Colorado § 25-2-115 - Alteration of reports and certificates - amended reports and certificates - rules.

§ 25-2-115. Alteration of reports and certificates - amended reports and certificates - rules.

(1) A vital statistics report or certificate shall not ever be altered in any way except in accordance with this article 2 and applicable rules. Except for amended birth certificates issued pursuant to section 25-2-113.8 and amended certificates of death issued pursuant to section 25-2-110 (1)(f), the date of alteration and a summary description of the evidence submitted in support of the alteration must be endorsed on or made a part of each vital statistics certificate that is altered. Every vital statistics report or certificate that is altered in any way must be marked "Amended", except for amended birth certificates issued pursuant to section 25-2-113.8; amended certificates of death issued pursuant to section 25-2-110 (1)(f); the birth report or certificate of a child altered by the addition of a father's name pursuant to section 25-2-112 (3), in which case, upon request of the parents, the surname of the child shall be changed on the report and certificate to that of the father; or additions and minor corrections made within one year after the date of the statistical event as may be specified by applicable rules. A child's surname may be changed upon affidavit of the parent that the change is being made to conform the child's surname to the parent's legal surname.

(2) Upon receipt of a certified copy of a court order changing the name of a person born in this state and upon request of such person, or upon the request of his parent, guardian, or legal representative if he is under a legal disability, the original certificate of birth shall be amended to reflect the new name thereon.

(3) In the event the state registrar alters a birth certificate or death certificate, he shall promptly report the amendment to any other custodians of the vital statistics record and their records shall be amended accordingly.

(4) Repealed.

(5) When an applicant does not submit the minimum documentation required in the regulations for amending a vital statistics record or when the state registrar has reasonable cause to question the validity or adequacy of the applicant's sworn statements or documentary evidence, and if the deficiencies are not corrected, the state registrar shall not amend the vital statistics record and shall advise the applicant of the reason for this action and shall further advise the applicant of the right of appeal to a court of competent jurisdiction.

Source: L. 67: R&RE, p. 1061, § 1. C.R.S. 1963: § 66-8-15. L. 77: (1) amended, p. 1274, § 1, effective May 20. L. 84: (3) amended and (4) and (5) added, p. 748, § 12, effective July 1. L. 2018: (1) amended, (SB 18-095), ch. 96, p. 756, § 15, effective August 8. L. 2019: (1) amended and (4) repealed, (HB 19-1039), ch. 377, p. 3405, § 2, effective January 1, 2020. L. 2025: (1) amended, (HB 25-1109), ch. 73, p. 317, § 4, effective April 17.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in SB 18-095, see section 1 of chapter 96, Session Laws of Colorado 2018.