Can a Notary certify a Birth, Death or Marriage Certificate?

Today we’re diving into a question that may have popped up at some point. Can a notary certify a birth, death or marriage certificate? It is a valid question and the answer may surprise you!

First things first, let’s clear up any confusion. As notaries, we’re pretty familiar with the documents we handle. We notarize signatures, witness signings and verify identities but when it comes to certifying documents like birth certificates, things get a bit trickier.

So, can we certify a birth certificate? Well, the short answer is usually no. Birth certificates are typically issued by government agencies like the Department of Health or Vital Records. These agencies are responsible for maintaining official records of births, deaths, etc…

As notaries, our job is to verify signatures and identities, but we do not have the authority to certify contents of a birth or death certificate. To obtain a CERTIFIED birth or death certificate, you should contact the Minnesota Department of Health. For foreign birth certificates, contact the consulate of the county of origin.

To obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate, contact the county office where the marriage took place. For example, if the marriage ceremony was in Washington County, contact the Washington County website.

In conclusion, while we can’t directly certify a birth, death or marriage certificate, we can still assist you in certifying copies of many other important documents such as passports, driver’s licenses, etc…

If you have any more questions or topics you’d like us to tackle, feel free to drop us a line. Until next time, happy notarizing!

Kristi at The Notary MN