Your Name, Your Truth: Get Legal Name Change Help in NJ with VLJ
June 12, 2025
Authored by: Emerald Sheay
This article is made possible by the generous support from Taylor Tufano at 9Sail.
Emerald Sheay
June marks the start of “Pride Month” in the United States when the LGBTQ+ community is recognized and celebrated. Here at Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ), our support of Pride Month goes beyond the display of the rainbow flag. We are dedicated to helping New Jersey’s LGBTQ+ community with their unmet civil legal needs such as consumer debt, divorce, evictions, and more. In fact, VLJ’s PRIDE Name Change Program provides pro bono legal name change assistance throughout the year, offering support for those seeking a name change to align with their gender identity.
What is VLJ's PRIDE Name Change Program?
Our name change program was designed to help individuals obtain an affordable name change in New Jersey. While a queer identity is not a requirement to avail yourself of VLJ’s name change assistance, we prioritize assisting trans, nonbinary, and non-cisgender individuals in line with our goal to support the LGBTQ+ community. This is a free legal service for eligible clients, with our volunteers providing services in a legal clinic setting on a pro bono basis.
The legal clinic, held quarterly, provides attendees with legal advice and document preparation for the legal name change process in New Jersey. Clients meet with volunteer attorneys to review their eligibility for a name change and to complete the required name change petition paperwork. Additionally, VLJ works with clients to prepare fee waiver petitions when appropriate, allowing clients access to a free legal name change without court fees being a barrier. If the client is ready to proceed with their name change, they may file their petition with the applicable court that day (usually electronic filing (AKA e-filing) through New Jersey Courts’ online portal).
After the legal clinic, resources are provided for clients to follow the necessary steps to finalize their name change and undertake the name and/or gender marker change on their identification documents such as their driver’s license and birth certificate. VLJ staff remain available to clients after the clinic for help with the name change process as needed. In short, VLJ’s PRIDE Name Change Program provides essential support in navigating a New Jersey legal name change, from start to finish.
Why a Legal Name Change Matters for Trans & Nonbinary Individuals
The benefits of a legal name change cannot be overstated. A legal name change can have a profound impact on a person's life, particularly for trans, nonbinary, and non-cisgender individuals. A name change allows community members to obtain legal recognition of their true name, allowing them to live authentically in their chosen identity. Further, a legal name change reduces incidents of misgendering or “deadnaming,” a situation when someone is referred to by a name they no longer use (such as their birth name), rather than their chosen name.
A note: while any person who changes their name and is then called by their former name is being deadnamed, the term “deadnaming” is not used for cisgender people. That's because deadnaming is known as a specifically harmful act (especially when done intentionally) toward trans, nonbinary, and non-cisgender people. In short, having one’s legal name match their chosen identity can provide emotional and psychological benefits.
Beyond an affirmation of identity and gender, a name change provides safety and privacy to those living their chosen gender identity. While trans individuals are protected from discrimination in the workplace, this does not prevent other forms of discrimination from occurring in practice. According to the Human Rights Campaign, the trans community regularly reports difficulty voting, barriers to obtaining health insurance, and stigma in the workplace. Obtaining a name change aligns an individual’s legal documents with their identity, reducing the risk of bureaucratic errors or discrimination.
Name change clients report immense gratitude for the legal assistance they receive through the PRIDE Name Change Program. One client shared, “I neither had the money nor legal knowledge to be able to pursue a name change on my own or with a paid lawyer. VLJ helped me despite these things.” Another client remarked, “It's difficult to navigate the legal process of a name change as a college student who has never had to file anything with the court. The assistance I received was so valuable to me.”
The need for LGBTQ+ legal aid has never been higher. Currently, the LGBTQ+ community is facing pushback at the federal level in changing gender markers on legal documents. Following an executive order issued on January 20, 2025, the State Department will no longer issue passports with an “X” gender marker and will designate a male or female gender marker based solely on the individual’s biological sex at birth. Importantly, the new federal guidance has no impact on the state name change process or on an individual’s ability to obtain corrected state documents (including driver’s licenses and birth certificates). This is a developing issue, and legal challenges to the policy are pending. For more information regarding the new federal guidance and ongoing lawsuits, please visit Garden State Equality.
The New Jersey Name Change Process: How VLJ Can Help
Are you wondering how to change your name in New Jersey? The name change process begins with filing an adult name change petition in the Superior Court. The relevant pieces of this petition are:
Verified Complaint;
Certification of Confidential Information for Name Change;
Order Fixing Date of Hearing;
Final Judgment and Addendum; and
Case Information Statement.
These forms are all included as part of the name change packet provided by the New Jersey Courts. Volunteers in VLJ’s PRIDE Name Change clinic walk clients through completion of these forms, including a fee waiver, if appropriate, and ensure all documents are completed correctly. Finally, volunteers assist with the e-filing of the petition with the applicable court. Once the petition is filed, clients are provided with resources reminding them of the next steps, which include sending notice of the proposed hearing date to the Division of Criminal Justice, and mailing certified copies of the granted name change order to Vital Statistics and the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. Guidance from VLJ and our volunteers is provided at each of the above steps, making the process less daunting and more accessible.
Are You Eligible for VLJ's PRIDE Name Change Program?
VLJ’s PRIDE Name Change Program is open to New Jersey residents whose income and assets fall within our financial guidelines. Clients may be eligible for free legal assistance if their household income is less than 300% of the federal poverty guidelines, based upon their household size. The PRIDE Name Change Program prioritizes trans, nonbinary, and non-cisgender individuals; however, those seeking name changes for other purposes are also welcome to apply for assistance.
For those considering a legal name change, you do not have to navigate this process on your own. If you are a New Jersey resident seeking a name change and believe you meet our eligibility criteria, we encourage you to apply for assistance online. Access VLJ’s client application for services and apply for name change assistance today.
Conclusion: Your True Name, Your Empowered Future
At Volunteer Lawyers for Justice, it is our mission to make the legal system more inclusive and accessible for everyone. Now more than ever, VLJ is steadfast in our support for the LGBTQ+ community. Obtaining a name that aligns with one’s gender identity provides legal protection, safety, and security. We strongly encourage New Jersey residents interested in a name change to apply for VLJ’s services and take an empowering and affirming step toward living as their authentic selves.
Apply for free legal services: www.vljnj.org/get-help or (973) 645-1955
