Office of Vital Records

Correcting New York City Birth, Death, Still Birth or Spontaneous Termination of Pregnancy Certificates

Answers to most of your questions can be found on this website. If you need to contact us, please call 311 or 212 NEWYORK (212-639-9675)

If your child is under 12 months of age, the fastest way to process your correction is through the hospital of birth. Make sure to bring a completed application (PDF) and your child’s original birth certificate.

Individuals can make changes to certificates in-person or by mail. Use the following table to learn how long it will take to process your application.

Follow these important steps when correcting a certificate:

1. Include current, signed photo identification (photocopies of identification are accepted with mailed applications). For birth corrections, if both parents are named on the child's certificate, they must each submit photo identification.
2. Submit original documents on official letterhead or with an original seal depending on the kind of correction you want (photocopies or notarized copies are NOT accepted). Follow the right link for a list of acceptable documents: birth or death.
3. Submit one photocopy with each of the original documents.
4. Complete and sign the application: birth or death or still birth or spontaneous termination of pregnancy (PDF).
5. Pay a non-refundable $40 processing fee for most corrections (see fee schedule for details)
6. Pay $15 for each copy of the new certificate OR exchange a certificate issued within the last three months.
7. If you are applying by mail, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope so that the Office of Vital Records can return your documents.

Correcting a NYC Birth Certificate

To submit a change to a NYC birth certificate (this includes adding the first and/or middle name of your child):

• You must be at least 18 years of age and
• It is your own birth certificate or it is your child's birth certificate.

Call the hospital of birth when submitting a correction for a child 12 months of age or younger. Corrections submitted directly through the hospital are usually processed more quickly and are free of charge within 12 months of birth.

If you still have questions about how to make a correction, look at these frequently asked questions. Use the following instructions when adding the first and/or middle name of your child.

• How to Add the Name of Your Child (PDF)
  Other languages: [En Español] [Русский] [יידיש] 

Correcting a NYC Death Certificate

To submit a change to a NYC death certificate, you must be listed on the certificate as the informant (the person who provided the information for the death certificate) or relative of the person who has died. Corrections submitted directly through the funeral director are usually processed within one week.

Correcting a NYC Still Birth or Spontaneous Termination of Pregnancy Certificate

Use the Birth Certificate Correction application (PDF). To submit a change to a NYC certificate of still birth, you must be a parent named on the certificate, or if both parents are deceased at the time of stillbirth, an aunt, uncle or grandparent. To submit a change to a NYC certificate of spontaneous pregnancy, you must be a parent. The funeral director may also apply for the correction. There are no fees for these corrections.