How much does it cost to change your social name?

Previously, it was subject to transgenitalization surgery to change the name and gender, with the rectification of documents, but it was made easier just under 5 years ago, when the Supreme Federal Court (STF) determined that trans people would have the right to the change even without the act of such procedures. So: How much does it cost to change your social name?

It is worth highlighting that respect for the name and gender identity in documents and throughout the State bureaucracy is one of the main and long-standing demands of the transgender public in Brazil.

Instead of the need for surgery, the requirement for certificates was introduced to ensure that all civil and criminal records, in addition to any debts or pending matters with the courts, were transferred to the new registration, preventing the use of rectification as a form of fraud.

Therefore, we at Citas , through this article, will clarify all your doubts regarding the topic.

Check it out below!

Changing the social name

Trans people can change their social name on their personal documents directly at the registry office, without requiring legal action.

That said, this decision was announced in 2022 by the National Justice Inspectorate. Anyone over 18 years of age can appeal to the civil registry office of origin to rectify their birth or marriage certificate to their self-perceived identity.

Historically here in Brazil, more precisely in São Paulo, transgender lawyer Márcia Rocha claims to have been the first trans person to obtain this registration in the country.

She specializes in helping other people who also want to change their social name and face the same difficulties. Márcia runs an NGO called Transempregos, which has already made over 100 legal changes to documents.

Furthermore, she emphasizes once again that this right to a new social name was approved by the STF in 2018. However, according to the lawyer, this process is not as easy as people think.

How much does it cost to change your social name?

Basically, as not everything is perfect , the cost of rectified certificates can be around R$500, which is relatively high for low-income people.

Furthermore, Márcia portrays that even more complicated is the resistance of some notary offices. So, if the notary office refuses to carry out the rectification, it will be necessary to take legal action!

It is worth mentioning that the change of the social name only applies to the first name and surname (Júnior, Filho, Neto or Sobrinho). The family surname cannot be changed and the new name chosen cannot correspond to that of another family member.

Before this law, the change of social name was much more rigorous. In one report, Maitê Schneider, from Paraná, says that she made the legal change of name in 2008. Previously, her name was Alexandre Miranda.

Therefore, this was the first case of a trans person being able to change their baptismal surname through the courts, without getting married.

Therefore, to rectify the social name in the document, the person must present:

• Birth certificate;
• Copies of ID and CPF;
• Copy of voter registration card; and
• Proof of residence.

In case of difficulties, contact the nearest Public Defender's Office. For children under 18 years of age , legal action is still necessary together with their parents or guardians.

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