Legal aspects of detransition

In the Netherlands, changing gender registration is possible in both directions through the same administrative procedure.

Reversing gender registration

In the Netherlands, changing gender registration is possible in both directions through the same administrative procedure. A gender registration that has previously been changed can be changed again — although the same requirements apply as for the first change.

Changing your name

A first name that has previously been changed can be changed again. This can be done at the same time as registering the gender change with the municipality, or separately by submitting a request to the court. The second option involves costs and a processing period. See name change for the procedure.

Documents

Documents such as a passport and driving licence, the registration in the Personal Records Database and diplomas must be updated again. Some authorities retain historical records that cannot all be reversed.

The procedure in the Netherlands

Under the Transgender Act, anyone aged sixteen or over also needs a statement from an expert, doctor or psychologist listed on a statutory register to reverse the change. The expert confirms that the applicant is convinced that they belong to the other sex and understands the consequences. With this statement, the applicant registers the change with the municipality where the birth certificate is held. A subsequent entry is added to the certificate; the earlier change remains visible on the certificate to anyone requesting a full copy.

Liability

Some people who reverse their transition believe that their practitioner acted negligently. In the Netherlands, a patient can file a complaint with the healthcare provider, a disciplinary complaint with the healthcare disciplinary tribunal or a claim for damages. It must be shown that the doctor did not act as could reasonably be expected of a competent professional, or that the information provided was inadequate. Such cases are rare in the Netherlands, as far as is known. transitieschade.nl explains how medical liability works under Dutch law, including the duty of care and the obligation to maintain medical records.

Legal cases abroad

In the United Kingdom, Keira Bell brought a case against the Tavistock clinic concerning whether minors can consent to puberty blockers; the judgment appears in the timeline under Bell v Tavistock. In the United States, several dozen cases have been brought by detransitioners against healthcare providers. In January 2026, a jury in New York State awarded damages for the first time: two million dollars to a woman whose breasts had been removed at the age of sixteen. The jury found that the psychologist and surgeon had conducted insufficient investigations and had failed to provide adequate information. An analysis of that ruling in the case brought by Fox Varian is available on transspijt.nl. In Texas, the largest children's hospital had to open a detransition clinic as part of a settlement. See also legal consequences of detransition and changing gender registration.