Last reviewed September 19, 2026. Official North Carolina sources are linked below.
What this means in practice
If an organization asks you for a “certified copy,” first find out who must certify it. Depending on the record, that may be the government office, court, school, vital-records office, or other organization that issued or maintains the original.
Do not substitute a notarization for a certified copy
A notarized signature and a certified copy solve different problems. A notary should not represent a photocopy as an officially certified true copy when North Carolina law does not authorize that act.
Read the N.C. Secretary of State notary FAQ ↗
Need ordinary copies?
The store can still make ordinary photocopies of your documents. That copying service does not turn the copy into a certified true copy.