Hey so first off, congrats! Changing your name can be an intimidating process even at the best of times and I'm proud of you for getting started!

Now some tips:

• Third party certified birth certificates are a scam, 100%, a scam. Your state board of vital records will have them available cheaper, and sometimes those certified copies are the only "real" ones.

• You do not have to navigate this alone and there are organizations that exist to help you, I found this page that might point you in the right direction. LGBT Law on the Texas State Law Library Website

• I am not a lawyer but... You probably don't need to worry about your choice of name impacting your chances of getting it approved, AFAIK the courts primary concern with name changes are fraudsters and people on the run from debt collectors. Some courts view the name change laws in the US as clunky and outdated and won't require you to have a day in court or take out a classified ad in the newspaper. Instead they would just push it through, this varies from place to place but you might get lucky in this regard.

• I would recommend that you get at least 5 or so certified copies of the court order when you get it. Most offices won't give back any of the documents you gave them and having spares is always handy for any unforeseen situations where it may be needed.

• If you fill out a form digitally make sure that you save it some place where you can retrieve it later. These offices are run by people and sometimes things get lost along the way.

• No one looks good in their ID photos but legit one of my biggest regrets about the whole process was how I didn't prepare for my drivers license photo. Looking at it makes me feel yucky ._.

Good Luck!