Affidavit:
A written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court or for legal purposes. When an affidavit is signed, a Notary must be present as an official, impartial witness in order for the document to be legally valid.
Amendment/Amend:
Changing or correcting a record by adding,
subtracting, or substituting information on the record.
Applicant:
The eligible person submitting the application to change the registrants birth record.
Attestation:
A formal declaration or witness to a fact. The application includes an attestation for changing name and/or sex and must be signed with a Notary present.
Birthing Facility:
Any place where a child is born. This includes hospitals, free-standing birthing facilities, or at home if using a certified or licensed midwife.
Birth Mother/Parent Who Gave Birth to the Child:
The person who carried the baby and gave birth. Commonly referred to as biological mother or mother.
Birth Record/Birth Certificate:
The birth record is the information of live birth that is registered with the state. The birth certificate is the printed version of the birth record.
Court Order/Judgment:
The final decision of a court case that determines the rights and obligations of the people involved. Both terms are considered to mean the same thing for the purposes of this web page and usually refer to a printed version of the final decision.
Father/ Second Genetic Parent:
The genetic non-birth parent.
Notary:
A person who is authorized by the state to act as an official witness to the signing of legal documents by verifying the identity of those who sign.
Original:
The first created document or item that is NOT a copy, scan, fax, or email.
Parentage:
The parent-child relationship, with associated rights and responsibilities.
Parent Who Gave Birth to the Child/Birth Mother:
The person who carried the baby and gave birth. Commonly referred to as biological mother or mother.
Paternity:
Before 2026, “paternity" was the term for the process of determining the legal father of a child by completing and signing a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form. As of January 1, 2026, the term has been replaced by “parentage."
Registrant:
The person whose birth record is being changed. They may also be called “person on record," “child on record," or “child."
Sealed File:
A file that is kept confidential and not available to the public. Typically, even the person named on the record (registrant) must get a court order to access the file.
Second Genetic Parent/Father:
The genetic non-birth parent.
Typographical:
Typed or printed text.