Can this Louisiana affidavit change a last name?
No. LDH states the given-names affidavit cannot be used to change a child's last name. Use the separate last-name or acknowledgment-of-paternity pathways LDH publishes for those facts.
Document Guides
Louisiana Affidavit for Correction of Given Names Only: Notary Requirements
Louisiana's given-names affidavit corrects first/middle names—both parents listed must sign before a licensed notary; last name cannot change on this form. Official age wording differs between the form and LDH page.
iRemoteNotary Editorial Team
Published and reviewed by iRemoteNotary
Last reviewed September 20, 2026
Quick Answer
What does Louisiana's given-names correction affidavit cover?
Louisiana's Affidavit for Correction of Given Names (also titled Affidavit for Corrections of Given Names Only on the PDF) can change a child's first and/or middle name. Both parents listed on the birth certificate must sign before a licensed notary. It cannot change a last name.
Official age wording is not identical: the affidavit form is labeled for children 12 and under, while the LDH amendments page says the affidavit may be used before the child reaches age 12. If the child is already 12, confirm eligibility with Louisiana Vital Records before relying on this form. Confirm remote online notarization acceptance before booking.
Louisiana given-names affidavit facts
| Item | Verified detail |
|---|---|
| Form name | Affidavit for Correction of Given Names / Affidavit for Corrections of Given Names Only |
| Revision note | PDF face may show Packet 18, Revised 08/04 — describe by official name + LDH page rules; do not invent a 2026 revision |
| Age scope (documented wording conflict) | Form face: children 12 and under; LDH page heading: up to the age of 12; LDH page body: before the child reaches age 12 — confirm with Vital Records if the child is already 12 |
| Name scope | First and/or middle name only — cannot change last name |
| Who signs | Both parents listed on the birth certificate, before a licensed notary |
| Fee (LDH page) | $27.50 includes one certified amended copy (unless hospital correction within 90 days of file date is free); additional copies $9; missing incorrect certificate may add $15 search fee |
| Processing estimate (LDH page) | Approximately 8–12 weeks from receipt |
| RON status | Recipient confirmation required — licensed notary required; no express LDH RON acceptance statement reviewed |
Louisiana Vital Records publishes a narrow given-names pathway that is easy to misuse if you need a last-name change, acknowledgment of paternity, or court-ordered amendment. This guide stays inside the given-names affidavit rules on the LDH amendments page—and flags where official age wording conflicts.
iRemoteNotary is a national and international online-notary organization. Remote online notarization is performed under the law of the online notary's commissioning state. For other amendment families, start at the Vital Records Notary Center or see Utah's amendment affidavit.
Age Eligibility — Documented Official Wording Conflict
Louisiana's current Affidavit for Correction of Given Names is labeled for children 12 and under, while Louisiana Department of Health guidance says the affidavit may be used before the child reaches age 12. The LDH page heading uses "Up to the Age of 12." Those phrases are not identical for a child who is already exactly 12.
If the child is already 12, confirm eligibility directly with Louisiana Vital Records before relying on this form. Do not treat any single phrase as an unconditional guarantee for exact age 12.
| Official source | Age wording | Production treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Affidavit PDF title | FOR CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER | Cited as form language — not silent preference |
| LDH page heading | Up to the Age of 12 | Cited alongside form language |
| LDH page body | Before the child reaches age 12 | Cited alongside form language; exact age 12 → confirm with LDH |
Given Names Only — Not Last Name
An Affidavit for Correction of Given Names can change a child's first and/or middle name within the age pathway Louisiana publishes for this form. LDH states this form cannot be used to change a child's last name.
