Can I certify a copy myself?

Asked by: Ramona Feeney Sr.  |  Last update: February 9, 2026
Score: 4.3/5 (60 votes)

You generally cannot certify a copy yourself to the same standard as a professional, but you can "self-attest" for some purposes by signing a statement like "True Copy" on your photocopy, while official certification requires a Notary Public or authorized official (like a solicitor or government clerk) who compares the copy to the original and stamps/signs it, especially for vital records like birth certificates. The key is understanding who needs the certification and what level of verification is required, as self-attestation is different from a legally recognized certified copy.

How do you certify a copy of a document?

How do I certify a copy of a document?

  1. The document's custodian requests a certified copy. ...
  2. The Notary compares the original and the copy. ...
  3. The Notary certifies that the copy is accurate.

How to self-attest a photocopy?

Self-attestation simply requires you to place your signature on a photocopy of the document you want to certify. After you have a made a clean copy of your document, write a statement on it such as: “True copy” or “Self-attested copy”. Then place your signature directly under it.

How to certify a true copy of documents?

Certified True Copy Certification

  1. Secure and fill out application form.
  2. Submit duly accomplished form and attach the other supporting documents.
  3. Wait for the issuance of Order of Payment Slip (OPS).
  4. Pay the corresponding fees.

How to certify an original copy?

Single-page documents must have the following written on them by an authorised officer.

  1. This statement: 'I have sighted the original document and certify this to be a true copy of the original'
  2. The date.
  3. The authorised officer's signature.
  4. The authorised officer's name.
  5. The authorised officer's contact phone number.

How to Certify a Copy of a Document

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Who can certify a true copy of documents?

The following external certifiers (i.e. not a company's employee) can certify your documents: Solicitor/Lawyer/Notary Public/Certified Public or Professional Accountant/Auditor/Chartered Secretary from a FATF member country OR a bank staff.

Where can I certify my documents?

All police stations, most post offices, some Post net branches have commissioners of oath who will do that. Most lawyers and some accountants are also registered commissioners who can certify documents.

Who can issue certified true copy?

Certified True Copy (CTC): You get a copy (photocopy/printout) and the agency, court, school, or office certifies it matches the record or the original presented. Example: CTC of a court order, CTC of a land title from the Registry of Deeds, CTC of a transcript or diploma from a school, CTC of a barangay certificate.

Who can certify a document and how do they do it?

Copies of documents can be certified by one of the following people:

  1. Accountants.
  2. Armed Forces Officer.
  3. Bank/Building Society Official.
  4. Commissioner of Oaths.
  5. Councillor (local or county)
  6. FCA regulated person.
  7. FCA regulated financial services intermediary (e.g. stockbroker or insurance broker)

Is a notarized copy the same as certified?

A notarized copy of a document and a certified true copy is the same. Although certified copies often refer to the copies of vital records and documents, such as birth certificates, which you can obtain only from the county clerk, the terms notarized and certified copies of documents are used interchangeably.

What is a self certified copy?

Self attestation is the process of signing a photocopy of a document to declare that it is a true copy of the original. It is widely accepted for government forms, college admissions, job applications, KYC updates, and verification processes.

What are the risks of self-attestation?

Beyond legal risks, self-attestation can expose companies to operational vulnerabilities. Without third-party validation, organizations may overlook critical security gaps, increasing the risk of data breaches.

Is self attestation legally valid?

Note: Self-attestation of income in a written statement signed under a penalty of perjury is accepted on a case-by-case basis. Self-attestation means to legally sign a document yourself to confirm its authenticity.

Can my local post office certify documents?

Certified copies of your important documents

Need to provide photocopies of documents? Get them certified as a true likeness of their originals at selected Post Office branches. Pay a fee for the copies you need and keep the originals. The organisation that requested them gets copies certified by a trusted brand.

What words do you need to certify a copy?

The certifier should hand-write the following on each individual copy of the document:

  • The words “I certify that this is a true copy of the original document seen by me”
  • The certifier's signature.
  • The certifier's name, professional title and their contact telephone number or email address.

How to prove certified copy?

Production of Certified Copy:

90 of Evidence Act, regarding the genuineness or execution, although, the certified copy may be used to prove the contents of the document. Mere production of a certified copy of the registered document would not amount to proving the original deed by way of secondary evidence.

How can I certify a copy?

You'll often need a Copy Certification by a Notary Public, a process that confirms your copy is a true and accurate reproduction of the original document. At Your Local Notary Public, we specialize in notarizing copy certifications of passports and IDs in compliance with California law and international standards.

Is certifying a document free?

If you're getting a document signed by a Justice of the Peace (JP) as I normally do to get the document certified, they have to witness the document and are not allowed to charge you anything for this. It is one of those things that people do for the good of the community.

What do you call a person who certifies documents?

A notary public is a state-appointed official with authority to notarize documents. They do this by formally witnessing and certifying signatures to verify the identities of the parties involved in a contract and ensure the signers understand which document they are signing.

Who can verify copies of documents?

List of people authorised to certify copies of original documents

  • Architect.
  • Chiropractor.
  • Conveyancer.
  • Dentist.
  • Financial adviser or financial planner.
  • Legal practitioner.
  • Medical practitioner.
  • Midwife.

What makes it a certified copy?

A certified copy is a duplicated version of an original document that has been verified by an authorized individual. This verification process confirms that the copy is an accurate representation of the original, making it a legally acceptable substitute in various official and legal contexts.

How do I know if a copy is certified?

A certified copy is a copy of a primary document with a certificate on it that it is the true copy. Make sure seals and signatures are originals.

Where can I certified a true copy of my documents?

Request for certified true copies of records/documents at the Office for Legal Affairs may be filed anytime either by walk-in or online requests. Clients can download the said form and send it to ola.records@csc.gov.ph.

Who can certify a document in the US?

Notaries may make attested copies of most any personal document if they are presented with the original document, and if the original document is not a public or vital record. In some states, copy attestation is limited to the notary's recordbook or journal entries.

What is the app that certify documents?

CERTUS® mobile application

To simplify the verification of multiple documents, use our mobile app.