Updating your legal name or gender marker on your Vermont IDs and birth certificate can feel confusing at first. This page provides clear step-by-step instructions to help you through the process. Whether you are completing a name change in Vermont or updating the gender marker on your ID, the Transgender ID Project offers guidance that makes each requirement easier to understand. This resource is designed for transgender people living in Vermont who want to navigate these updates with confidence and access the information they need in one place.

How to Change Your Name and Gender Marker in Vermont

In most cases you do not need to work with a lawyer to update your name or gender marker on ID documents and can typically update these documents fairly easily on your own. The Vermont Quick Reference Guide has the information and materials you need to get started.

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Updating your federal ID documents

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Understanding Your Rights in Vermont

Updating your ID documents is one important step, but it’s part of a broader picture of legal protections available to transgender people in Vermont. Here are some resources to help you understand your rights.

Know Your Rights: Vermont has strong nondiscrimination protections for transgender people covering employment, housing, credit, and public accommodations. The Vermont Know Your Rights page offers a full overview of those legal protections and how they apply to your daily life, providing important context for what your rights are once your documents are updated.

Transgender Rights: The legal ability to update your name and gender marker in Vermont exists because of years of advocacy work. GLAD Law has been at the forefront of advancing transgender rights through litigation, legislation, and public advocacy, creating the legal conditions that make these ID changes possible. Learn more about that work and how GLAD Law continues to defend and expand transgender rights across New England and beyond.

Public Accommodations: Having accurate ID documents matters beyond identification. It helps reduce the risk of discrimination when accessing public services, health care, housing, and other accommodations. Vermont law prohibits discrimination based on gender identity in places of public accommodation. Learn more about these protections and what to do if you experience discrimination.

Recent Legislation Affecting Transgender Rights in Vermont

Vermont has a long track record of protecting transgender people under state law. In 2007, Vermont became the third New England state to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on gender identity through Act 41, which protects transgender people in employment, public accommodations, housing, and credit.

In 2022, Act 88 (H.628) streamlined the process for amending a birth certificate to reflect one’s gender identity, including adding an option for an ‘X’ marker. The law removed the requirement for petitioning the Probate Division finding that ‘sexual reassignment’ had been completed, and the requirement of an affidavit from a licensed physician that one had undergone surgical, hormonal, or other treatment for gender transition. Now the process is based on self-attestation, which allows one to submit a notarized Affidavit of Gender Identity directly to the Vermont Department of Health’s Vital Records Office, and all records related to the change are kept confidential.

In May 2023, Governor Scott signed SB 37 and HB 89, shield laws that protect patients and providers of gender-affirming care. That same year, Vermont began requiring health plans to cover transgender health care without higher copays or deductibles.

Frequently Asked Questions About Changing Your Name and Gender Marker in Vermont

How do I obtain a legal name change in Vermont?

To obtain a legal name change, you file a petition with the Probate Division of the Superior Court in the county where you live. You can file in person, by mail, or by email. Adults need to complete and submit the following:

  • Petition of Adult to Change Name, the primary petition form requesting a legal name change
  • A certified copy of your birth certificate and a copy of a photo ID, if the court where you are filing requires them

The court will schedule a hearing with a judge and send you notice by mail. If your petition is approved, the court issues a Name Change Decree, which you can use to update your other documents. Vermont does not require you to publish your name change in a newspaper.

How much does it cost to file a name change petition in Vermont?

The filing fee is $150. If you cannot afford it, you can file an Application to Waive Filing Fees and Service Costs. Once your name change is approved, certified copies of the decree are $5 each. It helps to get several, since you’ll need them to update your other ID documents.

How do I change the name and gender marker on my Vermont driver’s license or state ID?

Vermont requires you to notify the DMV within 30 days of a legal name change. For a name change, submit the Name Change/Replacement License form and a certified copy of your name change decree in person at the DMV. If you want a Real ID compliant license, update your name with the Social Security Administration first.

For a gender marker change, submit the same Replacement License form with the correct marker (F, M, or X) selected. You can file in person, by mail, or online. No medical documentation is required. A standard replacement license is $24.

Does Vermont allow an X gender marker?

Yes. Vermont allows an X gender marker on driver’s licenses and state IDs, and on birth certificates through the Affidavit of Gender Identity. Keep in mind that some federal documents, including U.S. passports, do not currently allow a nonbinary marker, which can create challenges if your state and federal documents don’t match. If you’re considering an X marker, the Transgender ID Project can help you understand what to expect.

Can minors change their name or gender marker in Vermont?

Yes. For a legal name change, one parent files the Petition of Minor to Change Name, and the other parent signs the non-petitioning parent consent section. If a parent does not consent, they must be formally served with the petition. Minors over 14 must also consent and sign the minor consent section of the petition.

For a birth certificate gender marker change, a parent or guardian completes the Affidavit of Gender Identity for minors under 16.

If I was born in Vermont, how do I change the gender marker on my birth certificate?

You do not need a court order or medical documentation to change the gender marker on a Vermont birth certificate. Mail the following to the Vermont Department of Health, Vital Records Office, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-8370:

  • Application to Amend Birth Certificate
  • Your birth certificate
  • A notarized Affidavit of Gender Identity
  • Your Name Change Decree, if you are also updating your name

When the gender marker is changed, a new birth certificate is issued with no notation of the change, and all related records are confidential. If you only change your name, the new certificate will say “court amended.”

Additional resources

  • ID Documents Center: Advocates for Trans Equality’s resources hub for name and gender marker change information.
  • GLAD Law Answers: GLAD Law’s free and confidential legal Infoline can provide you with legal resources, information, assistance, and referrals.

Still have questions?

If you run into trouble or have questions, fill out the Transgender ID Project support form or contact GLAD Law Answers.

Disclaimer: This page is for general information only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Because every situation is different, the information here cannot replace personalized advice from a qualified lawyer. Laws change frequently, and GLAD Law does not guarantee that the information on this page is current or complete. For legal advice or referrals, please contact GLAD Law Answers.