How to add child name in birth certificate

Amendments to Birth Records | La Dept. of Health

Amendments to Birth Records

The process to make changes to a birth certificate varies depending on the type of legal change needed and how recently the record was filed. Amendments to vital records are governed by Louisiana statutes and administrative codes. The Vital Records Registry must work within these laws when making amendments to records. Please note that because each situation is different, every application must be reviewed by a specialist to determine whether it is acceptable. If the application is determined to not be acceptable, you will be contacted with additional instructions, which will increase the processing time.

How to Submit Your Birth Record Amendment Request

Amending A Birth Record:

How to Correct Minor Errors on the Birth Certificate of a Child up to the Age of 12

How to Change or Correct the First and Middle Name of a Child up to the Age of 12

How to Name a Child (up to Age 12) who has not been named on the Birth Certificate

How to Change the Child’s Last Name on a Birth Certificate from Birth to Age 18

How to Correct Minor Errors on a Birth Certificate for an Individual over the age of 12

How to Change the Last Name on a Birth Certificate for an Individual over the age of 18

Add or Remove A Father From A Birth Certificate:

How to Add a Father’s Name to a Birth Certificate of a Child Born to an Unmarried Mother

How to Remove a Father’s Name from a Child’s Birth Certificate

How to Add the Biological Father’s Name to a Birth Certificate of a Child Born to a Married Mother

How to Remove the Husband of a Mother from a Child’s Birth Certificate

Cost to Correct/Amend a Birth Certificate

If a Correction to a Birth Certificate is not Addressed Above

How to Correct Minor Errors on a Newborn’s Birth Certificate

Minor errors in the child or parents' names, such as spelling and typographical errors, the sex of the child, day of birth of the child, time of birth can usually be corrected. Vital Records provides a complimentary birth certificate to the parents shortly after a child's birth. The information to be corrected should be listed on the Application to Amend and submitted to Vital Records with the incorrect birth certificate. Vital Records will notify the hospital where the child was born of the parent’s request for a correction. The hospital will need to send a letter to Vital Records verifying the correct information in the medical records. If Vital Records receives the correction request within 90 days of the birth certificate file date, there is no charge for the correction.

How to Correct Minor Errors on the Birth Certificate of a Child up to the Age of 12

Minor errors in the child or parents' names, such as spelling and typographical errors, the sex of the child, day of birth of the child, time of birth can usually be corrected by a statement from the medical records department at the facility where the child was born. If the facility no longer has the medical records, the parent will need to provide evidentiary documents, such as the child’s baptismal certificate, school record, a Social Security Numident or a certified copy of the parent’s birth certificate to make the desired correction (if parent's birth certificate is in language other than English, a certified translation into English must be provided).

How to Change or Correct the First and Middle Name of a Child up to the Age of 12

An Affidavit for Correction of Given Names can be completed to change a child’s first and/ or middle name before the child reaches the age of 12. Both parents listed on the birth certificate must sign the affidavit in the presence of a licensed notary. This form cannot be used to change a child’s last name.

How to Name a Child (up to Age 12) who has not been named on the Birth Certificate

If the child was not named at birth, an Affidavit for Correction of Given Names can be used to give the child a first and middle name before the child reaches the age of 12. Both parents listed on the birth certificate must sign the affidavit in the presence of a licensed notary. This form cannot be used to change a child’s last name.

How to Change the Child’s Last Name on a Birth Certificate from Birth to Age 18

A child’s last name can be changed by an Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit or a court ordered change of name from a Louisiana court. A Certified copy of the Judgment, Petition, and District Attorney’s Answer (if applicable) must be submitted to Vital Records to determine if the court order can be used to amend the birth certificate.

How to Correct Minor Errors on a Birth Certificate for an Individual over the age of 12

Minor errors in the child’s name or parents' names, such as spelling and typographical errors, the sex of the child, or day of birth of the child can usually be corrected. A certified evidentiary document that has been established for at least 5 years must be submitted to Vital Records showing the individual’s correct birth information (full birth name, date of birth, place of birth, mother’s full maiden name, and father’s full name).

One of the following documents must be submitted to amend a birth certificate:

Baptismal Record
School Enrollment Record
Application for Marriage License
Application for Voter Registration
Social Security Numident (Original Application for a SS Number)
Parent’s Birth Certificate or Marriage Certificate (if correcting parent’s name) If parent's birth certificate is in language other than English, a certified translation into English must be provided.
Statement from two different US licensed medical providers (physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or midwife) to correct the sex of the child (not applicable for gender reassignment)

How to Change the Last Name on a Birth Certificate for Individuals over the age of 18

If an individual is wishing to add a father to their birth certificate and change their last name, a properly executed Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit can be submitted, along with a District Attorney Affidavit which states no objection to the name change.

