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1. What if the parents do not name the child at the time of birth?

• Parents may have problems receiving benefits, obtaining a passport, social security number, welfare, and/or may have citizenship problems.
• The child may have problems with school admission.
• The birth certificate will become a two-page document to add the child’s name.
• It may take up to one year to apply an amendment adding the name.

2. What if the parents change their mind on their child’s name after the birth certificate is registered?

• Once a birth certificate is registered with a child’s name, the name (s) may only be changed with a court order.
• The Court Order Change of Name will be attached to the child’s birth certificate making it a two-page document.
• It may take up to one year to apply the Court Order Change of Name.

3. What if the parent uses an alias or AKA (also known as) name on their child’s birth certificate?

• California law requires that the parents use their full birth names.
• Parents may have problems obtaining a passport for the child and/or leaving the country.
• If an alias or also known as (AKA) is used the parents must petition the court for an Adjudication of Facts of Parentage for a determination of parentage.
• It may take up to one year to process the Adjudication of Facts of Parentage.

4. What if the parent signs the birth certificate certifying that it is true and correct, but later realizes there is an error?

• Depending on the error, the parent may be required to go to court to make the change.
• Name changes require a court order. See number 2.
• Gender errors may be corrected. See number 5.
• Other errors may be amended; however, a fee is required after one year of the date of birth.
• The processing time for an amendment is approximately one year.

5. What if the child’s gender is reported incorrectly on the birth certificate?

• An Affidavit to Amend a Record may be applied to the birth certificate.
• The affidavit should be signed by one of the following: the birthing hospital indicating that it is a hospital error; the local registrar indicating it was an administrative error; or the physician in attendance of the birth indicating the gender was reported incorrectly.
• Upon receipt of the affidavit and fee, a new birth certificate will be prepared for the child correcting the gender.
• The processing time for the creation of a new birth certificate takes approximately one year.

6. What if the father’s name is not added at the time of birth?

• Upon payment of the required fee, the father’s name may be added after the birth certificate is registered.
• If the parents are unmarried the parents must sigh the Acknowledgement of Paternity (VS 22) and Declaration of Paternity (CS 909).
• If the parents are married, they must sign the VS 22 and provide a copy of their marriage certificate.
• If both parents are not available to sign the paperwork, an Adjudication of Facts of Parentage (VS 21) will be necessary to add the father’s name.
• The processing time for the creation of a new birth certificate takes approximately one year.

7. What if parents do not sign the birth certificate?

• If the parent does not sign the birth certificate they do not have the opportunity to make sure everything on the certificate is correct.
• It may take up to one year to amend a birth certificate.
• The birth certificate will become a two-page document if an amended needs to be done.