Changes to parentage on a birth certificate, including adding, removing, or replacing a parent, require an Adjudication of Facts of Parentage VS 21 (PDF) form and a court order when either of the following are true:

In each of the above instances, an adjudication of facts of parentage is necessary to amend the certificate.  The adjudication order is issued by the court and must:

• Instruct CDPH-VR to remove an existing parent on the birth certificate
• Identify the parent that should be listed on the certificate
• Include the child’s full name, date, and place of birth as stated on the original birth certificate
• List the full new name of the child, (if being changed)
  

For additional information please see the informational pamphlet Add Remove or Replace a Parent on a Birth Certificate.

An Acknowledgement of Paternity/Parentage is utilized when adding a parent to a blank space on the birth certificate.  Both parents must be available to sign the VS 22 (PDF) form.

Supporting Documents

Supporting documents are used to support the information being amended.  Acceptable documents include copies of the following:

• Certified copy of court orders
• Vital Records (birth, death, marriage)
• All other documents that support the request for the amendment

A certified court order is required when submitting an Adjudication of Facts of Parentage.

Sworn Statement

A notarized Sworn Statement, completed by an authorized person, is required to receive a certified authorized copy of the amended certificate.  Please visit the Authorized Copy vs. Informational Copy webpage for a list of authorized persons. 

Certified Court Order

A “certified” copy of the court order must be a copy of the order that was originally prepared by the court.  It cannot be an original printout.  The photocopy you receive from the court must have all of the following:

• An original court seal
• A signature (or signature stamp) of the judge
• A signature (or signature stamp) of the court clerk
  

Certificate Fees

• Adjudication of Facts of Parentage requires a twenty-three dollar ($23) processing fee, which includes one certified copy of the new birth certificate
• Additional certified copies are twenty-five dollars ($25) each

Processing Times

CDPH-VR processing times may occasionally increase as do the volume of requests.

Currently Adjudication of Facts of Parentage are processed within six (6) to eight (8) weeks from the date CDPH-VR receives the request.

Helpful Tips

• Complete all documents in black ink
• No erasures, alterations or whiteouts are allowed on the VS 21 form
• This form will assist in creating the new birth certificate

Helpful Links

Adjudication of Facts of Parentage VS 21 (PDF) form

Amendment Sworn Statements (English) (Spanish)

Add Remove or Replace a Parent on a Birth Certificate pamphlet

Directory of County Vital Record Offices

Other Amendment Types

General Birth Amendment

Court Order Name Change

Correcting a Sex Field Error

Sex Change/Reassignment

Adoption

Acknowledgement of Paternity/Parentage

Supplemental Name Report

Death/Fetal Death

Marriage