Do I need a Certified Document?

While there may be situations where a simple photocopy of your document will suffice, it is always a good idea to have an official certified copy of all your legal documents, stored in a safe place. A certified copy is a copy of any document on file with the State that is attested to as an accurate and true copy of the original document. A certified official document has an official state registrar’s raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, the registrar’s signature, and the date the document originated. You are better off to get a certified copy of your documents than to be turned away from a proceeding for inadequate documentation.

Copies, both plain and certified, of any documents filed with the State may be obtained for your own records or for legal purposes. You may require a copy of your formation documents to open a bank account, for a closing on a loan, in connection with a court case or a variety of other reasons. Documents retrieved from government agencies for legal proceedings may require certification from the public official entrusted with the safekeeping of the documents.