How to Change Your Legal Name or Sex in Manitoba

So you’ve decided to change your legal name. In Manitoba no less. There are certainly better options, but you could do far worse. Whether it’s a matter of identity, security, or any number of other factors, changing your name could be one of the single most important things you do. Your identity matters, so I’m here to help.

This guide will teach you how to fill out an application, and submit it for a legal name change. It will also go over how to go over a legal sex designation change.

Many folks are lost with how to even start the process of acquiring a legal name change. I sure was when I started.

Rainbow Resource Centre offers their trans ID clinic, to help you fill out the applications with on-site staff, lawyers, and doctors. This service is offered first come, first served. They’ll help you acquire the required signatures as exemplified above.

If you’re unable to go in-person, they also offer limited Zoom appointments.

All relevant dates can be found on their dedicated page on their ID clinic.

Forms will be given on-site, so you do not need to bring your own. You can bring your own, if you have already started filling them out, and/or need a third party’s signatures and letters.

You may be able to set something up with Sunshine House, with their two-spirit trans ID peer support program. You can email them at 2stransid@sunshinehousewpg.org.

If your adventuring alone though, keep on reading!

The first step is to fill out a name change application form. With this form, you can only change your name if you have lived in Manitoba for the last three months, and meet the criteria for being an “adult”.

To be an “adult”, you have to meet one of the following criteria:

• You’re over 18
• You’re married, or in a common-law relationship
• You’re a parent with custody of a child

If you’re unable to fill out a form, and you have a Committee or Substitute Decision Maker, you may have them fill it out.

Otherwise, if you don’t meet the criteria for adult, your parent(s) or guardian has to fill out the Legal Change of Name Child form. You still need to have lived in Manitoba for three consecutive mounts.

If you wish to change your legal sex, there’s also a form to change your sex designation. For changing your sex designation, there is no age requirement.

You can obtain these forms, along with guidance on how to fill the forms out, at the in-person Vital Statistics branch (254 Portage Ave).

If you go in-person, they may tell you about when they have “open days”. They will go through the process of changing your name and/or gender immediately, instead of getting queued to the two-to-eight month backlog.

If you don’t do this, or you mail/fax your form, you may be put on the backlog.

Now that you’ve attained the required forms, it is time to fill them out, and properly.

It is important to fill them out properly, to limit complications (or even rejection!) for the name change. The papers can be quite confusing to fill out for someone who hasn’t done it before.

The following sections will break down the individual steps required to fill out the form(s) in a proper manner:

• Jump to Adult Name Change Form if you’re an adult looking to change your name
• Jump to Child Name Change Form to help your child change their name
• Jump to Legal Sex Change Form to change your sex designation

To confirm/notarize documents, you can have them notarized by anyone authorized under The Evidence Act of Manitoba. This can be:

• A commissioner of oaths
  • If you’re going in-person to deliver your form, you can find them at the Vital Statistics Agency.
• A member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
  • You can call or request a meeting at an RCMP building at 1091 Portage Ave.
• A lawyer authorized to practice in Manitoba
  • If you’re going to Rainbow Resource Centre at a name change workshop, this will be your preferred option.

Most of the form is self-explanatory, however we’ll walk you through and point out potentially confusing parts.

You can download the Legal Change of Name Adult form here.

The first thing to do is check off checkboxes, depending on the applicant.

If you’re applying for a name change for yourself, check the first checkbox. If you’re applying for another adult under the secondary criteria, check the second.

Make sure to read the checkboxes carefully; if you don’t fit the secondary checkboxes, you can’t apply.

Next, you’ll need to prove your identity with an Identity Document. If you’re applying for another adult, both of you need to apply for another

This document must:

• Be valid and issued by a government body
• Show the adult’s full current name
• Include a photograph of the adult
• Have a distinct identification number
• Have an expiry date

Check the box once you’ve confirmed/notarized the Identity Document(s). We’ll get to how you can do that!

You’ll need to now:

• Write the adult changing their name’s current legal name in full
• Check the box to indicate what part(s) of their legal name they wish to change
• Write what they wish their new name to be.

A reason for the name change must also be provided. If you or the adult you’re submitting for is trans, you can write “to reflect my/their preferred gender” or similar.

You’ll now need to prove the adult who’s changing their name’s residency (in other words, where one lives).

A valid residency document could be a Manitoba Health card, Manitoba’s driver’s license, or a Manitoba identification card (issued by MPI). Other documents are acceptable as long as they fit the criteria listed in the form.

Once you’ve had these documents notarized, check the box.

Next, write the address of the adult changing their name’s current and previous residence, within the last three months.

