“OMG”, let me tell you my story that will show you just how hard getting a simple name change can be. I literally have had to go through hoops in order to get my name change and still have yet to succeed in this process. I swear it feels like the world is completely against me in order to make things work and get things right in order to finally having my name change. I haven’t the slightest clue why getting a name change is different for every state and even different in each county of that state. Alright, here is what has happened;

Attorney

For the last two months now I have been attempting to get my name changed to Naomi Lafae but the process has been a nightmare. I attempted to get the paperwork from my county clerk office in order to do the name change myself and file all the necessary paperwork. Boy was I wrong, this is practically impossible because the Sampson County NC Clerk office does not even carry the official paperwork needed to file in the first place. I was clearly informed that in order to get a name change I will have to speak to an attorney to get the documents needed to process a name change request. Fine….I will contact an Attorney.

So I did just that.

The process begins again, talking with the Attorney who charged me a whopping $100 USD in order to have a consultation about getting my name changed. This Attorney I will not mention but they are in Sampson County. This Attorney informed me that I had to get a background check from the FBI and the State, plus I also had to obtain two forms called “Affidavit of Good Character”(AoGD). The background checks came back perfectly clean because I am a good little girl. However, I obtained the two forms of “AoGD” which were a freaking nightmare for me to get filled out. I went through hoops trying to find people that would sign these two papers. In addition, I had to pay the Attorney $659 USD in order to file a claim to the court to process the name change. First many of my friends don’t even live near me, a problem to start with… I asked many of my local friends, and I was bombarded by excuses after excuses. It was like anyone who even remotely supported me all of sudden wouldn’t be there for me when I needed signatures to change my name. Honestly, didn’t sound like support as much as I would have liked. “Are Friends really friends if they don’t sign a piece of paper to change your name if it’s a Transgender issue?” According to the Sampson County laws the “AoGD” has to be filled out within Sampson County… A fact my lawyer decided to skip over when he originally told me that if they didn’t live in Sampson County I could have them write in the County that they belonged to on the sheet of paper. That’s what I originally did when I had the two forms filled out and turned them into my lawyer. I was done, I had all my paperwork or so I thought. That Sampson county law came in and hit me hard as my lawyer called me back, expressed his apologies for this but Sampson County wouldn’t let the signed “AoGD” go through because the person lived ONE county over. Really, one county over made all the difference for a small tiny thing for someone in my position this was a major downfall. Now I am searching for friends that would be willing to sign it in my local area and “OHHH BOY” was this process and kind of still is. I believe I may have my two people to sign my paperwork, but it took some digging. Surprisingly the two people that I have are my daughters’ friend Mother and another friend of hers, grandma. Wow, really of all people, none of these people I would consider close friends but more like acquaintances through my daughter’s long-time friendship with their daughters. Well, to be honest I am happy that someone is going to sign them, but that is still another week or so from now before all the paperwork is completed for submission to the Attorney. The Process Continues…

This is different from every state and every county to determine which laws and regulations are required in order to get your name legally changed. I personally don’t see the point in the Affidavit of good Character but Sampson County NC requires it. Other states and counties may require a petition or something instead of an Affidavit but what can you do. It’s really hard for a Trans-woman to get the stuff she wants done, especially the name change.

The total cost for the Attorney to get my name change is $759 USD, which is a completely outstanding amount to pay for 2 documents, the birth certificate changed with the Court Order. Absolutely why would you charge so much for such a small and simple process minus all the leg work I have to do in order to get it. I had to pay the State $18 dollars for the Background check and another $14 dollars for the FBI background check. Honestly, what is the lawyer doing besides getting the court order and sending it to the state to get the birth certificate name changed? The lawyer will also submit my name to the county board to have it legally changed, which I believe has already been done.

I have heard and read that other people have had to pay lawyers as high as $2,000 USD for a name change. This is a crazy amount of money for some paperwork, but what can you do right?

In the end, when everything is finally done with the lawyer, I can proceed to get other things changed over. Things like changing my Driver License ID again with my new name, and then changing bank accounts, titles, bills, etc all over to my new name. I honestly haven’t the slightest clue how much any of that might cost me. However, I will continue forward in this endless battle, or at least that’s the way it feels.

P.S. “Should anything change or I have more I will try to post an update.”