Changing Your Name or Gender Marker in Pennsylvania

Before you can update your name on most IDs, you need a court order. This comes from your county Court of Common Pleas. 

How to file:     

1. Fill out the name change petition form for your county. 
2. File it at your county courthouse and pay the filing fee. 
3. A judge reviews your petition and signs a court order. 
4. Get several certified copies of the order. You will need them for each ID update. 

Note: If you are under 18, a parent or guardian must file the petition with you. If you are under 7, no court order is needed for most documents.

Change your name 

You will need: a certified copy of your court order or updated birth certificate. 

Bring your name change documents to a PennDOT Driver License Center. 

1. Bring your name change documents to a PennDOT Driver License Center. 
2. Complete Form DL-80. 
3. Pay any applicable fees. 

Change your gender marker 

Gender marker change on your PA license is self-certified. No doctor’s letter, court order, or other documentation is required.  

Options: M (Male), F (Female), or X (Non-binary)

1. Complete Form DL-32. 
2. Bring it to any PennDOT Driver License Center in person. 
3. There is no fee for a standard (non-commercial, non-REAL ID) license or ID. 

REAL ID 

⚠ Important: As of May 7, 2025, you need a REAL ID (or U.S. Passport) to fly within the U.S. or enter certain federal buildings. To get a REAL ID, update your name with Social Security before applying at PennDOT. 

You can get a REAL ID with an X gender marker. 

• Find a PennDOT Driver License Center 
• Form DL-32 (gender marker)
• Form DL-80 (name change) 

Your birth certificate is issued in the state where you were born. If you were born in Pennsylvania, contact the PA Department of Health. 

Change your name 

Requirements depend on your age: 

• Under 7: No court order needed. 
• Ages 7–13: Court order or other supporting documents. 
• Ages 14–17: Court order required. A parent or guardian submits the form. 
• 18 and older: Court order required. 

Change your sex marker 

PA birth certificates only use M or F. 

• Under 18: No documentation needed. A parent or guardian submits the form. 
• 18 and older: A doctor’s letter on letterhead, stating appropriate medical care for gender transition. Include the doctor’s license number. 
• PA Dept. of Health — Amend a Birth Record 

Change your name 

You will need: Form SS-5, a certified copy of your court order, and your current birth certificate or immigration documents. 

1. Bring documents to your local Social Security office in person. 
2. You will get a new card mailed to you in about one week. 

Note: Do this in person. SSA often loses mailed paperwork. 

Change your gender marker 

⚠ Important: As of January 31, 2025, gender marker updates on Social Security accounts are no longer available. Do not attempt to change your gender marker at the SSA. Doing so may put your application on hold and your documents may not be returned.

Change your name 

You will need: Form DS-11, a certified copy of your court order. Complete the form in black ink. 

• Form DS-11 and instructions (State Dept.) 

Change your gender marker 

⚠ Important: As of January 20, 2025, gender marker updates on U.S. Passports are no longer available. You may still travel even if your passport gender marker does not match your identity or how you present.

Note: If you have a current valid passport, we recommend waiting until it expires before renewing. You can still travel with a passport that has a different gender marker or name. 

• No medical documentation is needed to change your gender marker. 
• Options: F (Female), M (Male), or X (Nonbinary/Other). 
• Bring an acceptable photo ID to the polls after updating your record. 
• Update PA voter registration 

Once you have your court order, you can update these records too: 

• Employer records - your employer must use your legal name. 
• Health insurance and medical records. 
• Bank and financial accounts - your court order is valid for access even before the name update. 
• Legal documents (will, power of attorney) originals are still valid; update when possible. 
• Selective Service - if you were recorded male at birth and are between 18 and 26, federal law requires registration, regardless of your current gender marker. 

It is okay to update some IDs before others. Carry a copy of your court order while your other IDs are being updated. This helps if anyone questions your identity during the process. 

This is a common order, not a requirement: 

1. Get your court order for legal name change. 
2. Update Social Security (name only). 
3. Update your PA Driver’s License or Photo ID (name and/or gender marker). 
4. Update your PA Birth Certificate. 
5. Update your U.S. Passport (when it expires, or if you need it soon for travel). 
6. Update employer, financial, and health records. 

This table shows what each document requires. Details are in the sections below. 

Note: Policies on federal IDs (Social Security, Passport) changed in early 2025. You can still update your name on federal IDs. Gender marker updates are no longer available on those documents.