Change a Birth Certificate

Adding the Father to a Child's Birth Certificate - How to File an Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP)

Acknowledgement of Paternity is established when a child's parents agree about the identity of the child's father.

There are three ways to document a child's father on the child's birth record:

(1) At the time of birth,
(2) Post birth - parents may voluntarily acknowledge the identity of the child's father OR
(3) A court order naming the child's father

 Note: State law sets timelines and requirement for how and when this information may be added or changed on an Arizona birth record - these may also require additional information and fees. Please stop in and talk with our Registrars if you have any questions.
 
Voluntary acknowledgment of paternity occurs when the parents complete a form packet called the A.O.P. In some cases, this form may be completed at the birthing facility when the child is born if the parents were unmarried at the time of the child's birth or unmarried in the 10 months before the child's birth. Parents may also complete this form and submit to our office after leaving the birthing facility.

Court ordered paternity is a formal procedure obtained through a court order or official court action. Please read further to learn if your request will require a court order.

Important Update!

The State of Arizona recently revised the rules that govern how vital records are administered. Please take a few moments to read carefully as you gather the information you may need to apply for certified copies or proceed with making a request to change an Arizona vital record; information has been revised and there may be differences to how requests were made prior to these legal revisions.

Other Changes that may be made with an Acknowledgement of Paternity

In addition to adding the father to a child' birth record, parents need to complete an Acknowledgment of Paternity form packet, also called an AOP may be used to:

• Change the Last Name of the Child to the Father's Last Name
• Change any part of the child's name if the AOP is completed and filed with our office within the first three (3) months of the child's birth

Court Orders - How a Court Order may be Used to Change a Child's Birth Record

A court order could be used to:

• To establish the identity of the child's biological father
• To remove a father from the child's birth certificate
• To identify a biological father who cannot be located or is deceased
• To add a father to a person's birth certificate is over the age of 18 years

Note: When obtaining a court order, the order may be filed with the Office of Vital Registration directly by the Court, the agency that petitioned the Court for the order, or one of the parents may deliver it in person to one of our office locations. You may also submit your request by mail and remember to include a certified copy of the court order in your request with a complete and signed application and appropriate fee.

Please visit the Maricopa County Superior Court for information and directions about requesting a court order to establish paternity.

Questions?

Have additional questions? Please come in to one of our offices and speak with our professional Registrars.

We are here for you!

Important Update!

The State of Arizona recently revised the rules that govern vital records. Please read carefully as information has changed.

And, feel free to drop by and meet with us at one of our four offices. We are here for you! 

Requesting to Change a Parent’s Name, Date of Birth, or Place of Birth on a Registered Arizona Birth Certificate

The following must be submitted by the individual, if the individual is of legal age or is married, or the individual’s parent or guardian:

1. A letter or an application requesting the amendment 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 amended (i.e., the information to be added and deleted).
   7. The name and mailing address of the person requesting the amendment;
2. An affidavit attesting to the validity of the submitted amendment, signed by the person requesting the amendment.
3. An evidentiary document that supports the amendment (i.e. includes the mother’s last name prior to first marriage). Examples include:
   1. A certified copy of the mother’s/father’s registered birth certificate;
   2. A copy of the mother’s/father’s passport; or
   3. A certified copy of an administrative order or court order.
4. If the request to amend the individual’s registered birth certificate is submitted by:
   • The individual’s guardian, a certified copy of the court order establishing guardianship must be submitted.

Note: If the parent’s name is completely different than the name listed on the individual's birth certificate, a certified court order that identifies the parent’s alias names, genetic testing or that identifies a legal name change (whichever is applicable) may be required.

Note 2: A court order is required for other amendments to the parents’ name (e.g., complete name change, or first or middle name amendments)

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

Important Update!

The State of Arizona recently revised the rules that govern how vital records are administered. Please take a few moments to read carefully as you gather the information you may need to apply for certified copies or proceed with making a request to change an Arizona vital record; information has been revised and there may be differences to how requests were made prior to these legal revisions.

There are important steps, requirements and time frames to follow when preparing this type of request:The requirements vary based on the time frame in which the request is submitted from the birth event.

Who may make these changes:

The parent or guardian may submit a request to amend an individual’s name in the birth certificate if the following is submitted:

Ninety (90) Days or Less After Birth

1. A letter or an application requesting the amendment 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;
      7. Dates of birth of the individual's parents; and
   6. The specific information in the individual's registered birth certificate to be amended (i.e., the information to be added and deleted); and
   7. The name and mailing address of the person requesting the amendment.
2. An affidavit attesting to the validity of the submitted amendment, signed by the person requesting the amendment.
   1. Both parents must sign the affidavit if both are listed in the birth certificate.
3. 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.

