You may often see or hear a paper marriage certificate referred to as a copy. This can be confusing, as if you're being given a "copy" of the document rather than the "original."

But here we're talking about legal jargon in the United States. In the American system, the original marriage certificate is always kept in the county registrar's office. The spouses are given a "certified copy," that is, a certified copy from this archive. This certified copy is a fully valid legal document: it bears the seal, the clerk's signature, and the embossed county stamp.

In other words, you're not given a standard photocopy of the document, but an official copy, which has the same legal force as the "original" in other countries. In American law, a certified copy is considered an official marriage certificate. This applies to all marriages concluded in the United States.

You can find more detailed information about online marriage on our website or on our YouTube channel🩵