Your day in court
You may need to wait before your hearing
Keep in mind that other people may have a hearing on the same day as you. Your case may not be called right away. You may end up waiting a few minutes or even more than an hour before it’s your turn.
The judge calls your case
Walk to the front of the courtroom
When it is your turn, the judge will call your names and say your case number. You go up to the front. Someone, usually the bailiff or a clerk, will show you which side to take and tell you to sit down. The bailiff is usually the person in charge of keeping order in the courtroom.
Tell the judge your name and answer their questions
The judge will ask you and the other parent (if they show up) to say your names. Then, you may be asked to swear to tell the truth.
The judge may ask the parent asking for the child’s gender change recognition questions about the request.
The judge may also confirm that the gender change recognition request was served on the other parent, as required.
If the other parent doesn’t agree to the gender change recognition, the judge will ask them why.
The judge makes a decision
The judge will most likely make a decision at your hearing.
The judge signs the Decree
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If you turned in the Order Recognizing Minor's Change of Gender and Sex Identifier and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (form NC-530), at the time you filed your case, the judge will sign that and the clerk will file it.
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If you were told to hold on to the Order Recognizing Minor's Change of Gender and Sex Identifier and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (form NC-530), this is the time when you turn it in to the judge to sign it and the clerk will file it.
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If you didn’t prepare an Order ahead of time, you may be given one to prepare yourself at the hearing.
Make sure your Order Recognizing Minor's Change of Gender and Sex Identifier and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (form NC-530) says exactly what the judge ordered.
In some courts, Self-Help Center staff may be able to help you with these forms.