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How to correct a civil status document (error, omission, shell, double dash)?
Verified 22 August 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
The procedure for the rectification of a deed of civil status varies if the error to be corrected is a simple error of form (spelling, forgetting, double dash, etc.) or an error that modifies essential information.
What applies to you ?
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Hardware Error
Step-by-step approach
Hardware error in a deed of civil status is a simple error of form or a forgotten.
Examples: misspelled name, error in date of birth, error in domicile, error in profession.
You can request the rectification of a birth certificate that includes a double dash between the 2 surnames of a child.
After correction, a heading is added after the double name, as follows: (Part 1: … Part 2: ….).
Example: the double name Jeremy DUBOIS -- DURAND becomes, after correction: DUBOIS DURAND (Part 1: DUBOIS Part 2: DURAND).
Prepare the following documents:
- Application on free paper or on the cerfa form n°11531. A leaflet, attached to the form, must be read before filling it out.
- Full copy(s) of the civil status documents to be corrected less than 3 months old
- Full copy of an act without error or copy of any document justifying the rectification. For example, the birth certificate of a married person whose name is misspelled on the marriage certificate.
- Copy of an identity document. For example, national identity card, passport.
Depending on your situation, additional documents may be requested.
Please note
If the hardware error is contained in your birth certificate, you must first get the correction of this act. Thereafter, you can request, if necessary, the rectification of others civil status records.
The approach varies in particular depending on whether the civil status document has been drawn up in France or abroad.
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Deed of civil status established in France
You must contact the town hall where the deed was drawn up.
Your request can be submitted or sent by mail.
Civil status document drawn up abroad
You must contact the public prosecutor after the Court of Justice of Nantes (Civil Prosecution Service).
Your request can be submitted or sent by mail.
Who shall I contact
Document in lieu of a civil status document to a refugee, stateless person, or beneficiary of subsidiary protection
Subsidiary protection is granted to foreigners who are exposed in their country of origin to a risk of serious harm (death penalty, torture, etc.) but who do not qualify for refugee status.
You must contact the public prosecutor after the judicial court of Paris.
Your request can be submitted or sent by mail.
Who shall I contact
Your request is processed by the registrar or the public prosecutor.
In any case, you are informed by mail of the decision.
Substantial error
Step-by-step approach
Substantive error is an error or omission that relates to essential information of the civil status document and which requires the judge's assessment.
Examples: error of parentage, error in the indication of the sex and first names of a person with a variation in genital development (a doctor must have found that his sex does not match that on his birth certificate).
Prepare the following documents:
- Application on free paper
- Full copy(s) of the civil status documents to be corrected less than 3 months old
- Full copy of any deed of civil status or copy of any document justifying the existence of an error and allowing its correction. For example, when the birth certificate is incomplete because one of the first names chosen by the parents is missing.
- Copy of an identity document. For example, national identity card, passport.
Depending on your situation, additional documents may be requested.
The approach varies in particular depending on whether the civil status document has been drawn up in France or abroad.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Deed of civil status established in France
The approach varies depending on whether you live in France or abroad.
You live in France
You must apply to the judicial court of your home or the court of justice of place where the act was drawn up.
Your query can be deposited or sent by post.
Who shall I contact
You live abroad
You must contact the judicial court of Paris.
Your query can be deposited or sent by post.
Who shall I contact
Civil status document drawn up abroad
You must contact the Court of Justice of Nantes.
Your query can be deposited or sent by post.
Who shall I contact
Document in lieu of a civil status document for a refugee, stateless person or beneficiary of subsidiary protection
Subsidiary protection is granted to foreigners who are exposed in their country of origin to a risk of serious harm (death penalty, torture, etc.) but who do not qualify for refugee status.
You must contact the judicial court of Paris.
Your query can be deposited or sent by post.
Who shall I contact
You are informed by mail of the decision.
On the same subject
Rectification of civil status documents
Administrative correction of civil status documents
Judicial correction of civil status documents
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