Compare states

What each state and territory allows today. Select a status to open that guide.

You can legally change your name in all 56 states and territories. 12 add extra steps, like a newspaper notice or a hearing. Changing the gender marker is a separate question, and it is where states differ most.

Find a stateShow only states where Show what you need for each marker change

What each state allows, by question
State	Court name change	License or ID	Birth certificate	Adults	Under 18	Shield lawA state law that protects patients and providers of gender-affirming care from investigations, subpoenas, or extradition attempts by states that ban that care.
	Name	Gender markerThe sex or gender field (M, F, or X) printed on an ID document or stored in an agency's record.		Gender-affirming care		Protection
Alabama	Yes	LimitedM or F with proof of surgery	LimitedM or F with proof of surgery	Allowed	Banned	No
Alaska	Yes	YesM or F with a letter from a provider	YesM or F with a letter from a provider	Allowed	Allowed	No
American Samoa	Limited	UnclearNo written policy; see details	UnclearNo written policy; see details	Allowed	Allowed	No
Arizona	Yes	LimitedM or F with a letter from a doctor	LimitedM or F with proof of surgery	Limited	Limited	No
Arkansas	Yes	LimitedM or F with an amended birth certificate	LimitedM or F with proof of surgery	Allowed	Banned	No
California	Yes	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	Allowed	Allowed	Yes
Colorado	Yes	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	Allowed	Limited	Yes
Connecticut	Yes	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	YesXM, F, or X with a letter from a provider	Allowed	Allowed	Yes
Delaware	Yes	YesM or F with a letter from a provider	YesM or F with a letter from a provider	Allowed	Allowed	Yes
District of Columbia	Yes	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	YesXM, F, or X with a letter from a provider	Allowed	Allowed	Yes
Florida	Limited	NoCannot be changed right now	NoCannot be changed right now	Limited	Banned	No
Georgia	Limited	LimitedM or F with proof of surgery	LimitedM or F with proof of surgery	Allowed	Banned	No
Guam	Yes	UnclearNo written policy; see details	LimitedM or F with proof of surgery	Allowed	Allowed	No
Hawaii	Yes	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	LimitedM or F with a letter from a doctor	Allowed	Allowed	Yes
Idaho	Limited	LimitedM or F with an amended birth certificate	NoCannot be changed right now	Limited	Banned	No
Illinois	Yes	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	Allowed	Allowed	Yes
Indiana	Yes	NoCannot be changed right now	NoCannot be changed right now	Allowed	Banned	No
Iowa	Yes	LimitedM or F with an amended birth certificate	NoCannot be changed right now	Limited	Banned	No
Kansas	Yes	NoCannot be changed right now	NoCannot be changed right now	Allowed	In court	No
Kentucky	Yes	LimitedM or F with proof of surgery	LimitedM or F with proof of surgery	Limited	Banned	No
Louisiana	Yes	UnclearNo written policy; see details	LimitedM or F with proof of surgery	Limited	Banned	No
Maine	Yes	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	Allowed	Allowed	Yes
Maryland	Yes	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	YesM or F with a letter from a provider	Allowed	Allowed	Yes
Massachusetts	Yes	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	Allowed	Allowed	Yes
Michigan	Yes	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	Allowed	Allowed	No
Minnesota	Yes	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	LimitedM or F with a letter from a doctor	Allowed	Allowed	Yes
Mississippi	Yes	NoCannot be changed right now	UnclearNo written policy; see details	Allowed	Banned	No
Missouri	Limited	LimitedM or F offered	LimitedM or F with proof of surgery	Limited	Banned	No
Montana	Yes	In courtFor now: M or F with an amended birth certificate	In courtFor now: M or F with your own signed form	Allowed	Allowed	No
Nebraska	Yes	YesM or F with a letter from a doctor	LimitedM or F with proof of surgery	Allowed	Limited	No
Nevada	Yes	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	Allowed	Allowed	No
New Hampshire	Yes	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	LimitedM or F with a court order	Allowed	Banned	No
New Jersey	Yes	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	Allowed	Allowed	Yes
New Mexico	Yes	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	Allowed	Allowed	Yes
New York	Yes	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	Allowed	Allowed	Yes
North Carolina	Limited	YesM or F with a letter from a provider	YesM or F with a letter from a provider	Limited	Banned	No
North Dakota	Yes	YesM or F with a letter from a doctor	NoCannot be changed right now	Allowed	Banned	No
Northern Mariana Islands	Yes	UnclearNo written policy; see details	LimitedM or F with proof of surgery	Allowed	Allowed	No
Ohio	Yes	LimitedM or F with an amended birth certificate	LimitedM or F with a court order	Allowed	Banned	No
Oklahoma	Yes	NoCannot be changed right now	NoCannot be changed right now	Limited	Banned	No
Oregon	Yes	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	Allowed	Allowed	Yes
Pennsylvania	Limited	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	LimitedM or F with a letter from a doctor	Allowed	Allowed	No
Puerto Rico	Yes	YesF or M with a letter from a provider	YesF or M with a letter from a provider	Limited	Banned	No
Rhode Island	Yes	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	Allowed	Allowed	Yes
South Carolina	Limited	LimitedM or F with a court order	LimitedM or F with a court order	Limited	Banned	No
South Dakota	Limited	UnclearNo written policy; see details	NoCannot be changed right now	Allowed	Banned	No
Tennessee	Yes	NoCannot be changed right now	NoCannot be changed right now	Limited	Banned	No
Texas	Limited	NoCannot be changed right now	NoCannot be changed right now	Allowed	Banned	No
U.S. Virgin Islands	Yes	UnclearNo written policy; see details	UnclearNo written policy; see details	Allowed	Allowed	No
Utah	Yes	UnclearNo written policy; see details	LimitedM or F with a court order	Allowed	Banned	No
Vermont	Yes	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	Allowed	Allowed	Yes
Virginia	Yes	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	YesM or F with a letter from a provider	Allowed	Allowed	No
Washington	Yes	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	YesXM, F, or X with your own signed form	Allowed	Allowed	Yes
West Virginia	Limited	YesM or F with a letter from a doctor	YesM or F with a letter from a doctor	Allowed	Banned	No
Wisconsin	Yes	LimitedM or F with a letter from a doctor	LimitedM or F with proof of surgery	Allowed	Allowed	No
Wyoming	Limited	UnclearNo written policy; see details	NoCannot be changed right now	Allowed	Banned	No

Birth certificate rules follow the state where you were born, not where you live. Federal documents (passport, Social Security) are the same everywhere and are not in this table. Every page is a draft until a person verifies it.