Update of Legal Name and/or Legal Sex

Legal Name Update

A student’s name of record includes first name, middle initial or full middle name, and the last (surname/family) name. The college will update official records to reflect the legal name of a currently enrolled student or alumnus upon receipt of a request in writing accompanied by evidence of the legal basis for the change. A record of the previously recorded name will be maintained, but all official documents will be released under the updated legal name.

To update the legal name record, submit the Student Information Update Form and required documentation to the appropriate Registrar’s Office (see below).

Required documentation includes two forms of government issued identification bearing the updated name, at least one of which contains a photograph:

• Court issued document
• Social Security Card (required if a current student)
• Driver’s license
• Passport
• Marriage license
• Divorce decree
• Birth certificate

Legal Sex Update

The college will update official records to reflect the legal sex of a currently enrolled student or alumnus upon receipt of a request in writing accompanied by evidence of the legal basis for the update. A record of the previously recorded sex will be maintained, but all official documents will be released under the updated legal sex.

To update the legal sex record, submit the Student Information Update Form and required documentation to the appropriate Registrar’s Office (see below).

Required documentation includes two forms of government issued identification bearing the updated legal sex, at least one of which contains a photograph:

• Driver’s license or state ID card
• Passport
• Court order documenting the sex update
• Amended birth certificate with the updated sex

Submitting your Request and Documentation

You may submit your request in person at the appropriate Registrar’s Office.  Original documents will be viewed and/or copied and can be returned to you immediately.

If you are unable to present the original documents in person, you must submit the Student Information Update Form and either notarized copies of accompanying documents, or certified copies issued by the governmental agency in place of notarized copies.  If you reside in California see additional information below regarding notarization.  Copies of Social Security Cards will not be retained and will be destroyed after a name change has been recorded. We do not recommend sending your SSN or a copy of your card via email. (Your Registrar’s Office may be able to use a zoom meeting in place of a physical meeting in some cases.  Contact your Registrar’s office for more information.)

If you are currently enrolled in, or most recently a graduate/alumnus of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, submit your request form and documentation to:

CAS Registrar’s Office, MSC 108
Lewis & Clark College
615 S Palatine Hill Rd
Portland OR 97219

The office is located on the ground floor of the Templeton Student Center on the undergraduate campus.  Questions may be directed to reg@lclark.edu.

If you are currently enrolled in, or most recently a graduate/alumnus of the Graduate School of Education and Counseling, submit your request form and documentation to:

Graduate Registrar, MSC 90
Lewis & Clark College
615 S Palatine Hill Road
Portland OR 97219

The office is located on the third floor of Rogers Hall (room 301) on the graduate campus.  Questions may be directed to gradreg@lclark.edu or 503-768-6030.

If you are currently enrolled in, or most recently a graduate/alumnus of the Lewis & Clark Law School, submit your request form and documentation to:

Law Registrar’s Office, MSC 51
Lewis & Clark Law School
10015 S.W. Terwilliger Boulevard
Portland OR 97219

The office is located in the Legal Research Center on the Law Campus.  Questions may be directed to lawreg@lclark.edu or 503-768-6614.

If you are a staff or faculty member who has not been a student at Lewis & Clark College, please contact the Human Resources Office regarding all demographic changes.

California State Notarization

The State of California will not allow the notarization of driver’s licenses or passports.  However, you may instead ask the notary to complete a “Copy Certification by Document Custodian”.  You can find a link to a certification example here.