Before You Ask a Notary to ‘Certify a Copy’—Read This First

Barbara called in a hurry.

“I just need you to certify a copy of my birth certificate. I’ve got the original and a copy with me—can you notarize it today?”

It’s a request I hear often. And I understand—when you’re dealing with deadlines, the last thing you want is red tape.

But in this case, I had to explain something many people don’t realize: In Florida, notaries cannot certify copies of public records—no matter how ready or polite the client may be.

Barbara was trying to renew her passport. The agency told her she needed a certified copy of her birth certificate, so she did what most people would do—she searched for a notary near her.

That search brought her to me—Notary Near Me Florida. (shameless plug) She gave me a call and explained what she needed. I asked a simple question: “Just to clarify—do you need me to notarize the birth certificate itself or a copy of it?”

When she said it was a copy of her birth certificate, I gently let her know that Florida notaries aren’t authorized to certify copies of public records—and that includes birth certificates.

I also explained exactly what she could do:

Contact the Department of Health’s Bureau of Vital Statistics to request a certified copy from the issuing agency.

She was grateful for the guidance.

“I had no idea—thank you for explaining that.”

And just before we hung up, she added:

“Actually… I also have a form for my daughter’s summer camp that needs to be notarized. Can you help with that?”

Now that is a question I could say “yes” to.

Here’s what you need to know:

🛑 Florida notaries cannot certify copies of public records. That includes:

• Birth certificates
• Marriage licenses
• Death certificates
• Court documents

These documents must be certified only by the agency that issued them. For birth certificates in Florida, that means the Department of Health's Bureau of Vital Statistics.

📌 Note: Many states have similar laws, so if you're outside Florida, be sure to check with your state's notary governing body before assuming a notary can certify a vital record. When in doubt—ask a professional.

What Can a Florida Notary Certify?