Otherwise, a Louisiana court ordered change of name must be obtained to change a person’s last name on their birth certificate. A certified copy of the Judgment, Petition, and District Attorney’s Answer must be submitted to Vital Records to determine if the court order can be used to amend the birth certificate.

How to Add a Father’s Name to a Birth Certificate of a Child Born to an Unmarried Mother

If a father is not already listed on the birth certificate, a 2 Party Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavit can be completed by the mother and the acknowledging father and submitted to Vital Records for processing. The form must be properly executed and free of any altered information.

If either parent is unable or unwilling to complete the Acknowledgment of Paternity, a court ordered Judgment of Paternity can be obtained to add a father to a birth certificate. The child’s last name can be changed to father’s last name with a Judgment of Paternity only if the father is the petitioner. A certified copy of the Judgment and Petition should be submitted to Vital Records to determine if the court order can be used to amend the birth certificate.

How to Remove a Father’s Name from a Child’s Birth Certificate

Any person signing a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity may change their mind and revoke their acknowledgment within 60 days of signing the form. The person must complete a Revocation of Acknowledgment of Paternity and file it with Vital Records within the 60 day period.

After 60 days, a parent must file a petition in court in Louisiana to rescind (revoke) the acknowledgment pursuant to R.S. 9:392 A (7) (a & b) or R.S. 9:406. If filed, the petition to rescind the acknowledgment must be based on a claim that the signing of the acknowledgment was because of fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact. You may need to consult with your attorney regarding what evidence might be needed to prove this claim in court.

How to Add the Biological Father’s Name to a Birth Certificate of a Child Born to a Married Mother

If a mother was married at the time of conception and birth of the child or was not divorced at least 300 days prior to the child’s birth, by law, the husband of the mother is the presumed father and must be listed on the child’s birth certificate.

If the mother, the husband/ex-husband (legally presumed father), and the biological father all agree to sign a three-party Acknoledgement of Paternity, the legally presumed father can be replaced by the biological father on the birth certificate. A DNA-based paternity test showing the biological father must accompany this affidavit This can be done at the time of birth at the hospital, or anytime up until the child's 12th birthday. See the information on Acknowledgement of Paternity: Child Born of Marriage.

How to Remove the Husband of the Mother from a Child’s Birth Certificate

Cost to Correct/Amend a Birth Certificate

Unless requesting a hospital correction within 90 days of the birth certificate file date, the non-refundable fee for correcting or amending a birth certificate is $27.50, which includes one certified copy of the amended birth certificate. Additional certified copies can be purchased at the time of the amendment for $9.00 each. If the requestor cannot provide the original (incorrect) birth certificate, an additional $15. 00 search fee must be included. Make checks or money orders payable to Vital Records Registry. Please do not mail cash.

If a Correction to a Birth Certificate is not Addressed Above

If the correction you desire is not addressed above or you require additional information, you may contact the Vital Records Amendments department by calling the number listed below:

Telephone: (504) 593-5122

How to Submit Your Birth Certificate Amendment Request

Online: You may use a major credit card to place internet orders through VitalChek Network, an authorized service provider. Online Amendment processing can be faster and more convenient as you scan and upload required documents into the VitalChek system. This results in significantly shorter processing times for most cases.

There are additional fees when using this service provider or requesting expedited services.

To order using the VitalChek Network, visit their website.
If you have already placed a VitalChek Network order, you may also check the status.

To inquire about an order placed with VitalChek, please call 1-877-605-8562.

Louisiana Office of Public Health does not directly accept credit cards or online orders; however, for your convenience, you can process online requests through the independent company that we have partnered with above in order to provide you with this service, VitalChek Network, Inc. An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service and all major credit cards are accepted, including American Express®, Discover®, MasterCard® or Visa®.

By Mail: Please submit a completed application form and specify the correction(s) desired to the birth certificate. You may download the Application to Amend for mail requests.

The individual requesting a correction to his/her birth certificate must submit a completed application, legible copy of his/her valid government issued photo ID, such as state-issued driver's license or non-driver photo ID, the incorrect birth certificate, and the required fee.

