AFFIDAVIT FOR AMENDMENT FORM 3977 (REVISED 09/2018)
PLEASE ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO THE ADDRESS BELOW.
STATE OFFICE OF VITAL RECORDS1680 PHOENIX BLVD. SUITE 100, ATLANTA, GA 30349 PHONE 404.679.4702
NOTE: The fee for amendments to Vital Records is $10.00. This fee does not include certified copies of the record
and is non-refundable. Certified copies of birth and death certificates are $25.00 and $5.00 for each additional
copy purchased at the same time.
Example: Amendment $10.00
Certified Copy $25.00
+1 Additional Copies $5.00
$40.00
If this request is being mailed, please forward this completed form with a U.S. Money Order or certified check for
the correct amount made payable to the State Office of Vital Records. A valid copy of your Photo ID must
accompany this request. Please do not send cash by mail.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR AMENDING A BIRTH CERTIFICATE
The Amended Birth Certificate form must be completed by the registrant, the parent, or the legal representative.
ALL INFORMATION MUST BE TYPED OR PRINTED IN BLACK OR BLUE-BLACK PEN. The Amended Birth Certificate is a
permanent record and will replace the original record on file.
Step 1. Complete the information as it should appear on the Amended Birth Certificate in the top portion. Enter
the child’s name, sex, hour of birth if applicable, date of birth, city, or town or location of birth, county of birth,
mother’s maiden name, mother’s date of birth or age, mother’s state of birth, father’s full name, father’s date of
birth or age, and father’s state of birth if applicable.
Step 2. Complete the items to be amended or corrected. Enter the item omitted or in error; then enter the
information as it appears on the original birth certificate and enter the birth information as it should be.
Step 3. The Amended Birth Certificate must be signed by the registrant or parent in the Affidavit section. The
notary shall sign his or her name, enter the date the information was “sworn and subscribed to”, the date his or
her notary commission expires and impress the notary seal in the space marked ‘IMPRESS SEAL HERE”.
NOTE: APPLICANTS OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES DO NOT ENTER ANY INFORMATION BELOW THE SOLID LINE
MARKED “APPLICANT – DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE.”
Step 4. The applicant (or his or her representative) must submit the required evidence which shows the
information listed in the sworn portion of the form.
All records submitted must verify the facts claimed and must also show the name and address of the company,
agency, or institution where the record was filed; the date the record was made and by whom and must be
submitted in the following form: (1) A statement on letterhead stationery of the official and signed by the official
who has custody of the record OR (2) A copy of a record which is certified to be a true copy by the official having
custody of the original record.
All documents will be returned to the applicant upon review. Altered records or records which show incorrect
information will not be accepted. UNCERTIFIED COPIES OF DOCUMENTS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. To determine the
age your record should be, please refer to the Abbreviated Records Requirement Chart. FORM 3977 SHOULD NOT
BE USED TO ESTABLISH PATERNITY.
ABBREVIATED RECORDS REQUIREMENT CHART
This chart is acceptable for amending a birth certificate only.
Record at least five years old
Record filed not more than three years after the date of birth
Record at least one year old
In all cases, the evidence must have been created at least (1) year prior to the date of application.
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