Illinois LGBTQIA+ Resource Hub

Vital Records

/ ID Documents

Vital Records Rights

Vital records are official documents maintained by government authorities, like birth certificates, driver’s licenses, passports, and Social Security cards. This page provides the information you need to ensure these documents reflect and respect your identity, including through name and gender marker changes.

You can change your name on all state and federal vital records documents with a court order. Illinois protects the right to self-select your gender marker on Illinois ID documents, including state IDs, driver’s licenses, and birth certificates. The federal government has put policies in place to prevent updating the gender marker on federal documents (such as Social Security records and passports), and these policies are currently being challenged by advocates. 

This page provides information and resources for people seeking to change their name or gender marker on identification documents.

Changing your Name and Gender Marker on Illinois ID Documents

Name Changes

Before you can update your name on vital records, you need a court order granting your name change. If you live in Illinois, these free legal services organizations may be able to help you get a court order for name change:

Outside of Illinois? Visit the A4TE ID Documents Center & A4TE Trans Legal Services Network Directory.

To update your vital records, you will need a certified copy of your name change court order. A certified copy is an official paper copy of the order, with a court seal. To get a certified copy, you may have to contact the Circuit Court Clerk in the county in which your name change was granted.

Gender Marker Changes‍ ‍

In the state of Illinois, you do not need a court order or medical documentation to change your gender marker on Illinois identification documents like birth certificates, state IDs/driver’s licenses, and marriage licenses. ‍ ‍

State ID Document Changes in Illinois

  • You can change your name on an Illinois driver’s license, state ID, or Real ID with a certified court order. You can select the gender marker you want on an Illinois driver’s license, state ID, or Real ID at any time, without a court order. To change your name and/or gender marker on an Illinois driver’s license, state ID, or Real ID:

    • Go in person to a Secretary of State facility.

    • You will need to bring documents with you. Use this Driver’s License and ID Card Acceptable Documents Checklist to get a list of the documents you need.

      • If you are changing your name, bring a certified copy of your court order for name change.

      • To change your gender marker, you will be asked to fill out this Gender Designation Change Form. You can bring a copy of the form with you.

      • There are no additional requirements to change your gender marker on an Illinois ID card. If you are not able to get an ID with your preferred gender marker, you can call the Illinois Pride Connect Legal Hotline at 855-805-9200 for assistance.

  • You can update the name on your Illinois birth certificate with a certified court order. You can update the gender marker on your Illinois birth certificate at any time, without a court order.

    Step 1: Fill out an Affidavit of Correction form‍ ‍

    • You can use this form to request a change of name, gender marker, or both

    Step 2: Get it notarized

    Step 3: Include:

    • A copy of a valid photo ID

    • The $15 fee (check or money order only)

    • Certified court order for name change (if you are changing your name)

    Step 4: Mail everything together to the address on the form

    If you need assistance updating your birth certificate, you can call the Illinois Pride Connect Legal Hotline at 855-805-9200.

  • Do you live in Illinois and want to change the name and/or gender marker on your birth certificate from another state or country?

    Most states accept out-of-state court orders for name change. You can use your Illinois court order for name change to update the name on your birth certificate from another U.S. state or territory. Visit the A4TE ID Documents Center to find instructions on applying for an updated birth certificate from your birth state.

    Every state has different rules for changing the gender marker on a birth certificate. Some states require a court order for gender marker change. Illinois courts have a process for Illinois residents to get a court order for gender marker change for out-of-state birth certificates. If you need assistance with this process, you can call the Illinois Pride Connect Legal Hotline at 855-805-9200, or contact one of the free legal services organizations listed at the top of this page. To check the rules on gender markers for your state of birth, visit the A4TE ID Documents Center.

    Every country has different rules for updating birth certificates. You can request information on these rules from the consulate office of your birth country.

  • Every county has its own marriage certificate amendment form. You will need to go in person or call the County Clerk’s Office in the Illinois county where you were married. If you do not reside in the county where you were married and travel is not possible, you may need to ask the clerk to mail or email you the forms, as they typically are not available online.

    If you are only changing the name(s) on a marriage certificate, you will have to fill out a marriage certificate amendment form and provide a photo ID and certified court order for name change.

    If you also want to change gendered language (such as “bride” to “groom” or “spouse,” etc.), both spouses may have to fill out additional forms, which are usually only available at the County Clerk’s Office.

Federal ID Document Name and Gender Marker Changes

Federal ID documents are forms of identification issued by the U.S. government, like passports, Social Security Cards, and certain immigration documents. The rules for updating federal ID documents are different from the rules for updating Illinois and other state ID documents.

  • You can change the name on your U.S. passport with a certified court order. You can visit the State Department website to find instructions for applying for a new or corrected passport with your new name.

    It is not currently possible to change the gender marker on a passport, or to get a new or renewed passport with an X gender marker. It is important to speak with an attorney about your unique situation if you are applying for a new or corrected passport and have changed the gender marker on any of your vital records in the past.

    For detailed information on passports and travel safety, see the Advocates for Trans Equality Know Your Rights guidance on passports.

    For additional information and updates on the ongoing lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s passport gender marker policy, see the ACLU Q&A on Orr v. Trump.

    If you are an Illinois resident with questions about updating your passport, you can call the IL Pride Connect Legal Hotline at 855-805-9200.

  • You can change the name on your Social Security card with a certified court order. It is not currently possible to change the gender marker on your Social Security record.

    You can visit the Social Security Administration Change Name with Social Security website for more information. You may need to make an appointment with your local Social Security office to apply for a corrected Social Security card in person.

  • You can change the name on your USCIS ID documents, like employment authorization documents (green cards) and certificates of naturalization, with a court order for name change. The USCIS website includes information on the forms, fees, and other evidence you need to update your name on different USCIS documents. It is not currently possible to change the gender marker on USCIS ID documents.

    It is important to speak with an attorney before applying for updated USCIS documents, especially if you have changed the gender marker on any of your ID documents in the past. You can call the IL Pride Connect Legal Hotline at 855-805-9200 or visit our Immigration Resources Page to get connected with an immigration attorney who can help.

‍Additional Vital Records Resources

Hotline Callout

Need help or have questions?

If you feel your rights have been violated, or if you need guidance on any of the above, contact the Illinois Pride Connect Legal Hotline at 855-805-9200.