Chapter 2: Identification Documents

• Author: Ally Windsor Howell
• Pages: 15-29

There are several limitations to this chapter. First, it does not address youth-

specic issues in name or gender marker changes. That is because parental

consent, often the consent of both parents, is required. Thus, this chapter

is devoted to the issues involving adults.1

In determining whether one can change his or her name or birth certi-

cate without parental involvement, one needs to know the age of majority

in one’s state of residence. The age of majority is 18 in all but four states,

Alabama2 and Nebraska3 where it is 19 and Mississippi4 and Pennsylva-

nia5 where it is 21. Of course, if the person seeking a name change is a

minor who had been judicially relieved of the disabilities of non-age, such

person’s age would not matter. Some people in the United States still do

not have and have never had a birth certicate. Their birth, birth date, and

therefore, citizenship can be proven by alternative means. An alternative

to a birth certicate is an entry in a family Bible, or a baptismal record

1. See also Alyson Dodi Meiselman, Katrina C. Rose & Phyllis Randolph Frye, Cause of

Action for Legal Change of Gender, 24 C  A 2d 135 (2004).

2. A. C § 26-1-1.

3. N. R. S. § 43-2101.

4. M. C A. § 1-3-21.

5. 1 P. C. S. § 1991.

15

Identication Documents

CHAPTER 2

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