More than Ninety (90) days but Less Than One (1) Year After Birth

1. A letter or an application requesting the amendment 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;
      7. Dates of birth of the individual's parents;
   6. The specific information in the individual's registered birth certificate to be amended (i.e., the information to be added and deleted); and
   7. The name and mailing address of the person requesting the amendment.
2. An affidavit attesting to the validity of the submitted amendment, signed by the person requesting the amendment.
   1. Both parents must sign the affidavit if both are listed in the birth certificate.
3. An evidentiary document that supports the amendment (i.e. includes the name to be added and the document was created within one year after the individual's birth).
4. If the request to amend 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.

Note: The evidentiary document submitted must have been created within one year after the individual's birth. Examples evidentiary documents that may be submitted include but are not limited to: the individual's certified blessing or baptismal certificate, immunization record (not the immunization book), hospital medical record, medical record from a health care provider, etc. The document must show the individual's full name and date the document was created.

One (1) Year or More After Birth

A certified, court ordered name change is required to amend the individual's name one year or more after the individual's birth. The following must be submitted to initiate the amendment to the birth certificate:

1. A letter or an application requesting the amendment 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;
      7. Dates of birth of the individual's parents;
   6. The specific information in the individual's registered birth certificate to be amended (i.e., the information to be added and deleted); and
   7. The name and mailing address of the person requesting the amendment.
2. An affidavit attesting to the validity of the submitted amendment, signed by the person requesting the amendment.
3. A certified copy of the court ordered name change that includes the information to be amended.
4. If the request to amend 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.

Note: The individual may submit the request to amend his/her birth certificate if the individual is of legal age or married. Note: The individual may submit the request to amend his/her birth certificate if the individual is of legal age or married.

When the Child was NOT Named on their Record - Adding the Name (first, middle, or suffix)

If the parents do not provide a first, middle and suffix name for the individual at birth, the birth certificate will be registered and list the individual's first name as

“Not Named”

and the last name as either the mother's name prior to her first marriage or the mother's or father's current legal last name.

State law (A.A.C. R9-19-208) allows the parents to name the individual at a later date but the documents required to affect the change varies depending on how long the parent waits to add the name. Please review all the information thoroughly.

If you have any questions, please stop in and meet with one of our professional Registrars. We are here to help you!

Ninety (90) Days or Less After Birth - Adding the Name (first, middle, or suffix)

The following is required to add the individual's first, middle and suffix to the birth certificate:

1. A letter or an application requesting the amendment 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;
      7. Dates of birth of the individual's parents;
   6. The specific information in the individual's registered birth certificate to be amended (i.e., the information to be added and deleted); and
   7. The name and mailing address of the person requesting the amendment;
2. An affidavit attesting to the validity of the submitted amendment, signed by the person requesting the amendment.
   1. Both parents must sign the affidavit if both are listed in the birth certificate.
3. If the request to amend 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.

More than Ninety Days (90) But Less Than Seven (7) Years After Birth - Adding the Name (first, middle, or suffix)

The following is required to add the first and middle name to the birth certificate:

1. A letter or an application requesting the amendment 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;
      7. Dates of birth of the individual's parents;
   6. The specific information in the individual's registered birth certificate to be amended (i.e., the information to be added and deleted); and
   7. The name and mailing address of the person requesting the amendment;
2. An affidavit attesting to the validity of the submitted amendment, signed by the person requesting the amendment.
   1. Both parents must sign the affidavit if both are listed in the birth certificate.
3. An evidentiary document that supports the amendment (i.e. includes the name(s) to be added and the document was created within one year after the individual's birth).
4. If the request to amend 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.

Seven Years or More After Birth - Adding the Name (first, middle, or suffix)

The following is required to add the first, middle and suffix name to the birth certificate:

1. A letter or an application requesting the amendment 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 amended (i.e., the information to be added and deleted); and
   7. The name and mailing address of the person requesting the amendment.
2. An affidavit attesting to the validity of the submitted amendment, signed by the person requesting the amendment.
3. A certified copy of the court ordered name change that includes the information to be amended.
4. If the request to amend 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.

Note: The individual may submit the request to amend his/her birth certificate if the individual is of legal age or married.

Submitting a Request to Change

When visiting our office to submit your correction request or by mail, please remember to provide a certified copy of the court order with your Application. Complete an Application and be prepared to pay the fee and one of our Deputy Local Registrars will assist you. Please visit the Maricopa County Superior Court for information and directions about requesting a court order.

Have additional questions? Please come into one of our offices and speak with our professional Registrars. We are ready to assist you and 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
• Acceptable I.D.
• Correct feeand method of payment
• Additional documentation that may be required