Trans Resource Navigator

Local help in Chicago

Part of Illinois.Illinois document routeCare rules in Illinois

Chicago has the largest concentration of trans services in the Midwest: free name change clinics, an LGBTQ community health center with informed-consent hormone care across the North, West, and South Sides, trans-specific drop-in centers, and Black- and trans-led community spaces. Name change petitions for Chicago and the rest of Cook County are heard in the County Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County at the Daley Center.

Covers: Chicago and Cook County

Draft list from organizations' own websites, 2026-09-24. Call ahead: hours and services change.

On this page
  1. Where to file
  2. Name change and ID help
  3. Hormones and primary care
  4. Sexual health, PrEP, and testing
  5. Mental health and support
  6. Sources

Where to file a name change

Court
Circuit Court of Cook County, County Division (Richard J. Daley Center, Room 1202)[1][2]
Free help with forms
Court self-help center

Can’t afford the fee? How fee waivers work in Illinois

Filing tips for this court50 W. Washington St., Room 1202, Chicago, IL 60602; 312-603-5710; open weekdays 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Use the statewide name change forms and…

50 W. Washington St., Room 1202, Chicago, IL 60602; 312-603-5710; open weekdays 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Use the statewide name change forms and e-file them. Cook County also requires you to e-file a photo or scan of your birth certificate and a photo ID (plus proof of a Cook County address if your ID shows another address). For questions about the 2025 changes (no publication, 3-month residency, impoundment) the Clerk lists 312-603-5030. A live chat is available on the Clerk's website during office hours.

Name change and ID help 5

  • Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois (TJLP)[3][4]

    Free name change and gender marker help: in-person Name Change Mobilization clinics and virtual one-on-one appointments after an online intake (English and Spanish forms). Free representation for minors and people with criminal convictions. Email namechange@tjlp.org.

    • Free
    312-558-1472203 N LaSalle St, Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601Languages: English, Español

  • A4TE Name Change Project (Cook County)[5]

    Refers eligible Cook County residents to volunteer law-firm attorneys who handle the name change for free; apply by online intake. Waitlists are common.

    • Free

  • Chicago House TransLife Care (TranSafe drop-ins and legal clinic)[6][7]

    Free drop-in centers for trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive people with on-site health providers, sexual health screening, a legal clinic (name changes, record sealing, discrimination, benefits appeals), case management, housing navigation, and employment help. Drop-ins Mondays 2 to 5 pm at 3656 N Halsted (Center on Halsted, 2nd floor), Wednesdays 3 to 7 pm at 9 N Cicero Ave, and Thursdays 2 to 5 pm at 1650 W 63rd St. Legal clinic questions 773-673-9340.

    • Free
    • Sees uninsured patients
    773-673-93402229 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60616

  • Brave Space Alliance[11]

    Black-led, trans-led LGBTQ+ community center on the South Side with support groups, a community food pantry, housing initiative, identity-document support, and health programs.

    • Free
    872-333-51991515 E 52nd Pl, Chicago, IL 60615

  • IL Pride Connect Legal Hotline[14]

    Free, confidential LGBTQIA+ legal information line, Monday to Thursday 9 am to 4 pm, English and Spanish.

    • Free
    855-805-9200Languages: English, Español

Hormones and primary care 2

  • Howard Brown Health[8][9]

    LGBTQ federally qualified health center: hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgery navigation, primary care, PrEP and PEP, DoxyPEP, a sexual health walk-in clinic, behavioral health, and youth care (ages 12 to 24 at the Broadway Youth Center). Sites at 4025 N Sheridan Rd, 3501 N Halsted St, 6500 N Clark St, 1023 W Irving Park Rd, 3533 W North Ave (at La Casa Norte), 1525 E 55th St, and 641 W 63rd St. Call 773-388-1600.

    • Sliding scale
    • Accepts Medicaid
    • Sees uninsured patients
    773-388-16004025 N. Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60613Languages: English, Español

  • Planned Parenthood of Illinois[13]

    Gender-affirming hormone therapy and sexual health care at Chicago-area health centers; Medicaid and sliding scale. Confirm age minimum and telehealth options by phone.

    • Sliding scale
    • Accepts Medicaid
    • Sees uninsured patients
    • Unverified

Sexual health, PrEP, and testing 1

Mental health and support 2

  • Center on Halsted[12][6]

    Chicago's largest LGBTQ community center on the North Side, with behavioral health services and community programs; hosts a weekly TransLife Care drop-in.

    • Community reported
    3656 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60613

  • Trans Lifeline[15]

    Peer-support hotline by and for trans people. 877-565-8860, English and Spanish.

    • Free
    877-565-8860Languages: English, Español

Sources

15 sources. Numbers in the text, like [1], point here.Show all
  1. County DivisionClerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Court. accessed
    “The County Division hears actions concerning a variety of matters, including ... name changes”
  2. How to Change your Name (Adult), ATJ 302.9 (03/25)Illinois Supreme Court, Form. accessed
    “In Cook County (1st District) only, The Court requires all petitioners to e-file, as an exhibit, a photo or scanned copy of your birth certificate and a photo I.D.”
  3. Name Change MobilizationTransformative Justice Law Project of Illinois, Organization. accessed
  4. Name Change ProjectAdvocates for Trans Equality, Organization. accessed
  5. TransLife CareChicago House and Social Service Agency, Organization. accessed
    “Every Monday 2pm to 5pm @ 3656 N Halsted, 2nd Floor (Center on Halsted)”
  6. Chicago HouseOrganization. accessed
  7. Trans and gender diverse healthHoward Brown Health, Organization. accessed
  8. LocationsHoward Brown Health, Organization. accessed
  9. Howard Brown HealthOrganization. accessed
  10. Brave Space AllianceOrganization. accessed
  11. Center on HalstedOrganization. accessed
  12. Gender-affirming carePlanned Parenthood of Illinois, Organization. accessed
  13. IL Pride Connect Legal HotlineIllinois Pride Connect, Organization. accessed
  14. Trans LifelineOrganization. accessed