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NameRight provides procedural guidance, not legal advice.
Verify requirements with official courts and agencies. Full legal disclaimer
Privacy First · LGBTQ+ Affirming · Safety-Aware
Designed with the trans and nonbinary community at the center — open to everyone who deserves a safer, more private path forward.
Turn on Anonymous Mode anytime to browse with session-level privacy controls active.
A privacy-first toolkit for trans and LGBTQ+ Americans — plus marriage, divorce, and personal-name changes. See a state-specific filing path in about 5 minutes. Free to start, no account needed.
Start Free
No legal name required. No pressure. You can explore your state-specific path first and decide later whether to unlock the full plan.
Quick start by situation
Pick the path that feels closest to your reality, then adjust anything below.
Choose your state to see state-specific safety requirements and your first readiness signals.
NameRight is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.
NameRight is a U.S. legal name change platform purpose-built for transgender and non-binary filers, combining court petition guidance, gender marker updates, publication waiver support, and hostile-state risk awareness across all 50 states plus D.C. As of July 2026, the platform covers 51 jurisdictions, tracks publication requirements state by state, supports California court forms (NC-100, NC-110, NC-130, FW-001), and offers three pricing tiers: Free, Complete ($49 one-time), and Advocate ($149 one-time). Unlike attorney consultations that cost $500–$1,500 per session, NameRight provides state-specific filing plans, privacy-first workflows, and institution update tracking at no recurring cost, with a Community Access Program that reduces or eliminates fees for users facing financial barriers.
LGBTQ+ Affirming
NameRight is a legal name change platform designed specifically for transgender and non-binary Americans, with privacy and safety features built into every step. Unlike generic name change services, NameRight handles court petitions, gender marker updates, publication waivers, and hostile-state risk assessment across all 50 U.S. states as of 2026.
Community Access
NameRight offers a Community Access Program with three pricing tiers: 30% off, 50% off, or free Complete plan access. No income proof, no verification documents, and no gatekeeping paperwork are required. Users can claim reduced-cost access instantly at checkout, funded by Advocate plan subscribers who pay $149 one-time.
Apply for Community AccessPolicy-Aware
NameRight flags state and county-level legal risks before users file their court petition. This includes publication requirements (which vary by state and county, with privacy waivers available in many), hearing rules, judge discretion patterns, and privacy waiver availability. The platform monitors policy changes and alerts users if their filing path is affected for up to 12 months after purchase.
Your Safety Comes First
NameRight is built for users whose safety depends on privacy — particularly transgender and non-binary individuals in states classified as hostile jurisdictions for LGBTQ+ filers. The platform implements core privacy protections: (1) no unsolicited notifications to family members, employers, or institutions; (2) TLS encryption in transit with encryption at rest on hosting infrastructure; (3) a Quick Exit button that hides the page instantly; (4) no third-party ad trackers — we use privacy-respecting analytics, and Anonymous Mode stops all tracking; (5) no data selling, and data is only shared with the processors needed to run the service; and (6) account deletion from Settings with deletion completed within 30 days. Users can browse state guides without creating an account, and all progress data lives only in the private user workspace — never in shared or public storage.
• No account required to start browsing state guides
• Progress data lives only in the private user workspace
• No data selling — sharing only with processors needed to run the service
• Quick Exit button hides the page instantly
• Delete account and all associated data anytime (within 30 days)
• No third-party ad trackers — privacy-respecting analytics only
We consolidate official-source, county-level court information into one clear, step-by-step plan built specifically for your situation.
Our document tools walk you through every required field and flag common errors before you submit — so you can catch common missing items before you file.
Most tools stop at the courthouse door. We keep going: SSA, DMV, passport, banks, insurance, and every institution that still has your old name.
"I want my legal name to match who I am."
You've known your name for a long time. Now it's time to make it official — safely, privately, and completely on your own terms.
Privacy and safety are not afterthoughts here. They shape every feature we build.
"I'm updating everything after my transition."
We map every document that needs to change — SSA, DMV, passport, employer, health insurance — and give you a privacy-first action plan for your exact state and county.
"I'm reclaiming the name I was always meant to have."
