Gender-marker change in South Dakota
These are the steps most people follow for a gender-marker change in South Dakota, in order. Each links to its official source and the date we last checked it. When you're ready, build a personalized checklist that covers every document at once.
This is general information, not legal advice. Requirements change, so always confirm with the official source linked on each step, and talk to a lawyer or legal-aid organization about your specific situation.
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Step 1: Update your Social Security record
Needs reverification, so we don't show it as current.
Check these official pages yourself
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Step 2: Update your driver's license or state ID
Needs reverification, so we don't show it as current.
Check these official pages yourself
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Step 3: Update your U.S. passport
Needs reverification, so we don't show it as current.
Check these official pages yourself
- U.S. Department of State — Sex Markers in Passports — We cannot check this source automatically for changes. Check it yourself before you file.
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Where to get help
- SD Law Help — A joint self-help site run by South Dakota's civil legal aid organizations, connecting South Dakotans and Tribal Nation members with free legal help and plain-language information about their rights.
- ACLU of South Dakota — Statewide civil-rights organization that can be contacted about discrimination and legal-process questions, including for transgender South Dakotans.
- Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) — South Dakota identity documents guide — Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) keeps a plain-language guide to changing your name and gender marker on South Dakota documents. Their staff write and update it. Read it alongside this checklist.
- Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) — National advocacy organization (formerly the National Center for Transgender Equality) with plain-language guides to updating federal identity documents (Social Security, passport) after a name or gender-marker change.
- Lambda Legal Help Desk — National LGBTQ+ legal organization offering a free legal help desk for questions about discrimination and legal name/gender-marker changes.