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Conditionsoftherecognitionofthecivilstatusoftranssexualandtransgenderpeople...
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surnameiscollateraltomoregeneralchangesoftheindividual’scivilstatus.In
thesecases,theconditionsforchangingthenameorsurnameareusuallyregulated
bytheprovisionsdevotedtothemainissueinquestion(maritalstatus,filiationetc.).
Apartfromtheaboveexamples,thereexistsinPolandaspecialActontheChange
ofNameandSurname,datedOctober17,2008,9whichintroducesageneralpossibility
forchangingthenameorsurnameuponamotionofanindividual.Thecaseisdecided
bytheCivilRegistrarinadministrativeproceedingswithnojudicialinvolvement.The
mainconditionforasuccessfulmotionare“importantreasons”demonstratedbythe
petitioner,whichreasonsshoulddulyjustifytherequestedchange.10
ThelackofprovisionsonthechangeofsexinPolandismirroredbytheabsence
ofanydedicatedlegislationconcerningthechangeofname/surnameoftranssexual
persons.Notsurprisingly,though,interestedpersonsoftenmakerecoursetothe2008
Act,tryingtochangetheirnameaccordingtogeneraladministrativerules.Such
motionscannotbesuccessful,though,beforethelegalchangeofsex.Inpractice,the
only“importantreason”thatallowsthechangeofname/surnameofatranspersonis
notthetranssexualismassuchbutapriorcourtjudgmentconfirmingthe“new”sex
ofagivenindividual.11Onlyafterthecourtdecisionbecomesfinalandthechange
ofsexisrecordedintheCivilStatusRegistercanthenameorsurnamebeadjusted.12
Summingup,acquiringanameorsurnametypicalofpersonsoftheoppositesex
(oppositetothelegalsexofthepetitionerasdemonstratedintheCivilStatusRegister)
isnotpossible.Theexternallookand/orotherevidenceconcerningtherealsexidentity
ofthepetitioner(hisorherpsychologicalsex)playnorolehere.Itisexclusivelythe
contentofthebirthact,andtheomciallegalsexmarkedtherein,thatmatters.
5.Regulationofthesexualidentity
5.1.Legalbackgroundtheconstitutionalandinternationalsources
Asitwasalreadyobserved,thePolishlawdoesnotcontainanyspecialregulations
devotedtothesituationoftranspersons.Itisthecaselawthat“madeavailable”some
legalactionstotranssexualswhoseekthewaytochangetheirlegalsexintheCivil
9Consolidatedtext:O.J.2016,item10.
10Article4ofthe2008Actgivesexamplesofsuchimportantreasons,whichincludethe
changeofname/surnamethatisdisgracefulortheadoptionofaname/surnameactuallyusedby
thepetitioner.
11Cf.J.Ostojska,op.cit.,p.137.
12Sometimesatranssexualpersonisgivenanewnamebythecourtasapartofthechange-
of-sexjudgment.Thispracticeisdoubtful,though,becauseofthelackofappropriatelegalbasis.
Theideaofajudicialadjustmentofthenameandsurnameoftranspersons,whichwouldconstitute
apartofthechange-of-sexproceedings,wasacceptedinthe2015SexReconciliationActbutthe
Actnevercameintoforce,seeremarksinsection8below.