{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/32.1-269.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/32.1-269.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/32.1-269.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/32.1-269.html"}],"law_id":69190,"edition_id":1,"section_id":69190,"structure_id":15588,"section_number":"32.1-269","catch_line":"Amending vital records; change of name; acknowledgment of paternity","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 32-353.24; 1956, c. 259; 1960, c. 451; 1979, c. 711; 1983, c. 240; 1985, c. 86; 2016, c. 496; 2020, cc. 465, 466; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 237.","full_text":"A\n\nA vital record registered under this chapter, with the exception of a death certificate, may be amended only in accordance with this section and such regulations as may be adopted by the Board to protect the integrity and accuracy of such vital records. Such regulations shall specify the minimum evidence required for a change in any such vital record.B\n\nExcept in the case of an amendment provided for in subsection D, a vital record that is amended under this section shall be marked “amended” and the date of amendment and a summary description of the evidence submitted in support of the amendment shall be endorsed on or made a part of the vital record. The Board shall prescribe by regulation the conditions under which omissions or errors on certificates, including designation of sex, may be corrected within one year after the date of the event without the certificate being marked amended. In a case of hermaphroditism or pseudo-hermaphroditism, the certificate of birth may be corrected at any time without being considered as amended upon presentation to the State Registrar of such medical evidence as the Board may require by regulation.C\n\nEvery request for an amendment to a birth certificate shall be reviewed to determine whether the requested amendment can be made administratively in accordance with regulations of the Board or if a judicial order is required for such amendment. The Department shall make information about the process by which amendments to a birth certificate may be requested and reviewed pursuant to this subsection available to the public on its website. Such information shall include a standard form for requests for amendments to a birth certificate.D\n\nUpon receipt of a certified copy of a court order changing the name of a person as listed in a vital record and upon request of such person or his parent, guardian, or legal representative or the registrant, the State Registrar shall amend such vital records to reflect the new name.E\n\nUpon written request of both parents and receipt of a sworn acknowledgment of paternity executed subsequent to the birth and signed by both parents of a child born out of wedlock, the State Registrar shall amend the certificate of birth to show such paternity if paternity is not shown on the birth certificate. Upon request of the parents, the surname of the child shall be changed on the certificate to that of the father.F\n\nWhen an applicant does not submit the minimum documentation required by regulation to amend a vital record, the State Registrar finds reason to question the validity or sufficiency of the evidence, or the requested amendment requires a judicial order, the vital record shall not be amended and the State Registrar shall so notify the applicant in writing. Such notification shall also include notice to the applicant regarding his right to petition the court for an order in accordance with subsection G.G\n\nAny person aggrieved by the decision of the State Registrar to deny a request to amend a vital record may petition the circuit court of the county or city in which he resides or the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond, Division I, for an order compelling the State Registrar to amend the vital record; an aggrieved applicant who was born in Virginia, but is currently residing out of State, may petition any circuit court in the Commonwealth for such an order. The State Registrar or his authorized representative may appear and testify in such proceeding.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":250328,"text":"A vital record registered under this chapter, with the exception of a death certificate, may be amended only in accordance with this section and such regulations as may be adopted by the Board to protect the integrity and accuracy of such vital records. Such regulations shall specify the minimum evidence required for a change in any such vital record.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":250329,"text":"Except in the case of an amendment provided for in subsection D, a vital record that is amended under this section shall be marked “amended” and the date of amendment and a summary description of the evidence submitted in support of the amendment shall be endorsed on or made a part of the vital record. The Board shall prescribe by regulation the conditions under which omissions or errors on certificates, including designation of sex, may be corrected within one year after the date of the event without the certificate being marked amended. In a case of hermaphroditism or pseudo-hermaphroditism, the certificate of birth may be corrected at any time without being considered as amended upon presentation to the State Registrar of such medical evidence as the Board may require by regulation.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":250330,"text":"Every request for an amendment to a birth certificate shall be reviewed to determine whether the requested amendment can be made administratively in accordance with regulations of the Board or if a judicial order is required for such amendment. The Department shall make information about the process by which amendments to a birth certificate may be requested and reviewed pursuant to this subsection available to the public on its website. Such information shall include a standard form for requests for amendments to a birth certificate.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":250331,"text":"Upon receipt of a certified copy of a court order changing the name of a person as listed in a vital record and upon request of such person or his parent, guardian, or legal representative or the registrant, the State Registrar shall amend such vital records to reflect the new name.