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They all refer to the same thing. “Notarized Copy” and “Certified Copy” are used interchangeably. Technically, however, “Notarized” is a broad term, which could include witnessing someone sign something. For that reason, we prefer to use the term “Certified Copy” or “True Copy” to refer to a copy of a document that has been stamped by a Notary to certify that the copy is a true copy of the original. And that’s all it means. A certified copy does not verify the authenticity of the original document, only that the copy is a true copy of what appears to be an original document to the Notary Public. Of course, Certified Copies can only be made of documents that are original. What makes something an original document is whether it has some sort of seal, stamp, or signature. Some types of documents that are very common to certify as true copies include such things as Identification documents (e.g. Passport, Driver’s License, Birth Certificate), Diplomas, Report Cards, etc.

Find a notary near you to obtain a certified copy.