Birth Certificate
How to update your legal name and/or gender marker on your birth certificate.
In Rhode Island, changes to birth certificates are handled by the Office of Vital Records* within the RI Department of Health (RIDOH). Updating your legal name and gender marker on your birth certificate can be done at the same time, but this guide lists the processes separately.
RIDOH allows M, F, and X gender markers on birth certificates (listed as “sex” field). No medical documentation is required to update the gender marker on your birth certificate.
Updated Rhode Island birth certificates will be marked as “amended”. Names will be specifically marked as amended when changed. Gender markers will not be specifically marked as amended when changed.
If you currently live in Rhode Island but were born in another state, you will need to consult resources specific to the state of your birth.
Updating Name
Step 1
Step 2
Updating Gender Marker
STEP 1
Step 2
Step 3
Updating Name on ri birth certificate
Complete the Application for a Certified Copy of a Birth Record form
STEP 1
Download the Application for a Certified Copy of a Birth Record here, or from the Rhode Island Department of Health website.
To update your gender marker at the same time as your name, see additional instructions under, “ UPDATING GENDER MARKER ON RI BIRTH CERTIFICATE,” below.
Section 1: Fill in all requested biographical information. After “New name if changed in court”, fill in your current legal name.
Section 2: Indicate that you are requesting your own birth certificate.
Section 3: asks “Why do you need this record?”. Check the “other use” box and specify you are seeking to have the name on your birth certificate updated to match your court-ordered name change.
Section 4: indicate the number of certified copies of your amended birth certificate you want to purchase.
Section 5: sign, date, and fill in the required contact information.
Submit your application and supporting documents to the Office of Vital Records
STEP 2
You may bring your completed application and supporting documents in-person to the Office of Vital Records or mail them. The Office of Vital Records is located at:
Rhode Island Department of Health - Office of Vital Records
Simpson Hall
6 Harrington Road
Cranston, Rhode Island 02920Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday (closed on state holidays)
7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Call to confirm: 401-222-5960
In person
Be sure to bring the following with you:
Completed Application for a Certified Copy of a Birth Record
Certified copy of your Name Change Court Order (this is the probate court-issued proof of your new legal name) - this document will be returned to you
A valid, government-issued photo ID. Acceptable documents include your driver’s license, state ID, US passport, military ID, certificate of naturalization, or alien registration form.
Payment of $32 in the form of a check or money order, payable to "General Treasurer, State of Rhode Island".
The cost includes $10 to process the change to your birth certificate and $22 to provide you with a certified copy of the amended certificate.
Additional copies may be purchased on the same day for $18 each.
Notes: you will not receive your amended birth certificate the same day as you appear at the Office of Vital Records. It will be mailed to you after your application has been processed.
You can save time at the Office of Vital Records by calling (401) 222-5339 to schedule an appointment to submit your application in person.
By mail
Addressed to:
Rhode Island Department of Health - Office of Vital Records
Simpson Hall
6 Harrington Road
Cranston, Rhode Island 02920
Be sure to include:
Completed Application for a Certified Copy of a Birth Record
Certified copy of your Name Change Court Order (this is the probate court-issued proof of your new legal name) - this document will be returned to you
A readable photocopy of your valid, government-issued photo ID. Acceptable documents include your driver’s license, state ID, US passport, military ID, certificate of naturalization, or alien registration form.
Payment of $35 in the form of a check or money order, payable to "General Treasurer, State of Rhode Island".
The cost includes $10 to process the change to your birth certificate and $25 to provide you with a certified copy of the amended certificate by mail.
Additional copies may be purchased at the same time for $18 each.
Updating Gender Marker on ri birth certificate
Complete the Application for a Certified Copy of a Birth Record form
STEP 1
Download the Application for a Certified Copy of a Birth Record here, or from the Rhode Island Department of Health website.
Section 1: Fill in all requested biographical information.
If you are updating your name at the same time as your gender marker: fill in the field “New name if changed in court” with your current legal name.
Section 2: Indicate that you are requesting your own birth certificate.
Section 3: asks “Why do you need this record?”. Check the “other use” box and specify you are seeking to change the gender marker on your birth certificate.
Section 4: indicate the number of certified copies of your amended birth certificate you want to purchase.
