Trans Resource Navigator

Michigan

ID documents
Protective
Care
Protective
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.
No

Michigan is one of the more protective states for trans people.

More about Michigan

Since April 2025 a name change for gender identity is automatically kept out of the newspaper and made confidential, with no fingerprinting. Driver's licenses and birth certificates offer M, F, or X on your own signed statement, with no doctor's letter or court order. Medicaid covers gender-affirming care, and the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act bans discrimination based on gender identity or expression. Michigan does not have a shield law for gender-affirming care.

This state’s pages are drafts written from official sources and not yet checked by a person. What this means

Your documents, in order

Most people go in this order, because each office checks the one before it. On every document, updating your name and changing your gender marker are separate questions with separate answers.

  1. Legal name changeState court
    Name
    YesNewspaper notice sometimes, hearing sometimes
  2. Social SecurityFederal, same in every state
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    NoCannot be changed right now
  3. Driver's license / state IDMichigan DMV
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    YesM, F, or X with your own signed form
  4. US passportFederal, same in every state
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    NoCannot be changed right now
  5. Birth certificateOnly if born in Michigan
    Name
    Limited
    Gender marker
    YesM, F, or X with your own signed form

Born somewhere other than Michigan? Your birth certificate follows the state where you were born. Choose your birth state

Gender-affirming care

Adults
Allowed
Under 18
Allowed
Gender-affirming care is legal for adults and minors in Michigan.Find clinics, health centers, telehealth, and ways to pay

Local help

Statewide organizations

  • Transgender Michigan[5]

    Statewide trans advocacy and support organization with regional chapters, a help line (855-345-TGMI, which is 855-345-8464), and the TransPages directory of trans-friendly providers.

    • Free
    855-345-8464

  • Michigan Legal Help[6]

    Free official self-help site with a Do-It-Yourself Name Change tool that fills in the court forms for you (including the nonpublication request), county-specific filing instructions, and a guide to changing your gender marker.

    • Free
    Languages: English, Español

  • Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center[7]

    Michigan's largest LGBTQ+ community center, in Ferndale; affordable therapy, support groups, basic needs, and a legal resource guide. 290 W. 9 Mile Rd; 248-398-7105.

    • Cost varies
    248-398-7105290 W. 9 Mile Rd, Ferndale, MI 48220

  • Trans Lifeline[8]

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

    • Free
    877-565-8860Languages: English, Español
Sources for this page (8)

Sources

8 sources. Numbers in the text, like [1], point here.

  1. MCL 711.3, nonpublication and confidential record for good causeMichigan Legislature, Law. accessed
    “the court must presume that a petition shows good cause if ... The petitioner or the endangered individual seeks to affirm their gender identity.”
  2. MCL 333.2831, new certificate of birthMichigan Legislature, Law. accessed
    “The state registrar may not require any additional document or certification other than the form, or, if applicable, the court order, required under this subdivision.”
  3. MCL 37.2102, Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (as amended by 2023 PA 6, effective February 13, 2024)Michigan Legislature, Law. accessed
    “without discrimination because of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression ...”
  4. Michigan equality profileMovement Advancement Project, Organization. accessed
    “"Shield" Laws Protecting Access to Transgender Health Care 0/1”
  5. Transgender MichiganOrganization. accessed
  6. Do-It-Yourself Name ChangeMichigan Legal Help, Official page. accessed
  7. Contact usAffirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center, Organization. accessed
    “290 West 9 Mile Road Ferndale, Michigan 48220. Phone (248) 398-7105”
  8. Trans LifelineOrganization. accessed