doh.wa.gov How to Correct a Record Birth, Death & Marriage Certificates United States of America : Washington State Department of Health

Name of the Organization : Washington State Department of Health
Type of Facility : How to Correct Birth, Death & Marriage Certificates
Country : United States of America

Website : http://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/BirthDeathMarriageandDivorce/CertificateCorrection
Correction Form :  https://www.statusin.org/uploads/23958-Correction.pdf

How to Correct a Record Birth, Death & Marriage Certificates :

** We can only correct certificates for births, deaths, marriages or divorces that took place in Washington State.

Related : Washington State Department of Health How to Order Birth, Death & Marriage Certificates USA : www.statusin.org/23952.html

** You can use the Affidavit for Correction form and required proof for most corrections.
** The form summarizes how to make a correction.

Download the most recent form :
** ** Affidavit for Correction (English) (PDF)
** ** Declaración Jurada de Corrección (Español) (PDF)
** The form is also printed on the back of every certificate.
** Print the updated form if the revision date is before 1/15/2015.

How to correct a certificate with the Affidavit for Correction : (PDF)
** Complete the Affidavit for Correction (PDF)
** Gather required proof, if needed
** Submit the documents to the Department of Health

By Mail :
Center for Health Statistics
Attn: Corrections
P.O. Box 47814
Olympia, WA 98504-7814

In Person :
101 Israel Road SE
Tumwater, WA 98501
Driving directions
Time : (Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

Notice to customers :
** Effective Wednesday, October 21, 2015, if you are requesting a birth certificate correction in person at our offices in Tumwater, WA there may be an hour delay.
** Corrections requests need to be received by 3:30 p.m. each day for same day service.

Detailed information about correcting certificates :
** Select the type of certificate you want to correct.
Birth certificate :
Correcting a Birth Certificate for Children Under 18 :
** We can only correct certificates for births that took place in Washington State.
** An emancipated minor with certified court documents is treated as an adult.
** Go to our web page for making corrections to a birth certificate for people 18 and over.

Who can request a correction :
** A parent listed on the certificate.
** A legal guardian with a certified court document of guardianship. We will not accept custodial paperwork.
** A birth facility or midwife.

Note:
** If your child was born within the last 6-12 months, the midwife or birth facility may be able to request the correction.
** Contact them to determine if you can contact the midwife or birth facility.
** The facility or midwife may be able to submit a correction.
** In most cases only one parent signature is required.
** For some changes, signatures from all parents listed on the birth certificate are required.

Correcting a Birth Certificate for Adults Over 18 :
** 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.

Death Certificates :
** Correcting Demographic Information on Death Certificates
** We can only correct certificates for deaths that happened in Washington State.

Demographic section of a death certificate:
** Items 1-33 or the section above the line
** Lists information about the decedent, disposition of the remains and funeral director.
** Completed by the funeral home with help from the informant (the person(s) best qualified to provide details about the person who died).

Correcting Cause Of Death On Death Certificates :
** We can only correct certificates for deaths that happened in Washington State.

Cause of death section of a death certificate :
** Items 34-56 or the section below the line.
** Lists information about the cause and manner of death.
** Completed by the medical certifier.

“Medical certifier”:
** physician, osteopath, physician’s assistant (PAC), advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP), health officer, medical examiner, coroner, prosecuting attorney or chiropractor who signed the death certificate.

Detailed information on cause of death corrections :
Only the three parties listed below can request a correction to the cause of death :
** The original medical certifier who signed the cause of death section.
** If the original medical certifier is no longer available (over one month), another medical certifier in the same office.
** Rarely, the medical examiner or coroner in the county where the death occurred.
** Only, if the death required an investigation by the Medical Examiner or Coroner.

Note :
** If you don’t agree with the cause of death listed, you must contact the medical certifier or the medical certifier’s office.