Supporting Documentation for Record Changes and Corrections

In addition to a signed, notarized amendment form, a copy of acceptable identification (ID), and payment, you must provide the required supporting documentation when changing or correcting a vital record. You must also be a person qualified to make a change or correction.

The type of supporting documentation you must provide depends on the type of record and the type of change or correction you are trying to make. You must provide valid, original documents (not photocopies) unless otherwise specified below.

Birth Record Changes (Form VS 170)

To find out what supporting documentation you must provide, select the type of birth record change or correction you want to make from the list below:

Correct a hospital error/omission before child’s 1st birthday

Contact the hospital where the child was born. The hospital must sign and submit the application. No documentation required.

Correct a hospital error/omission after child’s 1st birthday

Submit ONE (1) of the following documents:

Add or correct child’s first or middle name before child’s 1st birthday

No documentation required.

Add or correct child’s first or middle name after child’s 1st birthday

Submit ONE (1) of the following documents:

Correct spelling of child’s last name

Submit ONE (1) of the following documents, any of which must be dated prior to birth of child (except court order):

Correct child’s date of birth, place of birth, or time of birth

Submit ONE (1) of the following documents:

Correct child's sex due to proven incompletion or inaccuracy

Submit ONE (1) of the following documents:

Correct parent’s information (of parent currently listed on the birth certificate)

Submit ONE (1) of the following documents:

Correct mother’s residence address at the time of the child’s birth

Submit ONE (1) of the following documents:

Add a parent AND the parents were married before the child was born

  1. Submit a certified copy of the parents' marriage license, and
  2. Both parents must sign Section 6 of the application in the presence of a notary.

Change legal name

Certified copy of a court order affecting the information shown on the birth certificate.

Remove information from birth record

Certified copy of a court order affecting the information shown on the birth certificate.

Add/remove/replace a parent

Submit ONE (1) of the following documents:

Death Record Changes (Form VS 172)

To find out what supporting documentation you must provide, select the type of death record change or correction you want to make from the list below:

Correct deceased’s name

If you are the surviving spouse or surviving parent:

If you are the informant or funeral director:

Submit ONE (1) of the following documents:

No documentation required.

Add one "also-known-as" or AKA to the deceased’s name (must be similar)

Add one "also-known-as" or AKA to the deceased’s name (must be similar)

If you are the surviving spouse or surviving parent:

If you are the informant or funeral director:

Certified copy of a court order affecting the information shown on the death certificate.

No documentation required.

Correct place of death

Submit ONE (1) of the following documents:

Correct date-of-birth and/or age of deceased

Correct date-of-birth and/or age of deceased

If you are the surviving spouse or surviving parent:

If you are the informant or funeral director:

Submit ONE (1) of the following documents:

No documentation required.

Correct deceased's sex

Correct deceased's sex

If you are the surviving spouse or surviving parent:

If you are the informant or funeral director:

Submit the following document:

No documentation required.

Correct birth place of deceased

Correct birth place of deceased

If you are the surviving spouse or surviving parent:

If you are the informant or funeral director:

Submit ONE (1) of the following documents:

No documentation required.

Correct Social Security number (SSN) of deceased

Correct Social Security number (SSN) of deceased

If you are the surviving spouse or surviving parent:

If you are the informant or funeral director:

Social Security card of deceased – photocopy accepted.

No documentation required.

Correct marital status of deceased

Correct marital status of deceased

If you are the surviving spouse or surviving parent:

If you are the informant:

Certified copy of a court order affecting the information shown on the death certificate.

No documentation required.

Correct informant’s information

Correct informant’s information

If you are the surviving spouse or surviving parent:

If you are the informant or funeral director:

To correct misspellings: Contact the informant or funeral director listed on the death certificate to make this change.

For more significant changes: Must provide a certified copy of a court order affecting the information shown on the death certificate.

To correct misspellings: No documentation required.

For more significant changes: Provide a certified copy of a court order affecting the information shown on the death certificate.

Correct deceased’s parent’s first, middle, or last name

Correct deceased’s parent’s first, middle, or last name

If you are the surviving spouse or surviving parent:

If you are the informant or funeral director:

Submit ONE (1) of the following documents:

No documentation required.

Correct deceased's residence street address

Correct deceased's residence street address

If you are the surviving spouse or surviving parent:

If you are the informant or funeral director:

Contact the informant or funeral director listed on the death certificate to make this change.

No documentation required.

Correct method or place of disposition

Correct method or place of disposition

If you are the surviving spouse, surviving parent, or informant:

If you are the funeral director:

Contact the funeral director listed on the death certificate to make this change.

No documentation required.

Correct name of funeral facility

Correct name of funeral facility

If you are the surviving spouse, surviving parent, or informant:

If you are the funeral director:

Contact the funeral director listed on the death certificate to make this change.

No documentation required.

Correct medical information (i.e., date-of-death and information at or below “Certified” line—items 26-41)

Contact the medical certifier listed on the death certificate to make a change to medical information.