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

For further information please see the informational pamphlet for Affidavit to Amend a Marriage Record (PDF),  checklist (PDF) and sample document (PDF).

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 is required if a certified authorized copy of the amended certificate is requested unless you are submitting a certified copy of a court order.  For explanation of who may receive a certified authorized copy view this link.

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)

Processing Times

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

Currently Marriage 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 24C form
• This will create a multi-page certificate with the amendment attached
  

Helpful Links

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

Affidavit to Amend a Record VS 24C (PDF) form.  To view sample form click here (PDF).

Sworn Statement

Other Types of Amendment Forms

Birth pamphlet/form/checklist

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

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