Birth information is also needed. Write the names (including the adult who’s changing their name, and their parents), sex, date of birth, and place of birth, as listed by which document the form calls for. If you’re born in Manitoba, you’ll need your Manitoba Birth Certificate.

You’ll also need to enclose either:

• Confirmed/notarized copy of Citizenship and Immigration Canada document or
• All previously issued original birth certificates (if born in Canada) or
• Give a reason as to why the adult who’s changing their name doesn’t have their original Manitoba birth certificate(s), in the field below

The following will require the adult changing their name to have previous name changes documented, if they’ve ever had prior name changes through a Legal Change of Name or Election/Resumption of Surname.

The adult changing their name’s marital status is also needed. The form asks if they’ve been married, married or separated, divorced, widowed, or in a registered common-law relationship.

Depending on what you select, the form may need sections on being currently married, previously married, or registered common-law relationship, to be filled.

We’re going to get to the fingerprinting page, later in the What do I do with this paper? section of this article.

Vital Statistics Agency needs to first send you the Information Sheet about Manitoba Legal Change of Name and Fingerprinting, before you go to an authorized fingerprinting agency.

You will be required to sign a multitude of agreements, as well as receive a signature from a third party. The third party has to be someone authorized in The Evidence Act of Manitoba.

Some examples are listed in the form are:

• A commissioner of oaths
  • If you’re going in-person to deliver your form, you can find them at the Vital Statistics Agency.
• A member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
  • You can call or request a meeting at an RCMP building at 1091 Portage Ave.
• A lawyer authorized to practice in Manitoba
  • If you’re going to Rainbow Resource Centre at a name change workshop, this will be your preferred option.

From here, put the current legal name of the adult changing their name at the top. Then, sign where indicated and put the date.

As the person applying for another adult, write your personal information such as your full name, address, email, and phone number(s).

You’ll also need to enclose a confirmed/notarized copy of your Committee/Substitution Decision Maker’s Identity Document. Check the box off once you’ve obtained a copy.

From there, put the Name of Committee/Substitute Decision Maker, and the current legal name of adult changing their name, over the defined lines. You can also put your signature, over the line that says “Signature Committee or Substitute Decision Maker applying to change adult’s name”.

Anything else you’d likely wish to keep blank, until you can get a valid signature for the left section.

For the “Affirmed before me” signature, anyone under The Evidence Act of Manitoba can sign. See Section C for the people that can sign.

At the bottom of the sheet, you can select how you wish to pay. The easiest ones may be cash or debit in-person, or a credit card (Mastercard/Visa). If you choose credit, you’ll need to fill out your credit card number, expiry date, name on the card, and the cardholder’s signature.

You’ll also need to specify the amount you authorize Vital Statistics to charge your card.

To get certain Manitoban documents with your updated name, you’ll need to fill out others forms that you’ll need to attach, alongside the name change form.

• Manitoba Birth Document
• Application for a Manitoba Marriage Document

These forms only apply if your birth and/or marriage happened in Manitoba.

Other forms, such as the “Statutory Declaration Respecting a Correction or Alteration of a Registration”, you can only obtain through contacting Vital Statistics.

If you also wish to change your legal sex, jump to Legal Sex Change Form to change your sex designation.

Most of the form is self-explanatory, however we’ll walk you through and point out potentially confusing parts.

You can download the Legal Change of Name Child form here.

You and your child must have lived in Manitoba for three consecutive months in Manitoba, in order to have your child’s name changed.

Pay attention towards what sections you’ll need to fill out. Depending on what you check, the sections you need to fill out will be different.

You’ll now need to put birth information. The Name Document which you’ll need to pull this information from, is defined in the form. If the adult changing their name is born in Manitoba, you’ll need your Manitoba Birth Certificate.

You’ll also need to enclose either:

• Confirmed/notarized copy of Citizenship and Immigration Canada document or
• All previously issued original birth certificates (if born in Canada) or
• Give a reason as to why you don’t have their original Manitoba birth certificate(s), in the field below

The following will require you to have previous name changes documented, if you’ve ever had prior name changes through a Legal Change of Name or Election/Resumption of Surname.

Your marital status is also needed. The form asks if you’ve been married, married or separated, divorced, widowed, or in a registered common-law relationship.

You’ll now need to put birth information. The Name Document which you’ll need to pull this information from, is defined in the form. If the child is born in Manitoba, you’ll need their Manitoba Birth Certificate.

You’ll also need to enclose either:

• Confirmed/notarized copy of Citizenship and Immigration Canada document or
• All previously issued original birth certificates (if born in Canada) or
• Give a reason as to why you don’t have their original Manitoba birth certificate(s), in the field below

The following will require to have any previous child name changes documented, if they’ve ever had any.

