Correcting Birth Certificates in the Dominican Republic

  • By:Vianela Morillo

Is there an error on your birth certificate?

Read below and you will be able to identify the type of error and the ways to correct it in the Dominican Republic.

It is very common to findĀ errors on birth certificates in the Dominican RepublicĀ and this issue presents itself in different circumstances of our lives, for example:

  • When requesting an identity card (cĆ©dula) for the first time.
  • When submitting a residence request for any country.
  • Couples, parents, children, etc.
  • When applying for a passport.
  • Among others.

The 7 most common errors are the following:

  • When a declaration is made, the officer who files it, records it in two different books. This starts the process in which errors take place, registering information on one book that does not match the information on the other.
  • When the dates on the birth certificates do not match (days, month or year).
  • When the first or last name of a parent is misspelled.
  • When the last names of a parent are transposed.
  • When the birthplace is incorrect.
  • When there are typing mistakes.
  • When information is omitted.

These are the most common, but there are endless possibilities.

Correcting Birth Certificates

Birth certificates are one of the different Civil Registry Certificates, and they need to be amended when they have errors. These corrections are necessary because once data has been entered in the official registry, if the employee or official in charge of adding information to the registry makes a mistake, it cannot be corrected in the registry in question by physically overwriting the incorrect data.

The solemnity of Civil Registry Certificates requires a correction process through which a judge authorizes said amendment. The correction request must be submitted to a Superior Electoral Tribunal judge.

The procedure will be determined by the type of error that was made. There are two types of corrections:

  1. Administrative
  2. Judicial

Administrative Correction of Birth Certificates

This is a purely administrative process used to determine if the error in question can be amended administratively, otherwise the process must be done through the Superior Electoral Tribunal (known in Spanish as TSS).

When does it apply?

  • When the errors are material in nature
  • By writing or omission
  • When they are not judicial in nature

Example:Ā Tatiana was born in 1999, however, one of the books shows the year as 199 (missing a 9).

How should the request be completed?

Statement explaining the material error found in the birth certificate, addressed to the director of the Civil Status Office.

Required Documents:

  • Original birth certificate
  • Copy of CĆ©dula (if applicable)
  • Power of Representation (if applicable)

Response time:

Three to four months.

Outcome / Decision:

Resolution instructing the competent official to proceed with the correction or a statement explaining the reason why it cannot be done administratively.

Judicial Correction of Birth Certificates

When does it apply?

When it is judicial in nature, information has been changed or an error has been made that affects the following:

  • The name the holder
  • The names of their parents
  • Holder’s date of birth
  • Dates of birth of their parents
  • Date of Birth
  • Sex
  • Place of birth
  • Among others.

Example:

Marƭa was born in Marƭa Trinidad SƔnchez in the province of Nagua, however her birth certificate shows that she was born in Marƭa Trinidad SƔnchez, in the El Factor Municipality.

Who receives the request?

The Superior Electoral Court (known in Spanish as TSE).

Requirements / Necessary Documents:

  • Clear and precise Lawyer statement.
  • Original, Full-length and legalized birth certificate(s) of the individual in question and other parties involved.
  • Copy of the cĆ©dula (front and back) of the applicant and / or other parties involved.
  • Certificate of live birth (Hospital or Clinic where the individual was born). If that it is not available, provide a certificate or other related documents instead.
  • Baptism certificate of the holder
  • Any official document that supports the request.

Response time:

Eight to twelve months, depending on the court’s workload.

Outcome / Decision:

Ruling providing consent for the corresponding correction, followed by a request for approval to the Central Electoral Board. This office would then issue an official letter authorizing the corresponding Civil Registry Office to correct the certificate in question, and issue an amended certificate.

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Posted in: Civil Law