Change a Birth Certificate

At this time, we are only offering appointments for all requests to change or update an AZ birth or death certificate or to register a Home Birth. 

Please call 602-506-6805 and listen carefully to the message and select the option that best suits your service need. 

We thank you for your patience and know we look forward to continue providing you outstanding service!

Making Changes

The procedure to register vital records, apply for certified copies of such records and make changes to them varies with the type of change requested and how recently the certificate was registered. Eligible parties may request these changes.  These individuals and the process to make requests are defined in Arizona law and rules.

Our office makes eligible corrections to Arizona birth certificates from 1997 to the present. We encourage you to read carefully through our site and to then visit one of our offices so we may best assist you with your request to change or amend an Arizona vital record.

Questions? See our Frequently Asked Questions or stop by into one of our four offices and let us answer your questions in person. Thank you!

  1. Minor Corrections
  2. Acknowledgment of Paternity
  3. Change Parent's Name
  4. Change Child's Name

A minor correction is defined as a typographical error, such as a misspelled name, missing or transposed letters or numbers. These types of changes may be made regardless of the child's age.

Arizona Revised Statute (A.R.S.) §36-301 defines a correction as a change to a registered certificate because of a typographical error, including misspelling and missing or transposed letters or numbers.

Examples of changes classified as a correction are the following:

  • Vasquez to Vasques
  • Estevan to Esteban
  • Billi to Billie
  • 1881 W. Adams to 1818 West Adams

Who is Eligible to Request a Change

Arizona law defines the following individuals as eligible to request a change to an Arizona birth certificate:

  • The individual, if the individual is of legal age or married;
  • A parent of the individual whose name is listed on the individual's registered birth certificate;
  • The individual's guardian; or
  • A person who has custody of the individual.

Note: The requirements vary based on the time frame in which the request to correct the birth certificate is submitted. The individual, parent, guardian or a person who has custody of the individual may correct the birth certificate if the following is submitted:

Less Than Ninety (90) Days After Birth
  1. A letter or an application requesting the correction that includes:
  2. The date of the request;
  3. The individual's name currently listed in the registered birth certificate;
  4. The individual's date of birth;
  5. The individual's mother's name before first marriage;
  6. If known, the:
    1. individual's sex;
    2. State file number listed on the birth certificate;
    3. Town or city of the individual's birth;
    4. County of the individual's birth;
    5. Hospital where the individual was born, if applicable;
    6. Name of the individual's father; and
    7. Dates of birth of the individual's parents.
    8. The specific information in the individual's registered birth certificate to be corrected.
    9. The name and mailing address of the person requesting the correction;
  7. An affidavit attesting to the validity of the submitted correction, signed by the person requesting the correction.
  8. If the request to correct the individual's registered birth certificate is submitted by:
    1. The individual's guardian, a certified copy of the court order establishing guardianship must be submitted; or
    2. A person who has custody of the individual, a certified copy of the court order establishing custody must be submitted.
  9. A copy of the front and back of the applicant's valid government-issued picture identification which bears the applicant's signature or the letter or application must be signed in the presence of a notary.
  10. The appropriate fee(s) fee to correct a birth certificate.
Ninety days (90) or More After Birth
  1. A letter or application requesting the correction that includes:
    1. The date of the request;
    2. The individual's name currently listed in the registered birth certificate;
    3. The individual's date of birth;
    4. The individual's mother's name before first marriage;
    5. If known, the:
      1. individual's sex;
      2. State file number listed on the birth certificate;
      3. Town or city of the individual's birth;
      4. County of the individual's birth;
      5. Hospital where the individual was born, if applicable;
      6. Name of the individual's father; and
      7. Dates of birth of the individual's parents;
    6. The specific information in the individual's registered birth certificate to be corrected.
    7. The name and mailing address of the person requesting the correction;
  2. An evidentiary document that supports the correction to the birth certificate such as:
    1. A hospital medical record;
    2. A medical record from a health care provider;
    3. A certified blessing or baptismal certificate;
    4. An immunization record; or
    5. Another document from an independent source containing information that supports the request to correct the birth certificate.
    6. Some examples of documents that may be submitted to correct the parents information are evidentiary documents such as:
      1. The parents' certified birth certificate;
      2. United States or Mexican Passport; or
      3. Another document from an independent source containing information that supports the request to correct the birth certificate.
  3. An affidavit attesting to the validity of the submitted correction, signed by the person requesting the correction.
  4. If the request for correction of the individual's registered birth certificate is submitted by:
    1. The individual's guardian, a certified copy of the court order establishing guardianship must be submitted; or
    2. A person who has custody of the individual, a certified copy of the court order establishing custody must be submitted.
  5. A copy of the front and back of the applicant's valid government-issued picture ID which bears the applicant's signature or letter or application must be signed in the presence of a notary.
  6. The appropriate fee(s) to correct a birth certificate.
  • If an evidentiary document cannot be submitted that supports the correction to the birth certificate, a certified court order may be submitted that includes the requested correction.
  • Evidentiary documents submitted to support a correction to a birth certificate must be translated in English by a certified translator. The translator must sign the translation in the presence of a notary and it must contain the notarial language.
  • For births that occurred in a hospital, parents may contact the hospital directly to request a review of the Certificate of Live Birth Worksheet. A birth certificate may be corrected if the birth occurred at a hospital and it is determined to be the hospital's administrative error. When determined to be a hospital error, the hospital shall follow up with the County Vital  Records Office to submit the request for correction to the birth certificate.

Questions?

We are here to help you. Stop into one of our four offices and let us answer your questions.

It is our aim to be able to assist you on your first visit; however, we suggest you plan ahead, as best possible and have the items required by state law with you:

  • Eligible individuals to request changes to an Arizona birth record (see above)
  • Appropriate I.D.
  • Correct fee and method of payment
  • Additional documentation that may be required
  1. Office of Vital Registration


    Hours

    Monday - Friday
    8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
    Please arrive by 4 p.m.

    Multiple Locations

    Maricopa Vital Records Website