If you are requesting a correction to your child’s birth certificate, both parents listed on the child’s birth certificate must submit a legible copy of their valid government issued photo ID, such as state-issued driver's license or non-driver photo ID, along with the completed application, the child’s incorrect birth certificate, and the required fee.

Requests are processed in approximately 6 to 8 weeks from the date of receipt.

Please mail your request to:

Vital Records Registry

Attn: Amendments Department

P.O. Box 60630

New Orleans, LA 70160

New Parent Information

Congratulations on the birth of your child!

To congratulate you on the birth of your child, the Pennsylvania Department of Health is pleased to present you with your child's birth certificate. This is your child's first official identification, so please keep it in a safe location. Your child will use this birth certificate for future milestones, like registering for school, applying for a driver's license, getting a passport and verifying their U. S. citizenship for their first job.

If you need additional copies of your child's birth certificate, please visit Ordering a Birth Certificate page.

Please review your child's birth certificate to make sure everything is accurate and spelled correctly. If your child's birth certificate contains an error, it is easiest to correct the error prior to your child's first birthday. The following information provides direction on how to correct errors on your child's birth certificate.

If your child is over one year of age and a correction to their birth certificate is needed, please refer to the Amending a Birth Record for more information.

Correcting Typographical Errors and Adding Missing Information

The information listed on your child's birth certificate is based on the Report of Live Birth submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. If you delivered your baby in a licensed Pennsylvania birth facility, you likely were provided with a Birthing Parent's Worksheet which is used to collect information to be included on the Report of Live Birth. The birthing facility then entered information from the Birthing Parent's Worksheet into an electronic Report of Live Birth which is submitted directly to us. While most Reports of Live Birth are submitted with 100% accuracy, sometimes typographical errors do occur.

To correct this type of error, complete the Request to Modify an Infant’s Birth Record. Do not use this form to add a parent to a child's birth record.

Based on national standards, all parent's names as printed on a birth certificate list the parent's legal name prior to first marriage (also referred to as a maiden last name).

All parents listed on the birth certificate must sign the Request to Modify an Infant’s Birth Record. The form also needs notarized if one of the following applies:

You are changing the last name of your child.
You are changing a parent's last name.

Request to Modify Parentage on a Birth Record

To modify parentage on a child’s birth record, complete a Request to Modify Parentage on a Birth Record form. Any removal of a parent from a child’s record requires a court order or an approved cancellation of an Acknowledgement of Paternity. Please note that a maximum of two parents may be listed on a child’s birth record in Pennsylvania.

This form may not be used to modify a birth record due to adoption.

Married Couples

If you were married at the time of your child's birth, then the birthing parent's spouse is the child's legal parent unless a specialized registration process has been used to list a biological parent on your child's birth record.

If your spouse is the child's biological parent, then complete a Request to Modify Parentage on a Birth Record. This form may also be used for couples who marry after the birth of the child where the spouse of the birthing parent is also the biological parent of the child.
If you are married and had a child with someone other than your spouse, contact our office at 724-656-3100, option 4, for further assistance. As required under legislation, we must notify your spouse of this child's birth prior to adding the biological parent to your child's birth record.

Unmarried Couple

If you are an unmarried couple and both the birthing parent and the biological father agree to be listed on the child's birth record, please complete an Acknowledgement of Paternity (AOP) form which must be filed with the Department of Human Services (DHS). If you completed the AOP at time of your child's birth but the birth certificate does not list the father, please follow up with DHS at 800-932-0211 . Once you have verified that DHS has processed your AOP, complete a Request to Modify Parentage on a Birth Record. Please note that the AOP must first be processed by DHS before we can add the father to your child's birth record.
If you are the biological parent of a child and unable to file an AOP, we can list you as the parent of your child once we receive an appropriate court order that demonstrates your parentage. While we receive most of these court orders directly from the courts, you may also submit a Request to Modify Parentage on a Birth Record and provide us with a certified copy of the court order (which must include the raised seal of the court).

Removing a Parent from a Birth Record

To remove a parent from a birth record, we must receive a court order that provides appropriate detail on why the parent's name is being removed. At no time will we add a third parent to a child's birth record. Therefore, if the courts have determined that someone other than the individual(s) listed on a birth record is a parent of the child, then the court must issue a court order to first remove the individual who is not the parent of the child.

If you have a certified copy of a court order to remove a parent from your child's birth record, you may submit a Request to Modify Parentage on a Birth Record along with the certified copy of the court order (which must include the raised seal of the court).

