An official copy of a document issued by a court or government agency that is certified with a seal to be a true and exact copy of the original document. Many governmental institutions require certified copies of original documents in order to proceed with certain activities, for example, a certified copy of a death certificate is required before a financial institution will release funds pertaining to a deceased person’s estate.
Law Dictionary – Alternative Legal Definition
A copy of a document, signed and certified as a true copy by the officer to whose custody the original is intrusted.