Missouri Revised Statutes

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.215 (2026)

Amendment of certificates and reports

✓ current as of May 2026

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193.215. Amendment of certificates and reports — acknowledgment of paternity affidavit, notice to be given parents — rescission of acknowledgment, filing — paternity establishment services offered by department. — 1. A certificate or report registered pursuant to sections 193.005 to 193.325 may be amended only pursuant to the provisions of sections 193.005 to 193.325, and regulations adopted by the department.

2. A certificate or report that is amended pursuant to this section shall be marked "Amended" except as otherwise provided in this section. The date of amendment and a summary description of the evidence submitted in support of the amendment shall be endorsed on or made part of the record.

3. Upon receipt of a certified copy of an order of a court of competent jurisdiction changing the name of a person born in this state and upon request of such person or such person's parents, guardian, or legal representative, the state registrar shall amend the certificate of birth to show the new name. The court order shall include such facts as are necessary to locate and identify the certificate of birth of the person whose name is being changed.

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

5. When a certificate or report is amended pursuant to this section, the state registrar shall report the amendment to any other custodians of the vital record and their record shall be amended accordingly.

6. Upon written request of both parents and receipt of a sworn acknowledgment of paternity notarized and signed by both parents of a child born out of wedlock, the state registrar shall amend the certificate of birth to show such paternity. The acknowledgment affidavit form shall be developed by the state registrar and shall include the minimum requirements prescribed by the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Section 652(a)(7). The acknowledgment form shall include provisions to allow the parents to change the surname of the child and such surname shall be changed on the birth record if the parents elect to change the child's surname. The signature of the parents shall be notarized or the signature shall be witnessed by at least two disinterested adults whose signatures and addresses shall be plainly written thereon. The form shall be accompanied by oral notice, which may be provided through the use of video or audio equipment, and written notice to the mother and putative father of:

(1) The alternatives to, the legal consequences of, and the rights and responsibilities that arise from signing the acknowledgment;

(2) The benefits of having the child's paternity established; and

(3) The availability of paternity establishment and child support enforcement services. A rescission of acknowledgment form shall be filed with the bureau of vital records pursuant to section 210.823 to vacate the legal finding of paternity. The bureau shall file all rescissions and forward a copy of each to the family support division. The birth record shall only be changed pursuant to this subsection upon an order of the court or the family support division.

7. The department shall offer voluntary paternity establishment services.

8. Upon receipt of a certified copy of an order of a court of competent jurisdiction changing the name of a person born in this state and upon request of such person or such person's parents, guardian or legal representative, the state registrar shall amend the certificate of birth to show the new name.

9. Upon receipt of a certified copy of an order of a court of competent jurisdiction indicating the sex of an individual born in this state has been changed by surgical procedure and that such individual's name has been changed, the certificate of birth of such individual shall be amended.

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(L. 1984 S.B. 574, A.L. 1994 H.B. 1491 & 1134 merged with H.B. 1547 & 961 merged with S.B. 508, A.L. 1997 S.B. 361, A.L. 1998 S.B. 910, A.L. 2014 H.B. 1299 Revision)

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 12 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 2003–2025 · leading case: Wilson v. Cramer, 317 S.W.3d 206 (Mo. Ct. App. 2010).

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Wilson v. Cramer, 317 S.W.3d 206 (Mo. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 5× “A signed acknowledgment of paternity form pursuant to section 193.215, RSMo, shall be considered a legal finding of paternity subject to the right of either signatory to rescind the acknowledgment, in writing, by filing such rescission with the bureau within the earlier of: (1)…”

In Re Adoption of Nlbmt v. Lentz, 212 S.W.3d 123 (Mo. 2007). · cites it 2× “At approximately that same time, father and mother both signed a separate “acknowledgment of paternity form” pursuant to section 193.215. On March 4, an amended birth certificate was issued fisting Lentz as the father.”

In Re RW Heilig, 816 A.2d 68 (Md. 2003). “clear whether restricted to initial error in certificate or includes gender change); Mo. Rev Stat§ 193.215 (2001) (order of court of competent jurisdiction and surgery required); Neb Rev.”

Kayla Gore v. William Lee, 107 F.4th 548 (6th Cir. 2024). “2 ; Mo. Rev. Stat. § 193.215 (9); Neb. Rev. Stat.”

In the Interest of C.L. v. M.T., 335 S.W.3d 19 (Mo. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 2× “At approximately that same time, father and mother both signed a separate “acknowledgment of paternity form” pursuant to section 193.215. On March 4, an amended birth certificate was issued listing [C.”

Adoption of N.L.B. v. C.L., 274 S.W.3d 619 (Mo. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 2× “In its opinion, the Missouri Supreme Court acknowledged that Father and Mother “had signed an ‘acknowledgment of paternity’ form pursuant to section 193.215 which, under section 210.”

In Re Adoption of NLB, 274 S.W.3d 619 (Mo. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 4× “At approximately that same time, father and mother both signed a separate "acknowledgment of paternity form" pursuant to section 193.215. On March 4, an amended birth certificate was issued listing [C.”

Christopher Mandacina v. Amanda Pompey Linda Mandacina (Mo. Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 4× “A signed acknowledgment of paternity form pursuant to Section 193.215 that has not been rescinded sixty days after signing is considered a legal finding of paternity.”

Cl v. Mt, 335 S.W.3d 19 (Mo. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 2× “At approximately that same time, father and mother both signed a separate "acknowledgment of paternity form" pursuant to section 193.215. On March 4, an amended birth certificate was issued listing [C.”

IN THE INTEREST OF: E.R.S., A child under seventeen years of age, D.R., Movant-Appellant v. T.J.B. & T.M.B., Respondents-Respondents (Mo. Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 2× “He had standing to do so by virtue of the fact that he and the mother had signed an “acknowledgment of paternity” form pursuant to section 193.215 which, under section 210.”

F.J.M., Individually & as Next Friend for A.E.J.J. v. F.L.J. (Mo. Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 2× “banc 2007) (Father had standing to intervene in adoption proceeding because he and mother had signed an Acknowledgment of Paternity pursuant to section 193.215 7Mother did not make such a claim as to the Acknowledgment of Paternity, but rather solely as to the birth certificate.”

C.M.G. v. B.M.C., Respondent/Respondent, O.R.C., Minor, & State of Missouri, Dept. of Soc. Servs., Fam. Support Div., Respondent/Respondent. (Mo. Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 2× “1 provides in pertinent part: A signed acknowledgment of paternity form pursuant to section 193.215 shall be considered a legal finding of paternity subject to the right of either signatory to rescind the acknowledgment, in writing, by filing such rescission with the [Bureau of…”

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