There are several reasons someone may need to correct a birth certificate. Immediately after a child's birth, one or both of the parents may notice there is a spelling or factual error on the document. This sort of error is usually among the easiest and quickest to get corrected. In other cases, the birth certificate may need to have the father later added in the case of an unmarried woman giving birth. Many states no longer allow an unmarried woman to list a man as father of her child without a certificate of paternity, which may take time to get. With proper documentation, getting a birth certificate changed years later is possible in a number of cases.
Instructions
1. Realize that no one except the person on the birth certificate (if over the age of 18) or recognized parent or parents can change birth certificate information.
2. Visit the website of your state's division of Vital Records, or call their toll-free number. The Centers for Disease Control has a website called "Where to Write for Vital Records" (see Resources section) that can help you quickly find your state's information.
3. Download or request via telephone the appropriate form, which is usually called a correction form. If you no longer have an original copy of the birth certificate, many states will also require you to fill out an application form.
4. Fill out both forms. Your state may require you to get the forms notarized, which requires you to present the forms and a government-issued photo ID such as passport or driver's license in person. Notaries are often found at banks, city halls or tax-filing services.
5. Explain clearly the reason for your information correction as requested on the form. If you are changing the birth certificate due to an error, then your case will likely go through quickly without question. However, if you are changing information such as the father of the child, you will likely need to submit court documents such as acknowledgement of paternity or a child support agreement. This also applies to any name change of the person whose birth certificate it is.
6. Consider that in some states, transgender persons post-operation cannot legally change their sex on their birth certificate. If this applies to your need to correct a birth certificate and you cannot get your birth certificate changed to reflect your new gender, you may wish to consult a transgender-rights attorney or the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
7. Mail the forms, copy of your photo ID, and any supplemental documentation or notarized forms required of your state. Most states want any fees charged sent by money order, but this will depend on the rules of your division of Vital Records. In many cases, basic birth certificate corrections can be free or cost less than $40.
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