Birth Certificates

Dr. Becky Allison's site is the primary web resource for amending a birth certificate.

You can also check the information compiled at Kindred Spirit on Changing Name & Sex On Birth Certificate:

http://www.kindredspiritlakeside.homestead.com/BirthRecord.html

A note for those seeing non-US surgeons

Please note that some states are now requiring those who have reassignment procedures outside the country to have these procedures confirmed by US physician. For example, here is the revised 2005 Illinois requirement:

http://www.idph.state.il.us/vitalrecords/gender.htm

In Illinois the surgeon who performed the surgery is the only one who can fill out the affidavit and must be licensed in the U.S.

Some have suggested that if you have the procedures done outside the country, you might try having an exam by a US physician who will give you a notarized letter confirming the procedures have been completed. It is not clear if this workaround will work, though.

Some states require evidence of "irreversible" medical procedures. However, the question of what constitutes irreversible medical procedures has not been established yet. In some cases, you may be able to get a gender change based on an orchiectomy or other procedures that are irreversible, but are not vaginoplasty.

The following information is courtesy Natalie G.

This page provides links to webpages hosted by various states' vital records departments.  With these links, you will be able to: 1) send for copies of your birth certificate; and 2) get the contact information you need to start the process in getting your name and/or gender changed on your birth certificate.  Sometimes marriage and death certificate info is available on these sites as well.  This page does not contain resources on states' policies or procedures on changing your records; that kind of information is not, to my knowledge, ever posted on a state's website (but it won't stop me from trying to find it!).  If you can provide me with information on how to change your vital records, please email me.  I also welcome comments, corrections, and suggestions!
 

  • Alabama 
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas (site #1)
  • Arkansas (site #2)
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • District of Columbia
  • Florida 1
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky (site #1)
  • Kentucky (site #2)
    		•
  •      Louisiana
  •      Maine
  •      Maryland
  •      Massachusetts 2
  •      Michigan
  •      Minnesota
  •      Mississippi
  •      Missouri
  •      Montana
  •      Nebraska
  •      Nevada
  •      New Hampshire
  •      New Jersey
  •      New Mexico
  •      New York
  •      New York City
  •      North Carolina
  •      North Dakota
  •      Ohio
    		•
  •      Oklahoma
  •      Oregon
  •      Pennsylvania
  •      Rhode Island
  •      South Carolina
  •      South Dakota
  •      Tennessee
  •      Texas
  •      Utah
  •      Vermont
  •      Virginia
  •      Washington
  •      West Virginia 3
  •      Wisconsin
  •      Wyoming
    		•

     

    Useful references

    When the links above don't provide enough info - or where I couldn't find a link - these sites may prove to be helpful:

    Lambda Legal: Amending Birth Certificates to Reflect Your Correct Sex

    http://www.lambdalegal.org/cgi-bin/iowa/documents/record?record=1162
     

  •  State HomePages
  •  Vital records can be retrieved for a fee from Mail-It
  •  Vital Records Information
  •  CDC  They maintain a list of summary info on vital records
  •  Webgator

     Notes:
    1: Since you cannot access the site directly, follow these steps.  At the top of the webpage, there is a drop-down list, with an icon labeled "GO!".  From the list, select "Certificates (Birth, Death, Marriage, Divorce)", then click the "GO!" icon.  After the webpage has loaded, click on the option labeled "How to obtain certifications of birth and death certificates".  All the info you will need is on this site.
    2: Massachussetts told me, and I quote, "does not keep birth certificates.  You need to get in touch with the city/town in which your were born to obtain a copy."  The site I found may help, but you'll likely want to use one of the Useful References above.
    3: Their website is still under construction.  They said that vital records will be available from this site soon.  I'll visit them periodically, and will post the direct link when I get it.  In the meantime, use the following contact info: Vital Registration Office; Building 3, Room 516; Capitol Complex; Charleston, WV 25305.
    Phone: (304) 558-2931    Fax: (304) 558-1051
     

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