Chapter 6A-15 Gender Designation on Driver's License or ID Legal Change of Name is Not Required Massachusetts law allows a person to use a name, other than the person's name as it appears on his/her birth certificate, so long as the adopted name is not being used for fraudulent purposes. A court approved ("legal") change of name is not required to amend a license or ID card in Massachusetts, but the Name Change portion of the License and ID update application must be completed if the applicant is amending any portion of the name listed in RMV records. The applicant does not need to change his/her name on other forms of identification prior to changing it on the license or ID card. However, after changing his/her name on the license/ID card, the applicant will need to contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) to notify them of the name change. Amended Birth Certificate is Not Required Massachusetts law does not require an applicant amending his/her gender designation on a license or ID card to provide an amended birth certificate from the state or jurisdiction of birth. The applicant is not required to have changed his or her gender designation on other forms of identification. 01/09 6A:81