Changing (amending) a birth record

If there is incorrect or missing information on your birth record or on your child's birth record, you may make a request for an amendment. A request for an amendment to a birth record must be made by mail to MDH.

Are you sure you need to amend your birth record or your child's birth record?

Amending a birth record may not be easy because you must prove that the change you want to make is accurate and justified. Before you decide to request an amendment, think of the birth record as historical information about the birth. If information about you or your child has changed since birth, you may not need to amend the birth record. For example, an amendment to a birth record is not made if a woman changes her name when she marries.

Special changes

Some changes cannot be made as an amendment. If you want to add a father to the birth record, see Adding the father's name to the birth record when the parents are not married.

Parents have approximately 45 days from the birth to make corrections to their child's birth record without documentation and at no charge. To help parents make these corrections, a Parent Notice is mailed to the parents within 2-3 weeks of the birth. If you have received a Parent Notice, review the information carefully and, if there are changes, return the Parent Notice. If you do not receive a Parent Notice within 2-3 weeks of your child's birth, contact the local registrar in the county where the birth took place.

How to request an amendment to a birth record

There are two important steps you must take to request an amendment to a birth record:

1. Collect your documents
2. Submit your documents for review

1. Collect your documents

If you decide to amend your birth record or your child's birth record, the first step is to gather very specific documents that meet the requirements of Minnesota Rules, part 4601.1100. Pay close attention to the requirements. An amendment cannot be made if you do not provide original or authenticated documents that are in good condition and are the right age. We suggest that you print the Requirements for Documents Submitted to Support the Amendment of a Birth Record for reference.

Most amendments require two documents. The following are special amendments that require only one document.

Adding missing information - You may add information that is missing from a birth record by providing one acceptable document. For example, if part of your name or your child's name is missing on the birth record or if the birth record states "Baby Boy" or "Baby Girl" or "Unknown" for the first or middle name, you may add the first or middle name by providing one acceptable document.

Court order - If you are having or have had information about yourself or your child changed legally, you may be able to use that court order to change a birth record. However, the court order must specifically state that the birth record is to be changed and what specific items on the birth record are to be changed. Submit a certified copy of the court order.

To determine if you can use your court order to amend a birth record, use the Requirements Checklist for Amending a Birth Record With a Court Order. Adobe PDF (21Kb/1pg)

2. Submit your documents for review

To request an amendment to your birth record or your child's birth record by mail to MDH:

1. Collect your documents that meet the requirements. Remember that most amendments require two documents.

2. Complete the Application to Amend a Birth Record (see below).

3. Have your signature on the application notarized.

4. Include a $40 amendment fee.

5. Please make checks payable to Minnesota Department of Health.

6. OPTIONAL: Complete the Minnesota Birth Record Application - Certified Birth Certificate and have your signature on the application notarized.

The fee for a certified birth certificate is $16. You can reduce the fee you are required to pay if you return a birth certificate that is in error. To determine the reduced fee, look at the date issued on the bottom of the birth certificate. If the date issued is one year ago or less, you may exchange that certificate for the amended certificate at no charge. If the date issued is more than one year ago, you may exchange that certificate for an amended certificate for a $7 fee.

7. OPTIONAL: Include a $20 expedite fee. An Expedite fee is an optional $20 per-record fee that will place your request ahead of other requests. An Expedite fee does NOT include Federal Express or other special mailing fees.

8. Mail your documents, the notarized application(s), and the fee(s) to:

Minnesota Department of Health
Central Cashiering - Vital Records
P.O. Box 64499
St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0499

Your documents will be returned to you.

Application to Amend a Birth Record (Interactive PDF: 52KB/1 page). Word file: 45KB.

To view the PDF files, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader (free download from Adobe's Web site).

If you have questions about requesting an amendment, e-mail health.osr2@state.mn.us or call 651-201-5970.