Changing the sex listed on your Maryland birth certificate

Requirements (Does this apply to me?)

To be eligible to have the sex listed on your birth certificate changed, you must be able to show that you were born in Maryland, AND that one of the following has happened (in Maryland or elsewhere):

1. A licensed health care practitioner who has treated or evaluated you has determined that your sex designation should be changed because you have undergone treatment appropriate for the purpose of sex transition or have been diagnosed with an intersex condition;
2. You (or, if you are a minor or disabled person under guardianship, your parent, guardian, or legal representative) have made a written request for a new certificate of birth with a sex designation that differs from the sex designated on the original certificate of birth; AND
3. A licensed health care practitioner has signed a statement, under penalty of perjury, that: you have appropriate treatment based on generally accepted medical standards; or you have an intersex condition; OR
4. A court has issued an order indicating that your sex has been changed; OR
5. Prior to October 1, 2015, the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health amended an original birth certificate on receipt of a court order indicating that your sex has been changed.

Read the Law: Md. Code, Health – General § 4-211

Procedure (What steps should I take?)

To change the sex listed on your birth certificate, you must submit certain documents to the Vital Statistics Administration.

1. A certified copy of the name change court order (if changing name on the birth certificate)
2. The application for change in sex designation form;
3. A government-issued photo ID (e.g. your driver’s license);
4. A check or money order for $10.00 payable to “State of Maryland” (an additional $10.00 fee is required for a copy of the certificate); AND
5. One or the other of these two documents, indicating that the sex designation on your Maryland birth certificate should be changed:
   1. A signed statement from a licensed health care practitioner, OR
   2. A court order indicating the change.

The Maryland Department of Health's website has the application, fact sheet, and health care practitioner statement. If you are also requesting a name change on your birth certificate, you will need to present a court order for name change.

Read the Law: Md. Code, Health – General § 4-211

Changing your name

If you want to change your name when you change your sex, you must include a court order with the approved name change.

• Learn more about name change for an adult.
• Learn more about name change for a child.

These articles also include ways to change your name without a court order. To change your name while requesting a change of gender, you must have a court order.

Fees Involved

The Vital Statistics Administration will charge fees for creation of a new certificate and for copies of the certificate. Check the Vital Statistics Administration's website for updated fee information.