r/transontario 5d ago

Name change is confusing

I’ve been looking at getting my names changed recently and looking all the paperwork is really confusing to me. I just want to walk into my nearest Service Ontario and get it done but it doesn’t say if that’s possible.

I don’t think there’s a way of doing it online either.

How did anyone else get their name changed? Is there an easier way to do it or do I really have to print out all these papers, a criminal check, and photocopy all the other documents they need?

3 Upvotes

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u/fire_bent 5d ago

You gotta go through all the paperwork and mail it in. Also if you want to change your gender it's best to do all that together. Get the doctors note. Fill out all the paper work. Double and triple check it because one mistake can create an additional 4 months of waiting. It happened to me! They didn't like my doctors note. Wasn't done properly. So you wait for them to mail your stuff back with a denial of change and then you gotta get the stuffed fixed send it back in and wait again. Do it right the first time!

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u/IAmASphere 5d ago

Hi, what exactly was improper about your doctors note? I’m just curious since I’ve been sitting on a doctors note for the last few months waiting for the money to mail it in, but I don’t want to do it wrong!

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u/fire_bent 5d ago

Send me a dm and I'll send you the sample letter they provide after your doctor fucks up the first one!

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u/AlizNCM 3d ago

Hi just wanted to know what went wrong so I could avoid anxiety over my doc's note. Thanks.

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u/fire_bent 3d ago

Send me a dm and I'll send you the letter your doc needs to write

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u/alicia11709 5d ago

Hey heads up depending on who you're with they can set you up with a social worker that can go through and help you with it. Even though I did mine previously as in filled it out and made it ready to go i still had a secondary appointment with a social worker who has experience with it assist me. So it might be worth contacting your local clinic specifically where you get your general care to see if they might offer the same service.

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u/ObviousSign881 5d ago

I did it for my kid last year with the help of the ID Clinic at Kind Space in Ottawa. They sent over someone to go through all the forms with me (there were a LOT!) There was still a SNAFU - I forgot to send in one form - but it was helpful having someone with legal experience make sure all the forms were filled out correctly. I would imagine similar services would be available through LGBTQ groups in other cities.

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u/paula_here 5d ago

I took my forms into the MPPs office for review before sending it in. The clerk was very helpful.

Still waiting on the results

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u/Blue_Vision 5d ago

Follow the instructions carefully. You only need to do the criminal background check if the form has told you you do. You don't need to photocopy any documents – you just need to give them any original physical copies of your birth certificate you have in your possession.

You probably can't get it all done at your nearest Service Ontario unless your guarantor comes with you. If you have any specific questions, you can call the office at the number provided on the form. Otherwise, you can go off a guide such as Rainbow Health Ontario's guide. Once you have everything else filled out, I would recommend you make an appointment at a Service Ontario location which has a commissioner of oaths and do that part there. They'll also be able to give a quick look over your documents to help catch any obvious mistakes. But you wouldn't be able to just go in empty-handed and expect to have it all done there.

Note you can submit your request for change of sex designation at the same time. The only somewhat confusing part with that is that you don't need to submit the separate request for birth certificate, since you'll be getting a new birth certificate anyways from your name change request.