Correcting or Amending a Birth Certificate
An Affidavit to Amend a Record VS 24 (PDF) form is required to:
- Correct spelling errors
- Add the child's first, middle, or last name to blank fields
- Correct typographical or spelling errors for parents' name
- Add an AKA (also known as) for the parent after a Court Order Name Change or name change obtained through the naturalization process
To request an informational pamphlet, please provide the recipientās name, mailing address, and the name of the pamphlet, "Affidavit to Amend a Birth Record," to the Amendment Section at AMENDVR@cdph.ca.gov or call (916) 445-2684.
Supporting Documents
Supporting documents are used to support the information being amended. Acceptable documents include copies of the following:
- Birth Certificates
- Passports
- Certified copy of Court Orders (if required for amendment)
- Immigration documents
- Hospital records
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.
Amendment Fees
- Within the first year from date of birth: There is no fee to amend a certificate. However, to receive a certified copy of the amended certificate there is a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25) per certified copy.
- Any time after the first year of birth: There is a twenty-three dollar ($23) processing fee, which includes one certified copy of the amended 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 Birth Amendments 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 24 form
- This will create a multi-page certificate with the amendment attached
Helpful Links
Affidavit to Amend a Record VS 24 (PDF) form
Amendment Sworn Statements (English) (Spanish)
Directory of County Vital Record Offices
Other Amendment Types
Court Order Name Change
Correcting a Sex Field Error
Sex Change/Reassignment
Adoption
Acknowledgement of Paternity/Parentage
Adjudication of Facts of Parentage
Supplemental Name Report
Death/Fetal Death
Marriage