NSLS Celebrates Pride Month with New Services for Transgender Community

Nassau Suffolk Law Services is pleased to announce the launch of a Name Change

Project in partnership with the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF). The Name Change Project will help transgender people obtain a legal name change. This is often a critical step for transgender people as they go through a gender transition. Because the process of obtaining a legal name change can be complex and stressful, the Name Change Project works to reduce these burdens on transgender individuals.While a petitioner can obtain a legal name change without help from a lawyer, the legal system can be difficult for people to navigate alone. To obtain a legal name change order, a petitioner must submit a petition to the Supreme Court in the county where they live. That petition must disclose:· judgments and liens against you· pending legal proceedings that you are involved in· misdemeanor and felony convictions, and· bankruptcies.Once a name change petition is approved, it must be publicized in a court-approved newspaper, but that requirement can be waived if publication would jeopardize the petitioner’s safety. To change the name on government-issued documents and identification, a petitioner must submit a copy of the court-issued name change order and a doctor’s note to the appropriate government agency, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles.NSLS staff attorneys in multi-issue units, including those serving:· Veterans,· People with HIV/AIDS,· People with serious mental health disorders,· Nassau County residents age 60+, and· Residents of Adult Care Facilitiescan now help people who are transgender with name change petitions. NSLS and TLDEF will seek pro bono attorneys to assist other low-income clients who do not fit into one of NSLS’s multi-issue units.If you support clients who are going through a gender transition and are seeking a legal name change, they can be referred to any of our offices or TLDEF for assistance. Please contact NSLS or the TLDEF if you have any questions about this process or want an attorney to help you obtain a legal name change.If you are an attorney interested in volunteering to assist people with name changes in Suffolk County please contact Carolyn McQuade: (631) 232-2400, ext. 3325, cmcquade@nsls.legal. To volunteer in Nassau County please contact Susan Biller: (516) 292-8100, ext. 3136, sbiller@nsls.legal.