What is a certified copy?
A certified copy is a copy of an original document that has been certified as a true and correct copy by a person who is authorised to witness a statutory declaration. Persons who are authorised to witness statutory declarations (under the Commonwealth Statutory Declarations Act 1959) include: • Accountant (Chartered or Certified) • Clerk of a Court • Commissioner for Affadavits • Commissioner for Declarations • Dentist • Justice of the Peace • Legal Practitioner • Magistrate • Medical Practitioners • Nurse • Pharmacists • Police Officer • Post Office Manager • Sheriff or Sheriff’s Officer • Teacher • Veterinary Surgeon For information on other persons who are authorised to witness a statutory declaration, please contact us.
A certified copy is a photo of an original document, which contains the signature and official stamp of an authorised signatory. When obtaining a certified photocopy, please ensure the following: • The signature of the person certifying is original • The person clarifying the document must state their title • There is a statement to say that it is a true copy of the original document • The certification is dated • If it is a multi-page document, either each page must be certified or the certification statement must state the number of pages and each page must be signed by the authority.
