Making Corrections to a Registration

The original registration, completed at the time of the event (birth, marriage, death, stillbirth), is the legal document filed permanently with Vital Statistics. When the registration contains errors or incomplete/missing information, an amendment may be requested to correct the registration. When a correction is requested to an Alberta registration, specific procedures must be followed. Only Alberta events may be amended by Alberta Vital Statistics. When the event did not occur in Alberta, contact the jurisdiction where the event occurred to request an amendment.

Request the amendment through a registry agent if you notice an error on the registration at the time you are ordering a certificate (birth, marriage, death).

Write directly to Vital Statistics if you want to request only a correction to a registration. Your written request should include the following information:

• Full name of the person making the application
  
  
• The relationship between the person making the application, and the person whose document is being corrected
  
  
• Full return address of the applicant
  
  
• What type of correction is being requested
  
  
• Signature of the person making the application
  
  
• Date the application is being made
  
  
• Phone number or contact phone number of the person making the application
  
  
• All pertinent event details pertaining to the person who's record is being amended (e.g. full name, date of event, place of event, parents full information)

Once Vital Statistics receives your request for a correction, they will review the original registration and send you a letter outlining the requirements and documentation needed to proceed. If all the required information is not supplied, your request will be returned for the additional details.

The following is a list of the three basic requirements needed to complete an amendment:

1. Proof to Support the Requested Correction
   
   The type of evidence Vital Statistics will ask for depends on the type of correction, for example, names, dates, places, etc.
   
   Proof to support a correction may include:
   
   
   • Birth record for a parent
   • Baptismal/christening certificate
   • School/health records
   • Immigration papers
     
     
2. Completion of a Statutory Declaration
   
   Vital Statistics will partially prepare a statutory declaration.  The statutory declaration must be reviewed by you and signed in the presence of a Commissioner for Oaths or a Notary Public.
   
   
3. Fees
    
   There is a $20.00 amendment fee when correcting / altering a registration.

Exception: A fee is not applicable when the amendment request is made within 90 days from the date of the event.

Note: The process / requirements explained above are often unacceptable when a request is made to change a last name.  Correcting / altering a last name becomes more involved.  It is advisable to contact the Vital Statistics office with your specific situation, as circumstances will vary.

• Sample amendment scenarios:
  
  
  • Sample 1 - request to amend a given name on a Registration of Birth
    
    
  • Sample 2  - request to amend a bride's place of birth on a Registration of Marriage
    
    
• Amendment brochure: What happens when... (pdf)
  
  

• For more information or clarification on the amendment process contact the Vital Statistics office