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- 1). Obtain an adjudication form and a VS-21 form from the County Recorder's Office in your county or region. To locate a County Recorder's Office nearest to where you live, call 916-558-1784. The adjudication form is mailed to the Court, and the VS-21 (Application to Amend a Birth Record) is submitted to the California Office of Vital Records.
- 2). Fill out the form, which will request the paternal name on the birth certificate, the new name, the reason for the change and a copy of the birth certificate. You must file this form, along with the court filing fee, with the Superior Court of the region in which you live. The Court will make a ruling within a few months, and mail you a copy of the Order Adjudicating Parentage. Common reasons for a change in paternity include a child who has been adopted or whose mother has remarried. You do not need the agreement of the current person listed on the birth certificate to change the paternity. If the original listed person objects, however, he can file an appeal.
- 3). Fill out the VS-21 form, and mail the completed form, a copy of the Order Adjudicating Parentage, and the $20 fee to:
California Office of Vital Records
M.S. 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
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