Correcting or Amending a Birth Certificate

An Affidavit to Amend a Record VS 24 (PDF) form is required to:

• Correct minor spelling errors
• Correct the spelling of the parents’ names or their statistical information (Provide birth certificate or supporting documentation such as passport to support the change.)
• Add an AKA (also known as) for the parent after a Court Order Name Change or name change obtained through the naturalization process
• Add information to most blank items

For additional information please see the informational pamphlet Affidavit to Amend a Birth Record (PDF) and checklist.

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 is required if a certified authorized copy of the amended certificate is requested. For explanation of who may receive a certified authorized copy view this link.

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

Informational Pamphlet Affidavit to Amend a Birth Record (PDF) and checklist

Affidavit to Amend a Record VS 24 (PDF) form

Sworn Statement

Other Types of Amendment Forms

Court Order Name Change pamphlet/form/checklist

New Birth Certificate After Sex Change Reassignment pamphlet/form/checklist

Correcting a Sex Field Error pamphlet/form/checklist

Marriage Certificates pamphlet/form/sample/checklist

Adoption Process pamphlet/form/sample/checklist

Adjudication of Facts of Parentage pamphlet/form/sample/checklist

Acknowledgement of Paternity pamphlet/form/sample/checklist

Death and Fetal Death pamphlet/form/sample/checklist

Delayed Registration of Birth pamphlet/form/checklist

Court Order Delayed Certificate of Marriage pamphlet/form/sample

Court Order Delayed Certificate of Birth pamphlet/form/sample

Court Order Delayed Certificate of Death pamphlet/form/sample

Court Order Delayed Certificate of Fetal Death pamphlet/form

Supplemental Name Report – Birth pamphlet/form/checklist