Often times, misperceptions and prejudices about transgender people may fuel custody disputes; judges and adoption agencies sometimes try to stop transgender adults from bringing children into their lives and even try to remove them from their homes. This fact sheet addresses some basic questions about the issues transgender parents face during custody and visitation disputes. It also offers practical advice and resources for transgender parents and their families seeking to protect themselves against challenges to their parental rights.

Carrying identification that reflects one’s real-world self is a necessity. However, when a transgender person’s ID is called into question, whether on suspicion of lying or out of an inappropriate interest in finding out whether they’ve had surgery, it amounts to harassment and discrimination and, in many cases, a violation of privacy. This fact sheet is intended to answer questions about changing the gender marker or name on identification and to inform about some of the work advocates are doing to help transgender people obtain accurate identity documents that will make their lives easier.