certificate.

2. Gender Marker Change Process in Washington State

A. Updating the Gender Marker on State ID or Driver’s License

  • Requirements: Washington allows self-attestation for gender marker changes on state IDs and driver’s licenses, so no physician or court documentation is required. To make the change:

    • Complete a Gender Designation Change Request form (available from the Washington DOL).

    • Select the gender marker that reflects your identity (male, female, or nonbinary).

  • Process: Bring the completed form to a Washington DOL office, and the gender marker will be updated on your ID.

  • Fees: Standard replacement or renewal fees apply.

B. Gender Marker Change on Birth Certificate

  • Requirements: Washington permits individuals to change the gender marker on their birth certificates by self-attestation. No medical or court documentation is required.

  • Steps:

    • Submit a completed Request for Change of Gender Designation form to the Washington Department of Health. You may select male, female, or the nonbinary “X” marker.

    • Submit the form along with a small processing fee (typically around $20).

  • Processing Time: The Department of Health will process your request and issue a new birth certificate with the updated gender marker.

3. Additional Steps and Considerations

  • Passport Update (Optional): After updating your name and/or gender marker, you can update your U.S. passport with the new information through the U.S. Department of State.

  • Social Security: The Social Security Administration requires a physician’s letter or other medical documentation for gender marker changes, so you may need a doctor’s statement for SSA updates.

Summary Checklist for Washington State

  • Name Change:

    1. File a petition for a name change with the district court.

    2. Attend a court hearing if required, and obtain the certified court order.

    3. Update Social Security, DMV, and other records with the new name.

  • Gender Marker Change:

    1. Self-attest to change the gender marker at the Washington DOL (ID/license).

    2. Submit a gender designation form to the Department of Health for birth certificate updates.

    3. Update Social Security and other relevant records with the new gender marker.

  • Required Forms:

    1. Washington Name Change Form

    2. SS-5 Form