Update to the legal gender recognition application process

If you are about to apply for legal gender recognition certificates, there has been a change in the application process so that it can be done online.

We recently published a blog on the legal process of applying for a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC), which set out the various application routes and forms that are required.

As with many areas of Family law, the GRC application process will be going online, as announced by the Minister of State for Equalities, Kemi Badenoch, on 29 June 2022. The Government have announced the launch of a new service which will see all aspects of the GRC application moved onto one gov.uk portal, which they hope will remove the administrative burden on individuals, centralise the process, and also make it more transparent.

Although people may choose to do make the application themselves, they may also prefer to instruct solicitors to prepare and submit the application for them, which is a service that the Family team at Blake Morgan can provide.

Documents will still need to be certified by a professional (again, this is something the Family team at Blake Morgan can offer as Solicitors) and sent to the Gender Recognition Panel by post.

Applicants who do not have access to the internet will still be able to apply through a paper-based route, however the default process will be online.

If you would like further advice or assistance with your GRC application, please get in touch with the Family team at Blake Morgan, who would be happy to help.