Can You Change Your Age Legally? What You Need To Know

Published April 2, 2024

Can you legally change your name? You may find yourself in a situation where you need to alter your birthday. You may also wonder out of curiosity or mere desire. But changing your name is a complicated process that can’t be done out of the blue.

If the date of birth on your birth record is wrong, you may be able to modify it legally. Yet, you may not be able to change your age or birth date without evidence that your birth certificate is incorrect. Claiming a different age for a legal purpose or with a government agency can cause problems and be deemed a crime.

In this article, we’ll discuss a comprehensive guide to legally changing your age. Keep reading to learn exactly what steps to take if you’re on this journey. Let’s start.

Can I Use a Different Age Informally?

It is possible to tell someone you are younger than your age. Unofficially telling someone a different birth date or age will not spark a big deal. It may include telling people you meet that you are a few years younger than your actual age. You may also do so in social media settings or through a dating app.

Is It Possible To Claim You Are Older Than You Are?

Most people of a certain age would prefer to claim they are younger than they already are. Claiming you are older is generally left to people under the age of 21 trying to acquire alcohol or get to a bar. Yet, depending on your state, it can be against the law to misrepresent your age to obtain alcohol. It is also the case if you attempt to claim a government benefit by misrepresenting your age.

How Do I Correct a DOB Error on My Birth Certificate?

A birth certificate is a legal account that displays the official date of birth. If the birth date on an official account is incorrect, you can take steps to correct the error.

Changing the DOB on a birth certificate is a complicated process. One can even argue it is more complex than petitioning for a name change. Petitioning for a name change can be done through a court order or as part of divorce proceedings. The rules for correcting a birth certificate will anchor on the state that initially issued your record. You may be required to get a court order issued by a judge before the vital records office modify your date of birth.

In most cases, the date on a legally declared birth certificate is presumed to be correct. To correct or amend it, you will need supporting documentation that supports your claim. Supporting documents may include:

• Hospital records
• Immigration documents
• Court order
• Birth certificates
• Passports
• Affidavits

Can You Legally Change Your Birthdate?

Only when you are trying to correct your birthdate. You cannot have your birthdate edited out or altered out of personal preferences. The day you were born is the only birthdate you can legally claim. It is an essential form of identity. Claiming alternative birth dates on legal accounts or forms can be considered fraud.

How To Legally Change Your Birth Date

1. Correcting errors

If your birthdate was incorrectly recorded at the time of birth, you can seek a petition to have it corrected. You can submit a request to a vital office of the country or state where you were born. Prepare to have compelling evidence of the correct date. For one, bring a hospital birth record.

2. Delayed registration of birth

For those who were not registered at birth, a delayed registration of birth may be necessary. This process typically demands gathering any available evidence of the birth date. You can show baptismal certificates, school records, or affidavits from witnesses present at birth.

3. Legal petition

In some cases, modifying your birthdate may require petitioning a court. It is a lengthy and complex process. It requires substantial proof of why the change is necessary. Reasons might include correcting errors or aligning your legal documents with your loved identity.

Proof required:

• Affidavits from parents
• Medical records
• Other documents that display the proper date of birth

4. Amending birth certificates

Once approval is granted, you must get your birth certificate amended. Connect with the vital records office where your birth was registered.

5. Updating other documents

After successfully changing your birth date, you must update other personal documents to reflect the change. It might include your passport, driver’s license, and Social Security records.