Welcome to our one-stop hub for name and gender change information. Find out how to get a legal name change where you live and update your name/gender on state and federal IDs and records.
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To obtain a legal name change in Illinois, an applicant must submit a petition to the court and the petition must be verified “by the affidavit of some credible person.” The applicant must publish notice of the petition in the newspaper for three consecutive weeks, starting at least six weeks before the hearing. The publication requirement is waived if the name change is for witness protection purposes. Individuals who are not currently incarcerated but have a felony conviction within the last ten years are not permitted to change their name. Registered sex offenders are not permitted to change their name. (735 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/21-101 to 5/21-105).
For instructions on legal name changes for minors under 18 in Illinois, see NCTE's Name Changes for Minors in Illinois resource.
In order to correct the name and/or gender on an Illinois ID, am applicant must must visit a Secretary of State facility to turn in your incorrect license. Along with providing acceptable identification for proof of identity, the applicant must also submit:
(1) If requesting a name change, a document such as a court order demonstrating the name change
(2) If requesting a gender marker change, any of the following documents:
The Illinois Secretary of State's office addresses name and gender change here. Applicants must notify the Illinois Secretary of State of a legal name change within 10 days of the name change.
As of January 1 2018, the Division of Vital Records will update the gender marker on an Illinois birth certificate upon receipt of a declaration by a licensed health care professional stating the person has undergone treatment that is clinically apprpriate for gender transition. See Public Act 100-0360.
To apply for an updated birth certificate, an applicant should submit:
Submit application to:
Illinois Department of Health
Division of Vital Records
Agency Dating Odessa How Scan Work 925 E. Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702-2737
If you have additional questions, you can reach the Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records at 217-782-6553, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. or via email to [email protected].