Hazmat Background Processing - Documents

Was hoping to get some info from someone who may have had the same issue that I am now facing in regards to the hazmat endorsement. Will try to keep this as short & simple as possible.

Decide to make a career change into trucking, leave job end of Aug 2015, study for permit & endorsements, pass all test (permit, tanker, hazmat, & doubles/triples), start school 9/21/2015, test out & obtain CDL on 10/9/2015. All is good to this point until I come back home to start the hazmat background process. After going to the TSA website to gather more info and make an appt, I'm now being informed that because my birth certificate(birth name) does not match the name that I have been using for the past 40 years, they will not accept my documents without a court decree - name change, at least this is what I'm being told over the phone.

Background info - born with my birth name, mother/father divorce after couple years, do not know my birth father, mother remarries, I'm about 3 years old at this time, I take on my step fathers last name, step father wants to adopt me as his but before that process is completed he passes away, continue to use his last name, all documents other than my original birth cert have my current last name which I acquired from my step father. (SSN card, DL, high school & college diploma, military records & ID, W2's, and now my CDL). It just seems odd that I do have these official documents with my current last name yet because one document is different they cant process my hazmat application?? I also have the marriage certificate and death certificate of my step father, so in some sense I can show the relationship as to how I acquired my last name.

So my question is - has anyone run across this type of situation themselves or maybe has known someone who has, and how you were able to handle this situation. Part of the reason for my urgency is that some of the jobs I am applying for require hazmat endorsement. If the TSA is firm on having a court decree - name change this will push this process out to no sooner then Jan 2016 , because of the court delay, and then the hazmat background check. Any info would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

Thanks to all for reply's. Reason for post was to see if someone else might had been in that position recently, and how they handled it.

@MACK E-6 - thanks for heads up on BC. The one I have is from the county records office with the seal, shouldn't be a problem.

@pattyj - I actually did start this process like you suggested, have a court date in early DEC, but by the time I get the court doc, then start my hazmat background, I'm looking at no sooner than Jan 2016 for clearance. Just had a couple of jobs that I was applying to that require hazmat. Like you said, have to get career started so I'll pursue those non hazmat for now.