Notaries are often asked to certify that a photocopy of an original document is a true and accurate reproduction of the original. The term includes: 1) taking an acknowledgment;.2) administering an oath or affirmation;. The notary is simply stating that the document photocopy is a "true" and complete copy of the original document that was presented. A true and correct copy satisfies requirements of law that the signatures and attestations contained in the document are original and authentic. Sometimes Notaries are asked to certify a copy of a document. But before accepting a request to do this, Notaries need to know a few important facts. Many states allow notaries to make certified copies of documents as long as the original document is not a publicly recorded document. A true certified copy is a duplicate of a document that a notary has certified and verified as a true copy of the original document. The copy is guaranteed as an exact replica of what is on file.
