Full question:
My husband wants to change the name of our 7-month-old baby on her birth certificate. Is a court order required for the name change? How can we change without a court order?
- Category: Vital Records
- Subcategory: Birth Certificates
- Date:
- State: Maryland
Answer:
Yes, you can change your daughter's name on her birth certificate without a court order since she is less than twelve months old. In Maryland, the Department of Health allows name changes on a birth certificate within twelve months after the child's birth without needing a court order.
To proceed, both you and your husband must submit a written request to the Department for the name change. Along with the request, you need to provide an affidavit sworn before a notary public. This affidavit must confirm that you are the child's parents and that you are making the request voluntarily.
Relevant Maryland statutes state that the Department may change the name on a birth certificate once without a court order if they receive the required documentation from both parents (Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. § 4-214).
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.