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":250332,"text":"Upon written request of both parents and receipt of a sworn acknowledgment of paternity executed subsequent to the birth and signed by both parents of a child born out of wedlock, the State Registrar shall amend the certificate of birth to show such paternity if paternity is not shown on the birth certificate. Upon request of the parents, the surname of the child shall be changed on the certificate to that of the father.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":250333,"text":"When an applicant does not submit the minimum documentation required by regulation to amend a vital record, the State Registrar finds reason to question the validity or sufficiency of the evidence, or the requested amendment requires a judicial order, the vital record shall not be amended and the State Registrar shall so notify the applicant in writing. Such notification shall also include notice to the applicant regarding his right to petition the court for an order in accordance with subsection G.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"G"},"6":{"id":250334,"text":"Any person aggrieved by the decision of the State Registrar to deny a request to amend a vital record may petition the circuit court of the county or city in which he resides or the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond, Division I, for an order compelling the State Registrar to amend the vital record; an aggrieved applicant who was born in Virginia, but is currently residing out of State, may petition any circuit court in the Commonwealth for such an order. The State Registrar or his authorized representative may appear and testify in such proceeding.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15588,"edition_id":1,"name":"Amendments to Vital Records","identifier":"6","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14405,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:56:35","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:56:35","permalink":{"id":204271,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15588,"identifier":"6","token":"32.1\/7\/6","url":"\/32.1\/7\/6\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14405,"edition_id":1,"name":"Vital Records","identifier":"7","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12727,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:01","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:01","permalink":{"id":204163,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14405,"identifier":"7","token":"32.1\/7","url":"\/32.1\/7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12727,"edition_id":1,"name":"Health","identifier":"32.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":201099,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12727,"identifier":"32.1","token":"32.1","url":"\/32.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":69190,"structure_id":15588,"section_number":"32.1-269","catch_line":"Amending vital records; change of name; acknowledgment of paternity","url":"\/32.1-269\/","token":"32.1\/7\/6\/32.1-269","metadata":false},{"id":59473,"structure_id":15588,"section_number":"32.1-269.1","catch_line":"Amending death certificates; change and correction of demographic information by affidavit or court order","url":"\/32.1-269.1\/","token":"32.1\/7\/6\/32.1-269.1","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":59473,"structure_id":15588,"section_number":"32.1-269.1","catch_line":"Amending death certificates; change and correction of demographic information by affidavit or court order","url":"\/32.1-269.1\/","token":"32.1\/7\/6\/32.1-269.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/32.1-269\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 7 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1956, chapter 259; in 1960, chapter 451; in 1979, chapter 711; in 1983, chapter 240; in 1985, chapter 86; in 2016, chapter 496<\/a>; in 2020, chapters 465<\/a> and 466<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":60853,"section_number":"32.1-272","catch_line":"Certified copies of vital records; other copies","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-272\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":204273,"object_type":"law","relational_id":69190,"identifier":"32.1-269","token":"32.1\/7\/6\/32.1-269","url":"\/32.1-269\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/32.1-269\/","token":"32.1\/7\/6\/32.1-269","dublin_core":{"Title":"Amending vital records; change of name; acknowledgment of paternity","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 32.1-269","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> A vital record registered under this chapter, with the exception of a death certificate, may be amended only in accordance with this section and such regulations as may be adopted by the Board<\/span> to protect the integrity and accuracy of such vital records<\/span>. Such regulations shall specify the minimum evidence<\/span> required for a change in any such vital record. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Except in the case of an amendment provided for in subsection D, a vital record that is amended under this section shall be marked “amended” and the date of amendment and a summary description of the evidence<\/span> submitted in support of the amendment shall be endorsed on or made a part of the vital record. The Board<\/span> shall prescribe by regulation the conditions under which omissions or errors on certificates, including designation of sex, may be corrected within one year after the date of the event without the certificate being marked amended. In a case of hermaphroditism or pseudo-hermaphroditism, the certificate of birth may be corrected at any time without being considered as amended upon presentation to the State Registrar of such medical evidence<\/span> as the Board<\/span> may require by regulation. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Every request for an amendment to a birth certificate shall be reviewed to determine whether the requested amendment can be made administratively in accordance with regulations of the Board<\/span> or if a judicial order<\/span> is required for such amendment. The Department<\/span> shall make information about the process by which amendments to a birth certificate may be requested and reviewed pursuant to this subsection available to the public on its website. Such information shall include a standard form for requests for amendments to a birth certificate. