Getting your legal name change
As many of you know, trans-folk have had a difficult time getting their name changed here in Buncombe County, NC. So far as we can find out, we were the ONLY county in North Carolina where this was happening. There've been some changes at the local Clerk of Court's office, so we hope these difficulties are over. Here's how one of our local trans-men went through the process. Special thanks to Austin for providing us with this information!
Basic Essentials: Name change packet from courthouse, Nationwide Criminal Background Check, limited Title Search/Opinion, 2 character references, copy of your birth certificate, pink name change order form.
Approximate Cost: $300
Step 1: Go to the courthouse and request the name change packet. It costs $5. Read the directions. They help.
Step 2: Get fingerprints ($10, just down the street from the courthouse). Print the order form from the website (the address is in the packet). Get the $18 money order and mail that and your fingerprints to the physical address at the website for the Nationwide Criminal Background Check. It can take up to 4/6 weeks to get back, so do that first.
Step 3: Contact a NC/Buncombe county attorney for the limited Title Search/Opinion. Message me if you want to know which one I used. It took just over a week, and cost me $200. I didn't price check, it was hard enough to find one that did that, so I don't know if that's a typical cost.
Step 4: Get 2 people who live in Buncombe County and know you but are not related to you. The character reference forms are in the packet. Take the forms and the people to a public notary (post offices and banks usually have them), fill out and have the people and the notary sign the forms. I used my bank, so I think it was cheaper than if I didn't have an account. It was $5/form with an account.
Step 5: File your notice of intent to change your name (in the packet) at the courthouse. Get a copy or two made in case the form you post doesn't stay on the board (when you see the board you'll see why I say that).
Step 5 1/2: When filing, ask for the pink name-change-order form. This must be filed in with a type writer (and it's got a carbon copy). (This is the part nobody told me about. I don't know if they'll give it to you right then, but ask anyway)
Step 6: Wait 10 days. (this is the hardest part!)
Step 7: File the background check, title search, character references, copy of birth certificate, and your petition (in the packet) and the pink court order form. Cost: $50 UPDATE: Filing fee is now $98!
Step 8: Wait a couple of days. They will call you to let you know if it got approved or not
Approximate Cost: $300
Step 1: Go to the courthouse and request the name change packet. It costs $5. Read the directions. They help.
Step 2: Get fingerprints ($10, just down the street from the courthouse). Print the order form from the website (the address is in the packet). Get the $18 money order and mail that and your fingerprints to the physical address at the website for the Nationwide Criminal Background Check. It can take up to 4/6 weeks to get back, so do that first.
Step 3: Contact a NC/Buncombe county attorney for the limited Title Search/Opinion. Message me if you want to know which one I used. It took just over a week, and cost me $200. I didn't price check, it was hard enough to find one that did that, so I don't know if that's a typical cost.
Step 4: Get 2 people who live in Buncombe County and know you but are not related to you. The character reference forms are in the packet. Take the forms and the people to a public notary (post offices and banks usually have them), fill out and have the people and the notary sign the forms. I used my bank, so I think it was cheaper than if I didn't have an account. It was $5/form with an account.
Step 5: File your notice of intent to change your name (in the packet) at the courthouse. Get a copy or two made in case the form you post doesn't stay on the board (when you see the board you'll see why I say that).
Step 5 1/2: When filing, ask for the pink name-change-order form. This must be filed in with a type writer (and it's got a carbon copy). (This is the part nobody told me about. I don't know if they'll give it to you right then, but ask anyway)
Step 6: Wait 10 days. (this is the hardest part!)
Step 7: File the background check, title search, character references, copy of birth certificate, and your petition (in the packet) and the pink court order form. Cost: $50 UPDATE: Filing fee is now $98!
Step 8: Wait a couple of days. They will call you to let you know if it got approved or not