Amending a Birth Record Due to Adoption

Please see the Adoption Information on My Records page for more information.

Processing Time

Please see the Processing Times page for details.

Applying for a Corrected Birth Certificate

Receiving a Free Birth Certificate

To receive a corrected birth certificate free of charge, please return your child's original birth certificate along with the Request to Modify Parentage on a Birth Record before your child is six months old.

Applying for a Birth Certificate

If you submitted a Request to Modify Parentage on a Birth Record and you indicated on the form that you want an updated birth certificate, you do not need to do anything further.

If you submitted a Request to Modify Parentage on a Birth Record but did not indicate that you wanted an updated birth certificate, please do not order a new birth certificate until we notify you that your child's birth record has been corrected. Once you receive this notification from us, you may apply for a new birth certificate. Once you receive this notification from us, you may apply for a new birth certificate. See ordering a birth certificate for details on how to apply.

How to add a patronymic if there is a dash in the birth certificate?

Hello Maria. The registry office does not have the right to refuse you in accordance with the law, if they continue to refuse, file a complaint with the higher bodies of the registry office

Federal Law No. 143-FZ of November 15, 1997 (as amended on June 18, 2017) “On acts of civil status” Article 58. Name change

1. A person who has reached the age of fourteen has the right to change his name, which includes the surname, first name and (or) patronymic.
2. The name change is carried out by the civil registry office at the place of residence or at the place of state registration of birth of a person who wants to change the surname, first name and (or) patronymic.
3. A name change by a person who has not reached the age of majority is made with the consent of both parents, adoptive parents or guardian, and in the absence of such consent on the basis of a court decision, with the exception of cases when a person acquires full legal capacity before he reaches the age of majority in the manner prescribed by law.
4. Changing the name of a person under the age of fourteen, as well as changing the surname assigned to him to the surname of another parent, is carried out on the basis of a decision of the guardianship and guardianship authority in the manner established by Article 59 of the Family Code of the Russian Federation.
(Clause 4 as amended by Federal Law No. 44-FZ of April 29, 2002)

(see text in previous edition)

5. Change of name is subject to state registration in the civil registry offices.

Federal Law No. 143-FZ of November 15, 1997 (as amended on June 18, 2017) “On acts of civil status” Article 59. Application for a change of name

An application for a name change is submitted to the civil registry office in writing personally by the person who wants to change the name.
(Part one as amended by Federal Law No. 517-FZ of December 31, 2014)

(see text in previous edition)

Such application must contain the following information:
surname, first name, patronymic, date and place of birth, citizenship, nationality (specified at the request of the applicant), place of residence, marital status (married or unmarried, widowed, divorced) of the applicant;
surname, name, patronymic, date of birth of each of the applicant's children who have not reached the age of majority;
ConsultantPlus: note.
From January 1, 2018, Federal Law No. 219-FZ of June 23, 2016, paragraph four of part two of Article 59 is reworded.
See text in a future revision.

Details of civil status records previously drawn up in respect of the applicant and in respect of each of his children who have not reached the age of majority;
surname, first name and (or) patronymic chosen by the person wishing to change the name;
reasons for changing the last name, first name and (or) patronymic.
A person wishing to change their name signs the application for a name change and indicates the date of its preparation.
The following documents must be submitted at the same time as such an application:
birth certificate of the person wishing to change their name;
marriage certificate if the applicant is married;
certificate of divorce, if the applicant applies for the assignment of a premarital surname to him in connection with the dissolution of marriage;
birth certificate of each of the applicant's minor children.

Article 60. Procedure for state registration of a name change

1. State registration of a name change is carried out on the basis of an application for a name change.
2. An application for a name change must be considered by the civil registry office within one month from the date of application.
ConsultantPlus: note.
From January 1, 2020, Federal Law No. 219-FZ of June 23, 2016 amends paragraph two of paragraph 2 of Article 60.

If there are valid reasons (non-receipt of copies of civil status records that need to be amended, and others), the term for considering an application for a name change can be extended by no more than two months by the head of the civil registry office.
ConsultantPlus: note.
From January 1, 2020, Federal Law No. 219-FZ of June 23, 2016 rewords paragraph 3 of Article 60.