A fresh start should feel like one. We guide you through the process clearly and quickly — no unnecessary steps, no judgment, no gatekeeping.
"My reasons are my own."
You don't owe anyone an explanation. You have the legal right to a name that feels like yours. We're here to help you exercise that right.
The Reality No One Warns You About
Miss one, and your old name resurfaces at the worst possible moment.
Red = required for most filers. Each institution has its own forms, proof requirements, and deadlines — none of them the same.
Most people miss 12 of these. Miss one, and your deadname can resurface at TSA, at the doctor, in a background check — at the exact moments it hurts most.
Designed around real people's real concerns.
We're not a law firm. We don't pretend to be. What we do is strip the complexity out of a process that was never designed to be this confusing.
State filing guidance for all 50 states plus D.C., sourced from official court records and agency sources — not community wikis. County-level details are available where verified.
We review official court sources regularly, with deeper policy monitoring resources available on Advocate for supported states.
Every data update is reviewed before publishing. We structure publicly available court requirements into step-by-step workflows — not crowd-sourced forums or outdated blog posts.
From courthouse forms to credit card accounts, we organize the entire journey so you always know the next step — and why it matters.
Based on publicly available court information and verified sources. Always confirm current requirements directly with your local court before filing.
Core fees, required forms, submission methods, and county-level notes where available — not just a generic state-level overview.
Build your court packet with a field-by-field preparation worksheet and review guidance before downloading.
Know whether your filing will appear in public records — and what steps may help you seal or restrict it. Crucial for anyone whose safety depends on discretion.
A 4-dimension readiness score — documents, forms, court requirements, and finances — tells you exactly what's missing before you walk into the courthouse.
The Advocate plan surfaces monitored in-app alerts and revised instructions when filing rules change, so you can adjust before filing.
Your court order is just the beginning. We guide you through updating every downstream document — SSA, DMV, passport, banks, insurance, and more.
Legal name and gender marker changes involve court filings, state and federal agencies, and dozens of institutions — each with their own rules. We've organized everything into a guided experience built around your specific state, county, and situation.
Answer a few questions — why you're changing your name, which state you're in, and what matters most to you: privacy, cost, speed, or all three.
We generate a personalized filing guide with key forms, fees, submission methods, and privacy protection notes for your state — plus county-level notes where available.
A guided court-form packet builder and Readiness Score help you prepare to file. After approval, a full post-court roadmap helps you update every institution.
Your personalized filing guide takes about 5 minutes. No account required to start.
Illustrative scenarios — names and details have been changed for privacy. These are not verified user reviews.
Every step in our guidance system is sourced from official court records and publicly available government information — not crowd-sourced forums. Each state page shows its verification status and last review date, and requirements can change, so confirm current details with your local court before filing.
This process is already hard enough. Paperwork shouldn't be the thing that stops you.
Based on publicly available court information and verified sources. Always confirm current requirements directly with your local court before filing.
Community Access Program
Choose 30% off, 50% off, or free access — no income verification, no proof uploads, no gatekeeping.
Explore access optionsPublic Impact Dashboard
See real data on gift codes distributed, advocates active, and people reached — not just marketing language.
View the impact snapshotState-by-State Policy Guide
Review your state's filing requirements before you commit — so publication rules, hearings, and court delays don't catch you off guard.
Browse state guides“I was completely overwhelmed trying to figure out which forms my county required. NameRight laid everything out in minutes. I felt prepared before I filed.”
— Alex T., California
“The privacy path analysis was exactly what I needed. In Texas, public records are a real safety concern. Knowing my sealing options before I filed made all the difference.”
— Jordan M., Texas
“I used Advocate gift codes to help two friends in my trans support group. They were able to start the process with the same guided workflow I used. This tool pays it forward.”
— Sam R., New York
“The fee waiver guidance helped me understand whether it was worth asking the court about a waiver. I never would have known I qualified without NameRight walking me through the eligibility criteria.”
— Kai P., Illinois
“I'm 52 and finally doing this. The guidance answered every question I was too nervous to ask a lawyer — and it felt completely safe and judgment-free.”
