How do I change my name in Maine?

The easiest way to change your name in Maine, is to go in person to your county’s probate court and fill out all documentation in person. Call ahead to check that you have everything your county requires you to bring with you.

- What you’ll need -

• Be a Maine resident

• Government issued Picture ID with your current legal name and residential address. If your address is not up to date you can bring proof of address in the form of a lease or official mail such as a utility bill.

• Some courts also require a certified copy of your birth certificate. Here's how to get copies of vital records in Maine.

• Some courts require additional paperwork such as letters to notify concerned parties or credit histories.

- What you’ll need to know -

• All forms must be filled out in black ink, unless otherwise indicated, and must be signed using your current legal name.

• The process for changing your name is handled by county probate courts, and varies slightly county to county. All courts require adults to file form CN-1 and minors to file form NC-001 through a guardian.

• Additionally, all courts require an affidavit, form AF-103, which must be notarized. Here’s a helpful resource on how to get things notarized.

• If you are filing for a name change for a minor, we strongly recommend calling your local probate court, because the process is more complicated. Questions concerning custody or guardianship further complicate the process, especially with respect to providing notice. There are ways around some notice requirements. Probate court staff will be able to walk you through the steps.

• Every probate court has a fee associated with changing your name. This fee is at least $80 in every county. In some it is over $120.

• As of August 2022, Maine no longer requires a public notice of name change.

• The process of changing your name can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Different probate courts have different requirements for attending your name change. Some require that you show up at the courthouse at a specific time, others will simply mail you your certificate of name change after it is completed. Check with your county's probate court to ensure you understand their requirements.

• Changing your name is not like flipping a light switch and other organizations and branches of government do not get automatically updated on the change. You are required to inform these institutions yourself, generally within 30 days of the date your name change takes effect. This includes your banks, schools, employers, the Social Security Administration, Department of Motor Vehicles, Credit Bureaus such as Expirian, Equifax and TransUnion, and others.

What is Gender Marker X and is it available in Maine?

Gender Marker “X” is an alternative gender marker often used by non binary and intersex people, but can we used by anyone who feels it is the best representation of their gender. As a legal gender marker, it verifies that you are legally neither male nor female in the eyes of the State, and this must be respected by your employer, housing, and most businesses. If you bump into any issues with this, please reach out to us at info@mainetransnet.org and we will refer you to a legal support service.

Mainer’s have been able to get state ID’s with gender marker “X”, instead of “M” or "F” since June of 2018 thanks to a court case brought by activist and actor Ian-Meredythe Lindsey.

Since July of 2020, Gender Marker X is also an option on new and amended birth certificates in Maine. For more information about how to update your birth certificate, please scroll down to see our section on birth certificates.

As of 2022, the Federal Government offers Gender Marker X on passports, passport cards, and social security cards.

Please be aware that many systems do not yet accomodate gender marker X and you may be required to select a different gender marker. This is a common issue with medical records and health insurance.

How do I change my state ID?

To change your name on your Maine driver's license or ID, you will need to bring your current license or ID to your local BMV, along with proof of your name change (such as your court order or certificate of name change). You will also need to pay a $5.00 fee for a replacement license/ID. While your request is being processed, you will be issued a temporary (paper) license or ID. You will have 30 days from the time of your legal name change to complete this process.

To change your gender marker on a state ID, you must go to your local BMV and file a gender designation form. If you do this at the same time as your name change, you will not incur an additional $5.00 fee. You no longer need to have a doctor’s signature or to have medically transitioned in order to change your gender marker on state IDs.

Beginning May 2023, in order to access some federal buildings and domestic flights, Mainers will need REAL ID compliant IDs if they wish to use their state ID’s for this purpose. Gender Marker X state ID’s can be used as REAL IDs if they meet the same requirements as other gender markers. More information on REAL IDs, how to get one, and if they are the right choice for you can be found here.

If you do not wish to get a REAL ID compliant State ID, a passport or passport card can be used to access federal buildings and to board airplanes.

How do I change my birth certificate?

Please note, the following only applies to birth certificates issued by the State of Maine. If your birth certificate was issued by a different state or country, these rules do not apply.

- To Change Gender Marker Only or Gender Marker and Name -

• All applications must be submitted with a $15 application fee, payable by check only, made out to "Treasurer, State of Maine."

• All applications must be submitted to the Maine Vital Records Office at the following Address:

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Vital Records Office
11 State House Station
220 Capitol Street
Augusta, ME 04333-0011

• Adults will neet to submit a notarized copy this application.

• For minors, parents/guardians must submit this form signed by all legal parents/guardians. The signature of each parent/guardian must be notarized individually.

• Additionally for minors, this form must be completed by a liscensed medical or mental health provider and submitted with the application.

• For more information, see this FAQ document.

- To Change Name Only -

• Adults and Emancipated Minors can petition for a name change on birth certificates by submitting form VS-14

Other States: If your birth certificate was issued in another state, we suggest using this resource.

How do I change federal documents?

• Social Security - You can find information about changing your name and gender marker on your social security card, as well as answers to Frequently Asked Questions about how this will impact your benefits. Medical documentation is not required however it can be used to satisfy proof of gender change when other documents, such as an amended birth certificate, are not available. Gender Marker X is an option. More information here.

• Passports - You can find information about the current rules for changing your name and gender marker on US passports here. Medical documentation of transition is no longer required, and gender marker X is an option.

Who else do I need to inform that I’ve changed my name?

• All of your banks
• Employer
• Credit card companies or any other loan agency (remember your car loans, mortgages, and student loans!)
• School, if you are a student, or want new copies of diplomas (they may not give you updated ones, but you can ask!)
• Licensing or credentialing bodies
• Social Security Agency
• Insurance companies (health, car, home, life, ALL of the insurances)
• Healthcare providers (you don’t want your healthcare provider to have a different name on file than your insurance company. This can cause problems)
• Utility companies or anyone else who regularly bills you.
• Your lawyer if you have one
• Any individual who may list you as next of kin, emergency contact, or a beneficiary of their will or life insurance.
• Others you think should be on this list? Let us know at info@mainetransnet.org.

I can’t afford to change my name. Can you help?

• Memorial Name change fund: MaineTransNet maintains a fund used to support low income transgender Mainers in changing their names. Money for the fund comes primarily from memorial funds from members of our community whom we have lost, as well as from special fundraising events generally held during pride month. If you would like to use our memorial name change fund, please send us a message through the contact us page. ​
• Trans assistance project ​
• Some counties have programs where they can waive all or some of the fees associated with name changes. We suggest calling your local probate clerk to find out if this is an option for you.