Once a final judgment has been issued, it can typically be used to correct any other documents or records as needed by the client. Some common places that may need files corrected include state-managed public benefit programs, passports, professional licensure, banking and credit institutions, educational records and/or diplomas and certificates, and other legal documents such as business or employment contracts, estate planning documents, or lease agreements. Not all of these records need to be corrected all at once and some may not need to be corrected at all as long as the client maintains clear paperwork to demonstrate that the person named in the outdated document is, in fact, still the same even after the corrections of the client’s legal name.

A certified court judgment is required to correct the name on a Louisiana-issued driver’s license or ID.1  Individuals can be photographed for an ID presenting in any gendered way and will not be considered misrepresenting their appearance if they are not presenting in a traditionally gendered way.2  The gender marker can be corrected by providing a written medical statement that the individual has undergone “successful gender change/reassignment.”3  Louisiana does not currently offer a nonbinary gender marker.

These corrections may be made with the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) either before or after updating a birth record. The OMV relies on the Social Security Administration (SSA) database to validate driver information. Therefore, it is necessary to update information with the SSA prior to updating OMV data. The systems synchronize each night at midnight, so it is not possible to update the SSA database and get a corrected ID or driver’s license on the same day. You must allow midnight to pass between the two events so that the databases have an opportunity to synchronize with the new information. Clients should be advised that if they have any restrictions on their license (e.g., unpaid fees or fines), they may not be granted a new license until the restrictions are removed.

• 1La. OMV Policy § 1.22.00.
• 2La. OMV Policy § 1.14.00.
• 3La. OMV Policy § 1.22.01.

A certified court judgment is required to correct the name on a U.S.-issued passport. The gender marker on a passport may be corrected without any additional medical documentation, and, as of 2022, it is possible to request a nonbinary gender marker on U.S.-issued passports. In addition to a traditional passport book, it is possible to apply for a passport card. This card is similar to a wallet-sized, state-issued ID. It can be used as valid ID in any state, for domestic air travel, and limited international land and sea travel, but cannot be used in lieu of a driver’s license for driving and cannot be used in lieu of a passport book for international air travel. It offers all of the same accessibility as a passport book but is more convenient for daily use within the U.S.