— Diana L., Florida
“My partner and I both updated our names. The institution update tracker made sure we didn't miss a single account — from the SSA to our streaming subscriptions.”
— Ren & Casey, Oregon
Need free support right now?
These organizations offer free legal guidance, peer support, and crisis help. They work alongside your filing plan — not instead of it.
Browse state filing guides built from official court and agency sources.
Practical guides to help you navigate the name change process.
Newspaper publication is required in many U.S. states for legal name changes, with exemptions and privacy waivers available in others. This guide explains state-by-state rules and privacy waiver options.
Court filing fees range from $150 to $500 across U.S. states. This guide covers fee waiver eligibility, required forms (FW-001, FW-003), and application procedures.
Guide to updating gender markers on driver licenses, state IDs, birth certificates, passports, and Social Security records across all 50 U.S. states.
A 5-phase checklist for updating institutions after receiving a name change court order: SSA, DMV, passport, banks, and online services.
NameRight offers a guided court form packet builder that prepares draft versions of court filing forms based on user answers. The builder currently supports 4 California court forms: NC-100 (Petition for Change of Name, covers name change for self and/or minor children), NC-110 (Attachment to Petition, provides additional name information), NC-130 (Order to Show Cause for Change of Name, sets hearing date and publication requirements), and FW-001 (Request to Waive Court Fees, allows low-income filers to skip the $435 California filing fee). The builder auto-fills these forms based on user intake responses and generates a ready-to-print PDF packet. Additional states including New York, Texas, Florida, and Illinois are in active development as of July 2026, with projected coverage of 12 states by Q4 2026.
Yes. NameRight offers a free tier with real, useful guidance including state-specific checklists and court form previews. Paid one-time plans add deeper filing support: Complete ($49) and Advocate ($149). There are no subscriptions, no auto-renewals, and a Community Access Program offers 30% off, 50% off, or free access for those who need it.
No. Most U.S. legal name changes can be filed pro se (without an attorney). NameRight is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, but it organizes publicly available court requirements into step-by-step workflows so you can file yourself. For complex cases or legal advice specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney.
Timelines vary by state and county. The court petition process typically takes 4 to 12 weeks from filing to the judge signing the order, depending on publication requirements, hearing wait times, and mandatory waiting periods. The full process — including updating the SSA, DMV, passport, and banks — usually takes 3 to 6 months.
NameRight covers all 50 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia. State-level guides are available nationwide, with county-level details added where verified. Guides are built from official court and agency sources, and each page shows its verification status and last review date — check the state page before relying on it.
NameRight encrypts data in transit with TLS and stores data on encrypted hosting infrastructure. We never sell your data and do not use it for advertising profiling. When you use OCR or AI chat, the content you submit is sent to a listed AI provider solely to process that request — you can decline OCR and type fields manually. A Quick Exit button hides the page instantly, Anonymous Mode pauses analytics, and you can delete your account and all associated data from Settings at any time, with deletion completed within 30 days.
Attorneys charge $500–$1,500 for name change help — and most stop at the court order. NameRight guides you through the entire journey for a one-time fee, no ongoing billing.
Typical Attorney
Average attorney cost (court filing fees billed separately)
NameRight Complete
One-time payment · No subscription · No surprises
7-day refund policy applies · One-time payment only · No hidden fees
We handle the research and the paperwork complexity. You file on your own timeline, at your own pace.
Attorney fees for this process typically run $500–$1,500 — and most attorneys stop at the court order. We built a guidance system that covers the full journey.
Community Access Program
Cost shouldn't be a barrier. Choose 30% off, 50% off, or completely free access — based on your reality, no proof required.
Pay It Forward
Every Advocate purchase helps fund gift codes for people facing financial barriers during their identity paperwork journey.
Forever free · No credit card
Preview your state's process before you commit.
One-time · No subscription
Get a guided filing plan and preparation workflow.
One-time · No subscription
Complete access plus resources that help others start.
All 50 states supported · county-level verification rolling out · expanding weekly
Upgrade at any time. We credit your previous purchase toward the higher tier — you never pay twice.
NameRight provides informational guidance and document preparation tools. It is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Always verify current filing requirements with your local court.