Name Change as Part of Divorce | Correcting Name on Child's Birth Certificate | Petitions to Change Name   
Changing a Child's Name | Notifying Others of the New Name

Florida Administrative Code Rule 10D-49.016(1) provides a simplified procedure for correcting birth certificates of children under the age of seven. A parent, guardian, or legal representative may file a written request to change the hour of birth, the parents' age, residence, mailing address, or social security number. Misspelling or transposition of letters can also be corrected, as can the given name or surname of the child. The sex of the child can be clarified if this was left blank or the sex recorded on the birth certificate is clearly in conflict with the given name on the birth certificate.

Proof of the error for older children can be made with notarized documentary evidence. If the child is over seven years of age, but under 18 years old, those documents must have existed before the child reached the seventh birthday. If the child is over 18 years of age, the documents used to prove the error must have existed before the child's 18th birthday and must be at least five years old. See Florida Administrative Code 10D-49.016(2) for more information.

Good sources of documentary evidence include court orders, orders of paternity, social security applications, school records, and medical records or statements.