If the child was not named at birth, the same affidavit can give the child a first and middle name under the same LDH given-names pathway, with both parents listed signing before a licensed notary.
| Pathway | What it can do | What it cannot do |
|---|---|---|
| Given-names affidavit | Correct or add first/middle names with both parents notarized (within LDH age pathway) | Change last name; guarantee eligibility at exact age 12 without LDH confirmation |
| Court-ordered last-name / AOP pathways | Last-name and parentage changes under other LDH processes | Not replaced by the given-names affidavit |
Both Parents Before a Licensed Notary
Both parents listed on the birth certificate must sign the affidavit in the presence of a licensed notary. Submit the notarized affidavit with the child's incorrect birth certificate (when required), legible copies of both parents' valid government-issued photo IDs, and the required fee.
This guide describes the form by its official name and LDH page rules. Some PDF faces show Packet 18, Revised 08/04—do not assert an unverified 2026 revision date.
- Confirm first/middle-only scope (not last name)
- If the child is already 12, confirm age eligibility with Louisiana Vital Records before notarizing
- Download the current Affidavit for Correction of Given Names from LDH
- Both parents listed sign only before a licensed notary
- Include photo ID copies, incorrect certificate if required, and fee
- Use court-order / AOP pathways instead for last-name or parentage changes
- Confirm RON acceptance before booking remote online notarization
Ready to notarize Louisiana given-names affidavits?
If both parents have the current unsigned given-names affidavit, understand that notarization does not approve the amendment, and you will confirm recipient acceptance of remote online notarization, start a secure session with a commissioned U.S. online notary.
Fee, Timing, and Other Pathways
Unless requesting a hospital correction within 90 days of the birth certificate file date, LDH states the non-refundable fee for correcting or amending a birth certificate is $27.50, which includes one certified copy of the amended birth certificate. Additional certified copies can be purchased at amendment time for $9 each. If the original (incorrect) birth certificate cannot be provided, an additional $15 search fee must be included.
LDH estimates processing at approximately 8–12 weeks from the date of receipt. Mail amendment requests to Vital Records Registry, Attn: Amendments Department, as published on the LDH amendments page.
Last-name changes and acknowledgment-of-paternity pathways are separate. Do not force those facts onto the given-names affidavit.
Important Limits
Notary ≠ amendment approval. iRemoteNotary does not issue Louisiana vital records, determine eligibility, approve amendments, issue apostilles, or guarantee acceptance.
For apostille questions after you hold a certified record, see online notarized document and apostille.
Frequently asked questions
My child is exactly 12 years old. Can I use Louisiana's Affidavit for Correction of Given Names?
Do not treat exact age 12 as an unconditional yes. The affidavit form itself is labeled for children 12 and under, while LDH's amendments page says the affidavit may be used before the child reaches age 12 (and the page heading says up to the age of 12). Confirm eligibility directly with Louisiana Vital Records before relying on this form.
Who must sign?
Both parents listed on the birth certificate, in the presence of a licensed notary.
What does the $27.50 fee include?
Per the LDH page, one certified copy of the amended birth certificate, unless a hospital correction within 90 days of the file date applies (free). Additional copies are $9 each; a $15 search fee may apply if the incorrect certificate cannot be provided.
Is the form revised in 2026?
This guide does not invent a 2026 revision. Use the current official LDH PDF; some faces show Packet 18, Revised 08/04.
Can I use remote online notarization for this affidavit?
Only if Louisiana Vital Records accepts remotely notarized parent signatures for this affidavit and your submission channel. Confirm before booking. Recipient confirmation is required.
Related pages
Sources and Official References
The following primary sources support the legal and procedural information in this guide. Requirements can change, so confirm current rules with the receiving organization before relying on a notarized document.
Amendments to Birth Records(opens in a new tab)
Louisiana Department of Health / Vital Records
Accessed September 20, 2026
Affidavit for Corrections of Given Names Only(opens in a new tab)
Louisiana Department of Health / Vital Records
Accessed September 20, 2026
Louisiana given-names affidavit ready?
Confirm first/middle-only scope, resolve age eligibility with Louisiana Vital Records if the child is already 12, have both listed parents sign before a licensed notary, include the $27.50 fee when applicable, and confirm remote online notarization acceptance before booking a commissioned U.S. online notary.