Of all the “names” in a birth certificate, I always thought it was the Last Name that

would entail the most complicated correction processes. Before I dove into my
research on civil registration, I always believed that the only way you can have your
last name corrected is by employing the services of a lawyer.

I was wrong.

So, today, I am going to share how you can correct your last name in your birth
certificate based on the prescribed solutions of the PSA. Of course, there are still
some cases where you will truly need the advice of a lawyer, especially if you are
thinking of changing your last name. This blog will focus on the following errors
and concerns on the last name written in birth certificates:

 Last name is blurry and unreadable.

 Last name is misspelled.
 No last name written in the birth certificate.
 The owner is an illegitimate child.

Read on.

1. BLURRED

You may request the local civil registrar to endorse a copy of the birth certificate
with clearer entry to the PSA. If the record of the PSA and the civil registry are both
blurred, a petition for correction of clerical error under the provisions of RA 9048
should be filed.

Supporting documents for RA 9048:

 Certified machine copy of the birth record containing the entry to be

corrected;
 Not less than two private or public documents upon which the correction
shall be based like baptismal certificate, voters affidavit, employment
record, GSIS/SSS record, medical record, business record, drivers license,
insurance, land titles, certificate of land transfer, bank passbook, NBI/Police
clearance, civil registry records of ascendants.
 Notice/Certificate of Posting
 Filing fee of Php 1,000.00.
2. WRONG SPELLING

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This can be corrected by filing a petition for correction of clerical error under the
provisions of RA 9048.

 The petition shall be filed with the local civil registry office of the city or
municipality where the birth is registered.
 If the petitioner already resides in a different city or municipality, he or she
can file the petition with the civil registry office where he or she is currently
residing.

Supporting documents:

 Certified machine copy of the birth record containing the entry to be

corrected;
 Not less than two private or public documents upon which the correction
shall be based like baptismal certificate, voters affidavit, employment
record, GSIS/SSS record, medical record, business record, drivers license,
insurance, land titles, certificate of land transfer, bank passbook, NBI/Police
clearance, civil registry records of ascendants.
 Notice/Certificate of Posting
 Filing fee of Php 1,000.00.
The misspelled last name in the birth certificate should be corrected by filing a petition
for correction of clerical error under the provisions of Republic Act 9048.

Who Shall File

 owner of the record
 owners spouse
 children
 parents
 brothers
 sisters
 grandparents
 guardian
 other person duly authorized by law or by the owner of the document sought
to be corrected;
 if owner of the record is a minor or physically or mentally incapacitated,
petition may be filed by his spouse, or any of his children, parents, brothers;
sisters; grandparents, guardians, or persons duly authorized by law.

Where to File
If born in the Philippines

 The petition shall be filed with the local civil registry office of the city or
municipality where the birth is registered.
 When the petitioner had already migrated to another place within the
Philippines and it would not be practical for such party to appear in person
with the civil registrar of the place of birth, the petition may be filed with the
civil registry office where he/she is currently residing

If born abroad

 If born abroad, with the Philippine Consulate where the birth was reported.

Supporting Documents
1. Certified machine copy of the birth record containing the entry to be
corrected;
2. Not less than two (2) private or public documents upon which the correction
shall be based like baptismal certificate, voters affidavit, employment record,
GSIS/SSS record, medical record, business record, drivers license,
insurance, land titles, certificate of land transfer, bank passbook, NBI/police
clearance, civil registry records of ascendants;
3. Notice/Certificate of Posting;
4. Payment of one thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) as filing fee. For petitions filed
abroad a fee of $50.00 or equivalent value in local currency shall be
collected;
5. Other documents which may be required by the concerned civil registrar.