Make Changes to a Birth or Death Record

In-person customer assistance to change vital records is not available.

Links to information about amending vital records

• Fees for amendments

• Replacement certificate information

• Suggested evidence documents
  

• Amendment information - Main Page
  

On this page:

• To correct a birth certificate
  

• To correct a death certificate
  

• Contacting amendments staff

To correct a birth certificate

The amendment process varies depending on the type of legal change needed and how recently the record was filed. The links below provide detailed instructions for different types of birth record amendments. If the change you need is not included, email CHS.Amendments@oha.oregon.gov to reach the appropriate amendment specialist.

• Add father's name to birth record

• Add child's first, middle, and last name (when left blank at time of birth)

• Change or correct child's name from name registered at birth

• Change or correct birth record information - date of birth, sex, time of birth, etc.

• Correct parent information on their child's birth record

• Court ordered name change

• Court ordered change of sex

• Adoption amendments - for children born in Oregon or children born abroad

To correct a death certificate

Corrections for missing data or typographical errors for personal information on the death record are usually submitted by the funeral director or the informant listed on the death record in the year following date of death. The certifying physician (or medical examiner) is the only person eligible to change or correct cause of death data on the record. Most corrections may be submitted electronically by the funeral director or medical certifier.

For instructions on how to correct errors in death records that are more than one or two years old:

• Prepare a cover note with your name, address, phone number and e-mail address if available.

• Fax the copy of the record and the cover note to 971-673-1201 to the attention of CHS Amendments, or mail the request to Oregon Vital Records, PO Box 14050, Portland, OR 97293.
  

An amendment fee of $35 is required for amendments to the personal section of the death record when submitted more than one year following the date of death. No amendment fee is required for amendments to the medical section of the death record at any time.

If the amendment is not submitted by the funeral director or the certifying physician, the correction affidavit must be an original, notarized affidavit signed by the informant named on the death record, or if the informant is deceased, by the next of kin to the decedent. Evidence documents will be required for some types of amendments - changes to marital status, the name of a spouse, or in some cases, the decedent’s residence address when the changes are more than minor typographical error corrections. Most amendments submitted after one year from date of death will require evidence documents.

• Death correction affidavit for informant/next of kin
  
  

• Death correction affidavit for funeral director/certifying physician
  
  

• Oregon death record order form
  
  

• Acta de defunción de Oregon formulario de solicitud
  

Contacting amendments staff

If you call or email an amendment specialist about an amendment, please leave one complete message and include:

1. Your name

2. Telephone number
   

3. Email address
   

4. The name currently listed on the record
   

5. The date of the event
   

6. Order number, if there is one assigned
   

7. The amendment type, An exact description of the item that is in error and how it needs to be changed or corrected

8. Whether a request and/or fee has already been submitted to make the change to the record
   

On this page:

• To correct a birth certificate
  

• To correct a death certificate
  

• Contacting amendments staff

To correct a birth certificate

The amendment process varies depending on the type of legal change needed and how recently the record was filed. The links below provide detailed instructions for different types of birth record amendments. If the change you need is not included, email CHS.Amendments@oha.oregon.gov to reach the appropriate amendment specialist.

• Add father's name to birth record

• Add child's first, middle, and last name (when left blank at time of birth)

• Change or correct child's name from name registered at birth

• Change or correct birth record information - date of birth, sex, time of birth, etc.

• Correct parent information on their child's birth record

• Court ordered name change

• Court ordered change of sex

• Adoption amendments - for children born in Oregon or children born abroad

To correct a death certificate

Corrections for missing data or typographical errors for personal information on the death record are usually submitted by the funeral director or the informant listed on the death record in the year following date of death. The certifying physician (or medical examiner) is the only person eligible to change or correct cause of death data on the record. Most corrections may be submitted electronically by the funeral director or medical certifier.

For instructions on how to correct errors in death records that are more than one or two years old:

• Prepare a cover note with your name, address, phone number and e-mail address if available.
  
  

• Fax the copy of the record and the cover note to 971-673-1201 to the attention of CHS Amendments, or mail the request to Oregon Vital Records, PO Box 14050, Portland, OR 97293.
  
  

An amendment fee of $35 is required for amendments to the personal section of the death record when submitted more than one year following the date of death. No amendment fee is required for amendments to the medical section of the death record at any time.

If the amendment is not submitted by the funeral director or the certifying physician, the correction affidavit must be an original, notarized affidavit signed by the informant named on the death record, or if the informant is deceased, by the next of kin to the decedent. Evidence documents will be required for some types of amendments - changes to marital status, the name of a spouse, or in some cases, the decedent’s residence address when the changes are more than minor typographical error corrections. Most amendments submitted after one year from date of death will require evidence documents.

• Death correction affidavit for informant/next of kin
  
  

• Death correction affidavit for funeral director/certifying physician
  
  

• Oregon death record order form
  
  

• Acta de defunción de Oregon formulario de solicitud
  

Contacting amendments staff

If you call or email an amendment specialist about an amendment, please leave one complete message and include:

1. Your name

2. Telephone number
   

3. Email address
   

4. The name currently listed on the record
   

5. The date of the event
   

6. Order number, if there is one assigned
   

7. The amendment type, An exact description of the item that is in error and how it needs to be changed or corrected

8. Whether a request and/or fee has already been submitted to make the change to the record