Certified copy vs informational copy

Certified, with a raised seal

A certified copy is a copy the vital records office stands behind. It usually has a raised, embossed, or colored seal and a registrar’s signature. Banks, life insurers, DMVs, and courts want this. If someone says “we need a death certificate,” they mean this.

Informational, or uncertified

Some states sell an informational or genealogical copy. It may look official. It is not accepted to claim benefits or transfer property. California is the trap: an informational certified copy is still stamped, and it will bounce at a title company.

• If you are settling an estate, ask for an authorized / certified copy.
• If you are doing family history, an informational copy is often enough and easier to get.
• If the form offers both, read the line that says who may request each one.