Ace the California Notary License Test 2026 – Seal Your Success with Confidence!

Notaries are prohibited from certifying copies of certain documents, and one of those is a birth certificate. This restriction stems from the sensitivity and legal significance attached to original vital records such as birth certificates. States have specific laws regarding who can issue certified copies of such documents. Typically, certified copies must be issued directly by the vital records office or government entity that originally created the document, ensuring that the copy is valid and accurate. In contrast, public records and other types of documents (like photographs, under certain conditions) can often be certified by a notary, provided that proper procedures are followed. Notaries are not authorized to provide certification for certain types of vital records to maintain the integrity of these important documents.