Changing a Baby's Name?

I changed the spelling of my son's name on his birth certificate (removed the hyphen between his last names.) I have to say that I don't completely remember the process, but I didn't go before a judge. It was all paperwork, and maybe a nominal fee. I am recalling that there may have been some info on the birth certificate itself that pointed me in the direction I needed to go to change it? But I am also remembering that I think I had to print off something from the internet, a paper to fill out, to get it done. I'm sorry my details are so sketchy, but I mostly wanted to say that I didn't have to go before a judge.

Well you have 6 months to correct it with no cost, if it was an error on the state. If it was a "spelling error" (hint hint), contact your issuing coounty and they will have you print out a form, you fill it out correctly and everything is reissued. If you have decided that now she looks like an Annie and not a Sarah then you pay for that. If the child is less than 6 months old, still contact the county of birth and they will talk you through their web site. You print off the form, fill it out, sumit it with the fee and they change it reissuing everything. If the child is more than 6 moths old, then there is another form to fill out and a bigger fee to pay. Yo then have to get the new birth certificate and then contact social security for a new card (similar to when you got married). Now if you are changing the child's last name, you then have to apply for legal court action. Many times this can just be done based on the situation with a circut court process and you pay the money and have both/ three (in the case of a step-parent) parents sign off. The I guess to answer your question; the situation is different depending on what you are changing and the reason why. Does it involvee paternity or just as simple as Sara with an "H" instead of without.

Typically in the first 6mo of an infant's life the process is free. You just need to contact your state depts that issue birth certificates & ss admin. The birth certificate and SSN cards are reissued.

After 6mo one has to petition the courts just like any other name change (marriage, divorce, whim). Costs an average of about $50 plus reissuing fees for the cards and birth certificate (apx $30 each).

Well actually..I'm glad you asked.
I have twins (one boy one girl) and I wanted to pick unusual yet attractive names for them. My daughter is Emmeline Grace, my son is Tiernin Eli. Well when I got their SS cards, my son's middle name was spelled wrong Eil instead of Eli...I was pretty upset. I don't know how to go about doing it per se, but I suggest contacting your local Social Security Office and asking them. I have heard that they may just change it if it is close to your babies day of birth, but I am not sure.

I spelled my daughters name a bit different than expected and within a few days of nurses and doc's coming and calling her something totally different I realized I was going to be doing that the rest of her life so I just had the hospital fix it, they didn't turn the paperwork in until we left so it was easy.

I think you should call your local court house and ask them Usually an adult goes before a judge and asks for a name change. For example, in a divorce decree to change back to the maiden name the judge signs the decree and that makes it legal. My point is they might have the paperwork where it can be done and filed there or know exactly how to do it.

I imagine you would have to file a petition for name change with your local probate court (probably costs under $50) and then once you had the order of name change you would then need to contact your state's department of vital records to get the birth certificate changed (I don't know if there would be a fee for this) and then fill out form SS5 to get an amended social security card. It isn't very complicated. In fact, you can probably get the name change petition from the KY courts website. Good luck.

why would you want to do that?

The name change process (I believe) is just like what you did when you changed your name after marriage. If you want to change the birth certificate, that might be a bit more involved, but I can't think it would be that big of a deal.