Any misspelled entry in your child’s birth records can and will cause him a lot of trouble in the future. It is always best to have these corrected as soon as possible to avoid inconsistencies in your child’s records, especially when he starts going to school.
There are two types of corrections that can be done on any erroneous birth certificate: the types of corrections that can be rectified by the LCR through a petition for correction of clerical error, and the ones that need to undergo a court proceeding (in which case, you may have to hire the services of a lawyer). If the correction is a typo error, the LCR will only require you to file a petition for correction where you only need to execute an affidavit, pay minimal fees, and wait for the LCR to release the corrected copy of the certificate. If the case involves changing the name, or if the correction will result to a new name altogether (example: the child’s name is Michelle, but the name on the birth certificate is Richelle which is also a valid name, changing the “R” to an “M” will result to a new name), the LCR may recommend for a Change of Name (instead of a simple petition for correction) and therefore, the petitioners will have to go through the whole nine yards – filing the case, court hearings, attorney’s fees, and the like.
I found a website that can help you better understand the intricacies of correcting errors in your child’s birth certificate. This site has helped me and a lot of my relatives address minor glitches in our civil registry records. If you have any problems with your child’s birth records, visit www.citizenservices.com.ph or better yet, click this link that will take you directly to their article on correcting baby’s names.
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