So yesterday when I went to the DMV to get a new drivers license I brought my expired CA drivers license, my passport, bill showing my current address, and my birth certificate. Well... as she was entering the information in, she noticed that my birth certificate had my name spelt incorrectly with a "C" (Eric). She said that the birth certificate trumps all other documents, and that she was forced to issue me a drivers license with my name spelt as it was on the birth certificate.

The lady helping me also said that this happens all the time with younger kids getting their licenses for the 1st time. Their parents never noticed that the birth certifcate didn't have the correct spelling, or that they never bothered to file a correction. So now I have to file the correction for myself, and then pay the fee to get a new drivers license issued. Yesterday I was paranoid that a cashier was going to deny me from being able to use my credit card because the name didn't match my ID. Luckily the two times I used it the clerk didn't notice (or care). But next time I may not be so lucky. Thanks mom and dad.