Section 5: sign, date, and fill in the required contact information.
Notes: You may choose an M, F, or X as the gender marker on your birth certificate (listed as “sex” field). No medical documentation is required to update your gender marker.
If you will appear in person at the Office of Vital Records to submit your application and supporting documents skip Step 2 below. The Office of Vital Records will prepare the needed affidavit to sign while you are there. If you will mail your application and supporting documents, complete Step 2 below.
(If applying by Mail Only) Contact the Office of Vital Records to request an affidavit
STEP 2
If you plan to mail your application to update the gender marker on your birth certificate, you will need to contact the Office of Vital Records to prepare an affidavit before mailing your application.
Skip this step if you plan to visit the Office of Vital Records in person. A RIDOH staff member will prepare the affidavit for you to sign while you are there and the staff member will notarize it.
1) Contact the Office of Vital Records by phone or by email.
As of July 2024, the correct contact person who handles updates to birth certificates is Mellissa Wilson. Her information is provided below:
By phone: (401) 222-5339
By email: mellissa.wilson@health.ri.gov
Inform the Office of Vital Records that you are seeking to change the gender marker on your RI birth certificate and that you are requesting an affidavit.
Tell them the gender marker currently on your birth certificate and the gender marker you are seeking to change to.
Give them key biographical information, including name at birth, current legal name (if you changed your name through probate court), date of birth, and place of birth.
A sample script for email or phone call is provided below:
Hello,
I am seeking to change the gender marker in the sex field on my Rhode Island birth certificate from (M/F) to (M/F/X). I am writing to request that your office prepare an affidavit for me to sign to initiate this process.
My key biographical information is:
Current Legal Name:
Name at Birth:
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:Please contact me at (phone number) or (email address) with any questions.
Thank you.
After this request, the Office of Vital Records will prepare a formal affidavit for you. They will send you a copy via email or mail.
2) Sign and notarize the affidavit
In the presence of a notary, sign the affidavit and have them notarize it.
Additional guidance on finding a notary in your community is available here.
Submit your application and supporting documents to the Office of Vital Records
STEP 3
You may bring your completed application and supporting documents in-person to the Office of Vital Records or mail them. The Office of Vital Records is located at:
Rhode Island Department of Health - Office of Vital Records
Simpson Hall
6 Harrington Road
Cranston, Rhode Island 02920Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday (closed on state holidays)
7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Call to confirm: 401-222-5960
In person
Be sure to bring the following with you:
Completed Application for a Certified Copy of a Birth Record
If you are updating your name at the same time as your gender marker: Certified copy of your Name Change Court Order (this is the probate court-issued proof of your new legal name) - this document will be returned to you
A valid, government-issued photo ID. Acceptable documents include your driver’s license, state ID, US passport, military ID, certificate of naturalization, or alien registration form.
Payment of $32 in the form of a check or money order, payable to "General Treasurer, State of Rhode Island".
The cost includes $10 to process the change to your birth certificate and $22 to provide you with a certified copy of the amended certificate.
Additional copies may be purchased on the same day for $18 each.
Notes: you will not receive your amended birth certificate the same day as you appear at the Office of Vital Records. It will be mailed to you after your application has been processed.
You can save time at the Office of Vital Records by calling (401) 222-5339 to schedule an appointment to submit your application in person.
By mail
Addressed to:
Rhode Island Department of Health - Office of Vital Records
Simpson Hall
6 Harrington Road
Cranston, Rhode Island 02920
Be sure to include:
Completed Application for a Certified Copy of a Birth Record
Signed and notarized affidavit for gender marker change that was prepared for you by the Office of Vital Records.
If you are updating your name at the same times are your gender marker: Certified copy of your Name Change Court Order (this is the probate court-issued proof of your new legal name) - this document will be returned to you
A readable photocopy of your valid, government-issued photo ID. Acceptable documents include your driver’s license, state ID, US passport, military ID, certificate of naturalization, or alien registration form.
Payment of $35 in the form of a check or money order, payable to "General Treasurer, State of Rhode Island".
The cost includes $10 to process the change to your birth certificate and $25 to provide you with a certified copy of the amended certificate by mail.
Additional copies may be purchased at the same time for $18 each.