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Upon receipt of a certified copy of a court order<\/span> changing the name of a person<\/span> as listed in a vital record and upon request of such person<\/span> or his parent, guardian, or legal representative or the registrant, the State Registrar shall amend<\/span> such vital records<\/span> to reflect the new name. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> Upon written request of both parents and receipt of a sworn acknowledgment of paternity executed subsequent to the birth and signed by both parents of a child born out of wedlock, the State Registrar shall amend<\/span> the certificate of birth to show such paternity if paternity is not shown on the birth certificate. Upon request of the parents, the surname of the child shall be changed on the certificate to that of the father. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> When an applicant does not submit the minimum documentation required by regulation to amend<\/span> a vital record, the State Registrar finds reason to question the validity or sufficiency of the evidence<\/span>, or the requested amendment requires a judicial order, the vital record shall not be amended and the State Registrar shall so notify the applicant in writing. Such notification shall also include notice to the applicant regarding his right to petition<\/span> the court for an order in accordance with subsection G. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

G.<\/span> Any person<\/span> aggrieved by the decision of the State Registrar to deny a request to amend<\/span> a vital record may petition<\/span> the circuit<\/span> court of the county or city in which he resides or the Circuit<\/span> Court of the City of Richmond, Division I, for an order compelling the State Registrar to amend<\/span> the vital record; an aggrieved applicant who was born in Virginia, but is currently residing out of State, may petition<\/span> any circuit<\/span> court in the Commonwealth for such an order. The State Registrar or his authorized representative may appear and testify in such proceeding. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nAMENDING VITAL RECORDS; CHANGE OF NAME; ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PATERNITY (\u00a7\n32.1-269)\n\nA. A vital record registered under this chapter, with the exception of a death\ncertificate, may be amended only in accordance with this section and such\nregulations as may be adopted by the Board to protect the integrity and accuracy\nof such vital records. Such regulations shall specify the minimum evidence\nrequired for a change in any such vital record.\n\nB. Except in the case of an amendment provided for in subsection D, a vital\nrecord that is amended under this section shall be marked “amended”\nand the date of amendment and a summary description of the evidence submitted in\nsupport of the amendment shall be endorsed on or made a part of the vital\nrecord. The Board shall prescribe by regulation the conditions under which\nomissions or errors on certificates, including designation of sex, may be\ncorrected within one year after the date of the event without the certificate\nbeing marked amended. In a case of hermaphroditism or pseudo-hermaphroditism,\nthe certificate of birth may be corrected at any time without being considered\nas amended upon presentation to the State Registrar of such medical evidence as\nthe Board may require by regulation.\n\nC. Every request for an amendment to a birth certificate shall be reviewed to\ndetermine whether the requested amendment can be made administratively in\naccordance with regulations of the Board or if a judicial order is required for\nsuch amendment. The Department shall make information about the process by which\namendments to a birth certificate may be requested and reviewed pursuant to this\nsubsection available to the public on its website. Such information shall\ninclude a standard form for requests for amendments to a birth certificate.\n\nD. Upon receipt of a certified copy of a court order changing the name of a\nperson as listed in a vital record and upon request of such person or his\nparent, guardian, or legal representative or the registrant, the State Registrar\nshall amend such vital records to reflect the new name.\n\nE. Upon written request of both parents and receipt of a sworn acknowledgment of\npaternity executed subsequent to the birth and signed by both parents of a child\nborn out of wedlock, the State Registrar shall amend the certificate of birth to\nshow such paternity if paternity is not shown on the birth certificate. Upon\nrequest of the parents, the surname of the child shall be changed on the\ncertificate to that of the father.\n\nF. When an applicant does not submit the minimum documentation required by\nregulation to amend a vital record, the State Registrar finds reason to question\nthe validity or sufficiency of the evidence, or the requested amendment requires\na judicial order, the vital record shall not be amended and the State Registrar\nshall so notify the applicant in writing. Such notification shall also include\nnotice to the applicant regarding his right to petition the court for an order\nin accordance with subsection G.\n\nG. Any person aggrieved by the decision of the State Registrar to deny a request\nto amend a vital record may petition the circuit court of the county or city in\nwhich he resides or the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond, Division I, for\nan order compelling the State Registrar to amend the vital record; an aggrieved\napplicant who was born in Virginia, but is currently residing out of State, may\npetition any circuit court in the Commonwealth for such an order. The State\nRegistrar or his authorized representative may appear and testify in such\nproceeding.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 32-353.24; 1956, c. 259; 1960, c. 451; 1979, c. 711;\n1983, c. 240; 1985, c. 86; 2016, c. 496; 2020, cc. 465, 466; 2021, Sp. Sess. I,\nc. 237.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}