Certified copy

So, imagine you have a book that is very special to you. Maybe it’s your favorite storybook or your diary. You might not want to lend this book to anyone, but sometimes you need to show it to someone else so they can read it too.

That’s kind of like why people sometimes need a certified copy of a document. A certified copy is like a special version of a document that can be shown to others without giving away the original.

For example, let’s say you have a really important paper like a birth certificate or a marriage license. You might need to show this to someone like a government office or a school, but you also want to keep the original paper safe at home. So, you can get a certified copy of the paper. This is a special version of the paper that is stamped and signed by someone important who can prove that it’s a real copy of the original.

Think of it like photocopying your book or your favorite toy, but then having your mom or dad say “This is the real copy” and put their special seal or signature on it. That’s what a certified copy is! It helps prove that the copy is the real deal, not just somebody’s sketchy imitation.