How to Change Your Legal Name or Gender in Oregon
Do you want to legally change your name or gender marker in Oregon? This article will walk you through the steps and explain what to do once you get your official paperwork.
This is the first part of a guide on changing your legal name and gender marker. Once you make these changes, you'll still need to update other identification. Find the second part of this guide here.
Steps to change your legal name and gender in Oregon
To legally change your name and gender marker, you must go through a court process. Here are the steps in that process:
Step 1: Fill out the court forms
Oregon has free court forms you can use. Find the forms to change your name and gender marker on Oregon’s court website.
There are separate versions for adults and minors under 18. Make sure you’re filling out the correct one.
Step 2: Bring the forms to your local circuit court
After completing the forms, you must file them at the circuit court in the county where you live. Find your local circuit court here.
Step 3: Pay the filing fee of $124
There’s a $124 filing fee to turn the petition into the court. If you are unable to pay, you can apply for a fee waiver. Find the fee waiver here.
Step 4: Wait for the judge to review and sign your paperwork
It usually takes between two and eight weeks for a judge to review your court documents and sign them.
Step 5: Get a copy of your signed judgment.
Your judgment is the legal document, signed by a judge, that officially changes your name and gender marker. You will use this legal document to update other identification and prove that you legally changed your name and gender marker.
In some counties, the court will mail you a signed court judgment or a notice that lets you know your judgment was signed. In other counties, you may not hear anything from the court.
Once your judgment is signed, contact your court and ask for two or three certified copies of your judgment to use when you update your identification records. A certified copy is an official copy bearing a court clerk’s stamp. There’s a small fee for certified copies.
Tip: If it’s been longer than eight weeks and you haven’t heard anything from the court, call and ask about the status of your case. If the judgment has been signed, request certified copies.
Free help is available
- Oregon's CLEAR Clinic program offers free statewide help with name and gender marker changes.
- TransPonder provides financial assistance to Oregon residents for legal ID changes and paperwork.
- You can also search online for “Free Name and Gender Change Legal Clinic Near Me.” Sometimes law schools or legal organizations host name- and gender-change clinics, where they help people complete legal paperwork.
Next steps
After you get a copy of your signed judgment, you still need to independently update your other identification, like your driver's license or birth certificate.
Go here to learn more about updating other forms of identification.
As of 2025, you can't change your gender on your passport or with Social Security. However, you can still change your gender marker on Oregon IDs, like your driver's license. You can also update your gender with other places, such as your doctor's office, insurance provider, and credit card companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
You might want to file separate applications with the court to change your name and your gender.
Here’s why:
- Starting in 2025, you can only update your name, not your gender marker, with the Social Security Administration. You'll need a separate name change judgment to update your Social Security records.
- You can’t seal your name change to keep it private, but you can seal your gender change. If you want to keep some information private, it’s best to file two separate applications.
There’s a $124 filing fee to send the petition to the court. If you can’t pay, you can apply for a fee waiver. Find the fee waiver here.
If you don’t get a fee waiver, some organizations offer financial help with filing fees and related costs.
- TransPonder: Provides financial assistance to Oregon residents for legal ID changes and paperwork. Learn more about TransPonder here.
- Outside In (Portland metro area): Provides healthcare support to trans folks and financial assistance for name and sex change paperwork. Learn more about Outside In here.
- Thrive Fund: Offers small grants to trans folks who can’t afford gender-affirming care and wellness services. Application opens every August 1 - August 31. Learn more about Thrive Fund here.
It usually takes two to eight weeks to complete the legal name change process through the courts.
After this, you still need to update your identification records, like your driver's license, passport, or birth certificate. This can take weeks to months.
Learn more about updating your identification records in this article.
Most court paperwork is public information. This means employers, your ex-partner, or others can find your name change in court records.
However, you can ask the court to seal your record (keep it private) in two situations:
- You are enrolled in Oregon’s Address Confidentiality Program (ACP): This program protects survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, trafficking, and bias crimes. If you participate in this program, you can ask the court to seal your name change. Learn more and apply to ACP here.
- You are only changing your gender marker. If you are only asking to change your gender marker, you can ask the court to seal your record.
Yes, if you have a minor child (under 18), you can use the court to change their name using the Minor Name or Sex Change packet.
Here are a few things to know:
- You must notify your co-parent or other legal guardians when you file.
- The court may hold a hearing if your co-parent or the other legal guardian objects.
- At the hearing, a judge will give everyone involved a chance to explain why they think the child’s name should or shouldn’t change.
If you’re leaving an abusive situation, a legal name change often isn’t enough to stay safe. Your abuser may still be able to find your new name using public records.
You should take extra steps to keep your information private.
For help:
- Read our article on maintaining privacy after domestic violence. Learn about five key steps you can take to keep your information private.
- Contact your local domestic violence program. They can help with safety planning and financial or housing support.
- Contact your local legal aid office. Legal aid offices in Oregon provide free legal help to people leaving abusive relationships. They can help you get a restraining order or deal with a divorce or custody situation.