Release Date: July 6,2021
Change in Ohio Law allows Change of Gender on Birth Records
(Summit County, Ohio - July, 2021) – Due to a recent Federal court decision, birth certificates can be changed to reflect a transition in gender. This may be necessary to get travel compliant documents, including a driver’s license. Persons wishing to make such a change can do so in Probate Court following the procedures similar to making other changes on birth certificates. This requires an application, affidavits in support, and a filing fee. The Court may or may not hold a hearing. Once the Court issues an order to change the gender designation on a birth certificate, a certified copy is sent to the Office of Vital Statistics which makes the change. A new birth certificate will then be available reflecting the change from male to female or vice versa. At this time, Ohio does not recognize any other gender identification. The entire process is confidential and may be done one time. These changes can only be made to Ohio birth certificates. People born in other states are subject to the rules of that state. Individuals may file in the Probate Court of their county of birth, their county of residence, or the county in which their mother resided at the time of birth.
Those wishing to make the change should review the information under the blue button listed as Birth Registration/Corrections on Summit County Probate Court website. All information can be found at https://summitohioprobate.com/
If there are questions on this procedure contact the Court at (330) 643-2352.