VITAL RECORDS

Correcting or Amending a Marriage Certificate

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

Correct spelling errors
Add information to most blank items
Correct information that was originally entered incorrectly
Add a new name to the new name field on the marriage certificate

A certified court order is required to add a new name to the new name field

To request an informational pamphlet, please provide the recipient’s name, mailing address, and the name of the pamphlet, "Affidavit to Amend a Marriage Record," to the Amendment Section at AMENDVR@cdph.ca.gov or call (916) 445-2684; sample document (PDF).

Note: Confidential marriage records must be amended through the county clerk in the county where the license was issued. Contact information for county clerks may be found in the county registrars and recorders directory page.

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

Supporting Documents

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

Photocopy of person’s birth certificate whose information is being corrected (if in a foreign language it must be translated into English)
Certified copy of the court order name change (to update either of the party to the marriage’s name)
Photocopy of naturalization certificate and petition for name change form from the Department of Homeland Security (to update either of the party to the marriage’s name)
Any other documents that support the request for the amendment

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 marriage: There is no fee to amend a certificate. However, to receive a certified copy of the amended certificate there is a fee of fifteen dollars ($15) per certified copy
Any time after the first year of marriage: There is a twenty-three dollar ($23) processing fee, which includes one certified copy of the amended certificate. Each additional certified copy is fifteen dollars ($15)