Q: Can I get my fathers name removed from my birth certificate at 16 years old?

A: No. By law, "If the child's mother was married at the time of either the conception or birth or between conception and birth, the name of the mother's spouse shall be entered on the certificate as the child's other parent." If the mother was unmarried at any of these times, "the name of the child's other parent may not be entered on the certificate without an affidavit of parentage as authorized by § 5-1028 of the Family Law Article signed by the mother and the person to be named on the certificate as the other parent." Once the father's name is registered on the birth certificate, it may not be removed except by affidavit of one of the parents to rescind the identification of the father as the biological parent, and commencement of paternity proceedings. The name cannot be removed without the consent of the parent whose name is sought to be removed, or without a court order finding that he is not the father. You would have no standing to remove the name, and no factual basis to do so. The Department of Vital Statistics is charged with maintaining true and accurate records of parentage of all citizens born in the State. The legal mission and purpose of the law in requiring certain information be entered accurately on birth certificates (and death certificates) is not subject to the whims and preferences of those who are identified in the records. In ther words, the record is not solely for your benefit, but serves a vital governmental interest in establishing the identity of persons born in the State.