A reason for the name change must also be provided. If the child you’re submitting for is trans, you can write “to reflect their preferred gender” or similar.

You’ll need to notarize any legal documents regarding custody of the child.

You will be required to write your legal name, and to check boxes agreeing to certain terms required for applying. You’ll also need to sign on the right, and need to receive a signature from someone authorized in The Evidence Act of Manitoba.

Some examples are listed in the form are:

• A commissioner of oaths
  • If you’re going in-person to deliver your form, you can find them at the Vital Statistics Agency.
• A member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
  • You can call or request a meeting at an RCMP building at 1091 Portage Ave.
• A lawyer authorized to practice in Manitoba
  • If you’re going to Rainbow Resource Centre at a name change workshop, this will be your preferred option.

From here, read the points that you’ll need to agree to, in or to change your child’s name. Then, put your name at the top, sign, and put the date where indicated.

In the middle of the sheet, you can select how you wish to pay. The easiest ones may be cash or debit in-person, or a credit card (Mastercard/Visa). If you choose credit, you’ll need to fill out your credit card number, expiry date, name on the card, and the cardholder’s signature.

You’ll also need to specify the amount you authorize Vital Statistics to charge your card.

Assuming your child is 12 years or more, you’ll now need to help your child complete the above section. You’ll also need a witness, that isn’t related to you or the child.

Have your child write down their current full name, then in the box below, have them put each letter of their proposed name in the boxes. Then, have them write the date, and then have them sign the paper.

If they don’t have a signature, they can just write their proposed name. If they know how to handwrite, ask them to handwrite their new legal name.

The witness should now be able to write down their personal information, including their names and address.

Many of the same steps will occur in the same order as the adult name change form or child name change form.

You can download the Change of Sex Designation form here.

The major exception is the letter of a healthcare professional. They will not accept your application without a letter from a doctor.

For this reason, it is important to speak with a doctor about both the legal name change, as well as the sex change, if you wish to change both.

More than just the product or an afternoon’s worth of work, you now have the key to get your legal name changed.

The next step is quite simple; submit your applications at the Vital Statistics office at 254 Portage Ave.

I suggest going in person with your form, as it’s the fastest way to get a response. You’ll also be able to ask one of the representatives if you have any further questions (mail, email, and fax are also options).

The representative will aid you with paying the required fees, as well as point you to where you can get your fingerprinting done.

If you went in person, then you’re in luck. The Winnipeg Police headquarters (not any other stations!) at 245 Smith Street is right across the street, making it so you can finish up all in one afternoon.

Other locations for fingerprinting include:

• Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) D-Division at 1091 Portage Ave
• Canadian Corps of Commissionaires at 870 Portage Ave, Winnipeg or 415-1st St, Brandon
• Brandon Police Service at 1020 Victoria Avenue, Brandon

Once you’ve submitted your form, you have successfully applied to get your name changed in Manitoba! How does it feel? Pretty good I’d bet. Now it is just a matter of time before you receive your new birth certificate and name change certificate.

This usually takes a few months, so keep checking in to make sure things are going smoothly.

Once you receive your name birth certificate and name change certificate, it is time to change your legal info everywhere else!

The most important places to change your name are anything involving finances (ex. phone bill, bank, credit agencies) or government documents (ex. driver’s license, tax forms, health card).

You have a legal obligation to make sure your legal name is updated within a certain period, for what’s listed above.

Most of these simply consist of you showing your new documents, and the helpful staff of whichever establishment will be happy to change your information on the spot. You may also be able to change your personal information through their online service.

The main exceptions to this are Manitoba Health, as potentially the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Manitoba Health requires you must mail your forms, and the CRA will require you to mail or fax, if you’ve changed your name before. Otherwise, you can phone call.

This can take weeks, or even months, to get a response.

To update your CRA information, check out Change your name on the Government of Canada website.

Just keep a brave face, continuously make yourself a pain in their sides, and I’m sure you’ll achieve what you are looking for.

If issues arise, please contact your Ombudsman with your complaint. Expect a response within a few days, and they’ll be able to help you out if Vital Statistics is uncooperative.

What’s in a name? It’s whatever you put into it.

The summation of your identity, of all your past, present, and future experiences or maybe just a word you put on important documents. Names can mean the world, and you’ve just changed yours.

Go out and live your life with a newly found joy and validation of your identity and spread your will to those who will receive it. You’ve earned it, and you’ve done good. You should be proud of yourself for making it all the way through.

Best of wishes to you and your name, and this article will still be here to help if ever you want to do it all again.

• Change of Name - Vital Statistics
• Change of Sex Designation - Vital Statistics
• Certificate Applications - Vital Statistics