3. Upon receipt of an application for a name change, the civil registry office requests copies of the civil status records, which need to be amended due to the name change, from the civil registry offices at the place of their storage.
4. If the civil status records that need to be amended in connection with the name change are lost, the state registration of the name change is carried out only after the restoration of the records in the manner established by this Federal Law for the restoration of civil status records.
ConsultantPlus: note.
From January 1, 2020, Federal Law No. 219-FZ of June 23, 2016 rewords the second paragraph of clause 4 of Article 60.

If there are inconsistencies in information in the documents submitted simultaneously with the application for a change of name and in the received copies of the civil status records, such inconsistencies must be eliminated in the manner established by this Federal Law for making corrections and changes in the civil status records.
If it is necessary to restore or change the entry of a civil status act, the period established by paragraph 2 of this article is suspended until the issue of restoration or correction or change of the entry of a civil status act is resolved.
5. In the event that a person wishing to change his name is denied state registration of the change of name, the head of the civil registry office is obliged to report the reason for the refusal in writing. Documents submitted at the same time as the name change application must be returned.
ConsultantPlus: note.
From January 1, 2018, Federal Law No. 219-FZ of June 23, 2016, clause 6 of Article 60 is recognized as invalid.

6. The civil registry office is obliged to report the state registration of the name change to the territorial body of the federal executive body authorized to exercise the functions of control and supervision in the field of migration at the applicant's place of residence within seven days from the date of state registration of the name change.
(as amended by Federal Law No. 121-FZ of July 18, 2006)

(see text in previous edition)

Consultant Plus: note.
From January 1, 2020, Federal Law No. 219-FZ of June 23, 2016 supplements Article 60 with a new paragraph 7.

what are his rights and obligations

I am a mother of two children. At the time of their birth, my husband and I were not married, but in the column "Father" in the birth certificates, I wrote down my maiden name with the name and patronymic of my husband. Is he officially the father of the children and does he have the right to forbid taking them abroad?

Elena Efimova

lawyer

Since you and your husband were not married and he did not participate in the registration of children, legally he is not their father. But if the husband considers it necessary, he can apply to the court with a statement on the establishment of paternity. Given that he is indeed the biological father of your children, there will be no problems getting a positive court decision. However, at the moment, your spouse is not entitled to prohibit taking children abroad.

How is the father recorded if the child was born out of wedlock

If the parents are unmarried, there are several ways to record the father of the child on the birth certificate:

based on a joint application of the mother and father. The father's statement alone is not enough;
if there is no joint application, the father is recorded by the mother's surname, and the name and patronymic - from her words. At the same time, a record about the father from the words of the mother does not prevent the man from later establishing paternity and making a corrective entry in the birth certificate of his child;
at the request of the mother, an entry about the father can be omitted altogether.

ref. 3 p. 3 art. 17, paras. 2, 3 Art. 51 SK RF

In addition, the registry office has the right to establish paternity and amend the primary record of the father based on his application. But this is permissible only with the consent of the guardianship authorities and only if the mother has died, has been declared incompetent, deprived of parental rights, or her whereabouts cannot be established.

p. 3 art. 48, Art. 49 SK RF

Also, the father has the right to establish paternity through the court if there is no joint application of the parents, including when the mother is against filing it, or if it is impossible to establish paternity through the registry office.

Status and rights of the father, recorded according to the mother

The situation when a child was born out of wedlock and information about his father is recorded according to the mother, entails legal uncertainty of paternity - it is considered unidentified. The reason is simple: a mother can record anyone as a father, even a fictional person. And in fact, it is so, because the recorded surname of the father is the surname of the mother of the child, although the name and patronymic may indeed belong to the biological father.

The father recorded according to the mother is not legally the father. He has no parental rights and obligations. Such a record entails exactly the same consequences as the absence of a record about the father of the child.

What to do? 08/22/19

The birth certificate lists a fictitious father. How to get an inheritance from the present?

In order to legally become the biological father of a child, paternity must be established and the father's entry in the birth register must be changed.

What to do in your case

Judging by your question, you yourself do not intend to establish paternity. On the contrary, you do not want to do this in order to freely, without the consent of your husband, take your children abroad. Now you have such an opportunity. But if the husband is against the departure of the children or for other reasons wants to officially establish paternity, he can go to court. You do not deny that he is the biological father of the children, which means that the conclusion of a genetic examination will be enough for the court to rule in his favor. On the basis of a court decision, the registry office will cancel the previous entry and make a new one. The father will become a full parent from the moment the changes are registered.

It is important to consider that now the father of your children does not have not only rights, but also responsibilities. For example, you will not be able to recover alimony from him, but again until paternity is established and changes are registered by the registry office.