Transgender Name Change Clinic (5 to 12 clients). Help low-income transgender and gender noncomforming clients secure legal name changes. Obtaining a legal name change is essential for transgender clients, so that they can be treated with respect by employers, government agencies, hospitals, and more. It also comes with huge emotional significance. But the name change procedure in New York is intimidating for many clients, and historically required an appearance in court.
The clinic is 3.5 hours, including 1.5 hours of training, and 1.5 hours spent meeting with the client. At the clinic, volunteers will virtually meet with clients, analyze documents, draft the petition, and advise clients about the name change process. Partnering law firms commit to representing the client for the remainder of their case. While petitions are now generally granted on the papers, some judges may require a remote hearing. Teams also help clients to apply the name change order and any gender marker change to key identity documents.