Correcting a Birth Certificate for Adults Over 18

We currently have a three (3) to four (4) month processing turnaround time.
  • If you submitted a product or processing fee, the date your check or money order is cashed is the date we received your request, which helps you estimate the time left for processing.
We are working diligently to reduce the turnaround times. If your request has not been processed after four (4) months, please call us at (360) 236-4300. We appreciate your patience, thank you.
  • We can only correct certificates for births that took place in Washington State.

Who can Request a Correction?

For adults 18 years or older, only the below parties can request a correction:

  • The individual who is the subject of the record
  • A court-appointed legal guardian may act on an adult's behalf with a certified court order of guardianship paperwork. We will not accept custodial paperwork.
  • An emancipated minor with certified court emancipation documents is treated as an adult.
  • A court order is required to make any changes to a certificate of a deceased adult.

Corrections, required documents and important notes

What I want to correct

What I must send

Important notes

Adult Information

Adult's first, middle or last name:
Correct Spelling

Proof documents must be from independent sources.

Adult's first or middle name:
Add a name when certificate is missing a name or has “baby” listed

Proof documents must be from independent sources.

 

 

 

Visit our court ordered name change page for more information.

Adult's first, middle or last name:
Change
  • Legal Name Change Request Form AND
  • Certified copy of court order

Visit our court ordered name change page for more information.

Adult's last name:
Correcting the last name by moving the last given middle name to the first part of the surname – ONLY for people born on or before June 30, 1998.

Proof documents must be from independent sources.

Adult's last name:
add/delete a hyphen or space

422-034-Affidavit for Correction (PDF) or 422-034-Declaración Jurada de Corrección (PDF)

 

Adult's time of birth

422-034-Affidavit for Correction (PDF) or 422-034-Declaración Jurada de Corrección (PDF)

If you were born between 1949 and 1967 we did not collect time of birth and are unable to add it to your certificate.

Adult's gender correction because a mistake was made when the certificate was filed

 

Adult's gender:
change

Visit our gender change webpage for more information.

Adult's date of birth

Proof documents must be from independent sources.

Adult's location of birth or facility name

 

Parent Information

Parent labels:
correcting mother/father to parent/parent

Does not require Affidavit for Correction

 

Parent(s) first, middle or last names

 

Parent(s) first, middle or last name:
change as a result of a legal name change
  • Legal Name Change Request Form AND
  • Certified copy of court order

Visit our court ordered name change page for more information.

Parent(s) place of birth

 

Parent(s) date of birth

 

Ordering a certificate with a correction request

  • Send completed certificate order form with your correction request. Include all required documents referenced on the certificate application instruction page.
  • Certificate will be issued after the correction has been processed.

Birth Certificate Application (en español)

Death Certificate Application (en español)

Marriage & Divorce Application (en español)

Exchanging a certificate with a correction request

If you currently have a certified copy of a certificate that was issued less than one year ago, send in the certified copy of the certificate with your correction request; we will exchange the certificate at no charge.

Contact us

Email us at VitalRecordsCorrections@doh.wa.gov.

Helpful links

Changing or correcting birth certificates for children under 18
Court ordered name change
Proof documents
Gender change
Ordering certificates
Correcting a death certificate
Correcting a marriage or divorce certificate