Trans Maryland Document Assistance Clinics
Free legal info for trans communities
The Trans Maryland Document Assistance Clinics provide information about updating important documents for transgender Marylanders so you can represent yourself through legal processes.
What’s going on here?
The Trans Maryland Document Assistance Clinics were founded in early November, 2024 by organizers from Trans Maryland in partnership with community leaders. We are attorneys, advocates, community organizers, medical providers, and mental health providers who care deeply about the needs of trans people, families of trans people, and care providers of trans people.
Since its formation, this group has grown exponentially and organically into a rich network of transgender and gender-expansive providers and our allies.
Throughout December 2024 and January 2025, the network offered a series of community-run support clinics to support urgent document needs for transgender and gender non-conforming people as we prepared for a hostile fascist federal administration to take control of the government.
These clinics included name change and other key document services including second-parent adoption, power of attorney, advance directives and living wills. Some clinics also included healing and body work, passport application assistance, and immigration assistance.
We’re excited to resume the Document Assistance Clinics in summer 2026, starting in Baltimore City, followed by Montgomery County.
Our Clinics provide help with…
Name and Gender Marker Changes
For many transgender people, getting a name and/or gender marker change is the first step in getting other important and affirming documentation, and the ability for us to fully participate in public life and activities. From healthcare appointments to job applications using our accurate names and gender markers makes an impactful difference!
Second Parent Adoptions
A court process that allows for a non-carrying partner to adopt a child. This process can be used for children conceived through reproductive technology as well as step or bonus children. Second parent adoption provides an extra layer of legal protection and security for families with trans and gender non-conforming parents.
Power of Attorney
Power of attorney planning allows transgender and gender non-conforming people to decide who can make legal and healthcare decisions for them. This can be especially helpful for people with estranged or difficult relationships with their family of origin (who they grew up with), as next-of-kin (often parents or siblings) are generally the default decision-makers in times of emergency.
Power of Attorney - a document that gives someone legal authority to act for another person. It allows you to assign a person to manage your affairs if you are unable to do so.
Healthcare Power of Attorney and Living Will (Advanced Directive) - A Health Care Power of Attorney allows you to appoint the person of your choice to make your medical decisions if you are unable to do so.
The "Living Will" portion of the Advance Directive is a written statement by you of what medical care you want in the future. Your doctor(s) and others may use it when you are unable to say what you want. A Living Will is a good way to let your doctors and family know what you want your healthcare decisions to be if you cannot tell them.