Can a Maryland notary certify copies of documents?

• A. Not all documents may be copied or certified; consult Maryland statutes for what is allowed.
• B. Copies can be certified for any document upon request.
• C. Certification of copies is prohibited in Maryland.
• D. Only government-issued documents may be certified.

Answer: (A)

In Maryland, a notary’s power to certify copies isn’t universal—statutes determine exactly which documents may be copied and certified. The notary must check the Maryland Notary statutes to know which types of documents can be copied, what form the certificate must take, and any restrictions (for example, certain government or vital records typically can’t be certified by a notary and must be obtained directly from the issuing agency). When a copy is certified, the notary compares it with the original, confirms it’s a true and complete reproduction, and attaches the proper certificate stating that fact. Because the rules vary by document type and situation, the safest, most accurate approach is to consult the actual statutes to see what’s allowed. In practice, this means not every document may be copied or certified, and government-issued or restricted records may require certification from the issuer rather than a notary.