Certified Copy

What Does Certified Copy Mean?

A certified copy is a duplicate of a document that has been verified as an authentic, true copy of the original. Insurance companies often provide certified copies of policies when the original document has been lost. This often comes up after a policyholder dies and the family can’t locate the original paperwork, which is one reason collecting a life insurance payout as a beneficiary sometimes takes longer than expected.

Insuranceopedia Explains Certified Copy

Certified copies can only be verified as genuine by the original issuer of the document or by qualified individuals, such as notary publics. The purpose of certifying copies is to ensure that nothing has been altered or omitted from the original document.

Certified copies can also be used in legal proceedings, including lawsuits involving an insurance company. These certified copies of insurance policy documents may be submitted as evidence in court. Disputes over who should receive a payout often come down to what the certified documents show, which is one reason the rules around naming life insurance beneficiaries are worth getting right the first time.