Letter from sexologist, psychologist or psychiatrist who follows you, stating your condition;

Note: It is also possible for a parent or guardian to make the change of name for a child of minor age.

Processing time for the procedure

The change of name procedure at the Directeur de l’État Civil du Québec can take from 3 to 6 months.

First step

From the Directeur de l’État Civil du Québec (DECQ) you need to get the form “Request for preliminary analysis for a modification of surname or first name”. This form must be completed and returned to DECQ and is only needed to open your file. After receiving the form, the DECQ will send the application form for a change of name.

There are no fees for sending this first form and no document is required. The processing time for this step takes from 1 to 4 weeks.

This form is available at the following address: http://www.etatcivil.gouv.qc.ca/publications/FO-12-04-request-preliminary-analysis-modification-surname-first-name.pdf

Second step

Following receipt of the change of name application form, the following things must be done. These are explained in the change of name form:

•  Contact your local newspaper to publish a notice of change of name. This notice must be published twice, two weeks apart. The cost of this notice may vary according to the newspapers and can rise to about $120. Generally, newspapers are already aware of the content required for such notice;

Complete the form “Avis de demande de changement de nom d’une personne majeure” (Application to change an adult’s name – in French only) and send it to the Gazette officielle du Québec. This form is included within the change of name form sent by the DECQ and it is also available at the following address (in French only): http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/documents/gazette/pdf/formulaires/majeur.pdfhttp://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/documents/gazette/pdf/formulaires/majeur.pdf .Le

The publication fee is $104 and it can take up to 7 weeks before receiving the proof of publication.

Please note that for those who have a good reason for not wanting to publish a notice of change of name in a newspaper or in the Gazette officielle du Québec, the Civil Code of Québec provides the opportunity to request an exemption to the Minister of Justice.

Third step

You need to complete the change of name form and have it authenticate.

You can find a person with the ability to administer oaths in any of the following locations:

• Town Hall or district office;
• Banks;
• Caisses Populaires

by a person authorized by law to administer oaths. These people can be either:

• A lawyer;
• A notary;
• A justice of the Peace;
• A court clerk or his assistant;
• The mayor or councillors of a municipality.

A fee for the authentication may apply but it cannot, by law, exceed $ 5.

Fourth step

You need to mail the form and required documents to the DECQ.

The cost linked to this request is $127. The deadlines are:

• Between 1 to 3 weeks before receiving an acknowledgment of receipt;
• Between 1 to 6 months for the decision (usually between 1 to 3 months).
• The DECQ shall send the Certificate of Change of Name 30 days after receipt of the decision by the applicant.

and mastectomy, the phalloplasty or metoidioplasty are not requested for the change of designation of sex.

On the other hand, some people have taken steps to try to change this inQuebec. Some people sued the government and others used the government against itself by doing the following:

1. Request for procedures and forms from the Directeur de l’État civil du Québec.
2. Opening a file registering an application for a change of designation of sex with the DECQ, using the section “justification” for explaining why surgery is not wanted.
   – Letter explaining the harm posed by sex designation as indicated on your legal papers, including all legal claims.
   – Letter from a psychologist supporting your statements, especially about the loss of privacy, dignity and confidentiality.
   – Etc.
3. Sending the file to the DECQ with a $127 money order, as requested in the procedure.
4. Receipt of the decision of the DECQ.
5. Mounting a file for an eventual presentation to the Commission des droits de la personne.
   – Copy of the contents of the request previously sent to the DECQ.
   – Added additional documentation for the presentation to the CDP, such as the refusal of the DECQ.
6. Filing of a complaint at the office of the Commission des droits de la personne.

We know that the Government is aware of the problem through the inter-ministerial committee engaged in the fight against homophobia. But knowingly, if more people complain, the Government will take the issue more seriously and our chances to see a change in the law will grow accordingly.

 surgery covered by the RAMQ (Health Insurance Plan of Quebec) required approval of theMontreal GeneralHospital’s Human Sexuality Unit.

Since September 20, 2009, the RAMQ is no longer responsible for administering these operations. They are now the responsibility of Dr. Pierre Brassard, in his private clinic, and of the Gender Reassignment Surgery in Montreal (GRS), through an agreement with the Ministry of Health and Human Services, theUniversityofMontreal’s Hospital (CHUM) and the Agency for Health and Social Services (ASSS).

The CHUM is currently in charge of administrative services regarding access to operations and they will develop a clinical health service for trans which is supposed to open for late 2011. No details on the scope of their services have been revealed so far. Until this clinic is created, trans people wishing for operations can go directly to Dr. Brassard’s clinic after obtaining an appointment for consultation. Dr. Brassard and his team will guide the patient throughout the process of obtaining their surgery.

This process includes the making of an appointment for consultation, which may take at least six months, the presentation of letters of evaluation (described below), the approval of Dr. Brassard for the operation and appointing a date for the surgery. Currently, these operations only are covered: phalloplasty, vaginoplasty, the reconstruction of the torso and metaidoioplasty.

In requirement for these operations to be covered, the patient must produce some written evaluation from two different psychiatrists, psychotherapists, and / or sexologists, a letter from the physician (endocrinologist or family doctor) prescribing the hormones (the hormones are not necessary for the reconstruction of the torso) and a letter from the family doctor indicating that the patient is suitable for the operation. These operations are fully covered but only for the permanent residents of Quebec(having lived inQuebecfor at least three months). However, it is currently impossible to obtain a refund for any operation done before September 2009 or for operations done ​​in other clinics.

For now we have no more information on these changes, but we encourage you to contact us if you have additional information, questions, concerns or if you need additional support. We will continue to keep us informed of any future changes and we will keep you informed as quickly as possible.

More detail on our site in the section “surgery” to learn more about the covered surgeries.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON DR. BRASSARD CLINIQUE

http://srsmontreal.ca 

, since the form is not available on the Directeur de l’État Civil website, you must phone them and ask to receive it by regular mail. If you do not receive the form within one week of your request, please don’t hesitate to ask for it again.

Please follow the necessary steps regarding the change of name following the required procedure: publications, various evaluation letters, etc.

And when sending your application, you must add these documents with your evaluation letters and proof of publication:

• The original of the certificate from the surgeon who operated on you.
• The original of a certificate from a second physician practicing in Quebec which verifies by a medical examination that you did receive the sex reassignment surgery.