Transgender Name Change in Pennsylvania

Transgender name change is an option increasingly chosen in Pennsylvania, by minors and adults alike, as our changing national culture has made transgender persons feel ready to legalize their identity. The state has also moved to keep up with our changing national culture. In 2018, for instance, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, or PHRC, which enforces the state’s civil rights laws, clarified last August that sex discrimination includes LGBTQ individuals. To quote the Commission in its announcement:

“For the first time ever, LGBTQ Pennsylvanians have a way to seek recourse from the state if they’re the subject of discrimination based on their gender identity or sexual orientation.

The Pa. Human Relations Commission last week released new guidance with an expanded definition of “sex” as it applies to the state’s discrimination laws. The word now encompasses not just sex assigned at birth, but also sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, gender transition, and transgender identity.

That change allows Pennsylvanians to file a complaint with the commission if they believe they have experienced education, employment, housing or public accommodation discrimination because they’re LGBTQ.”

With these changing times, it seems natural that transgender persons feel more comfortable to legalize the name that matches their identity. Increasingly, southeast Pennsylvania counties are responding as well. Some, like Bucks County, automatically seal transgender name change petitions – particularly if the petitioner is a minor – so that they are not available to the public for casual perusal.

Although state law also requires that a Notice of Hearing for Name Change be published in two media sources, that requirement can sometimes be waived if the petitioner is particularly worried about being targeted or victimized. This requires a separate motion to the Court and is granted by a judge.

If the person seeking a name change is a minor – and this applies to any minor, not just transgender minors – state law requires that both parents either be a party to the Petition for Name Change, or be served with notice of the Hearing. A parent can object to a name change and the judge will take that into consideration at the Hearing.

For a transgender individual, navigating the intricacies of state law and county practices can be intimidating. I can help you successfully change your name while avoiding common legal process errors. Call my office at 215-345-5259 to arrange a free first consult, and I’ll be glad to help you.

-Elissa C. Goldberg, Esquire

Law Office of Elissa C. Goldberg
107 North Broad Street, Suite 211
Doylestown, PA 18901