What is a certified copy?
A copy issued by the office holding the original record, carrying a seal or stamp a photocopier cannot reproduce. Your own photocopy is not one.
Your documents
Certified copies, what agencies accept, and what to do while you wait.
How many certified copies should I order?
At least three. Ordering extras in the same request is nearly always cheaper than ordering them one at a time later.
Where do I order certified copies?
From the office that holds the original record, in the state where the event was filed — not the state you live in now.
What is the difference between a marriage license and a certificate?
The license comes before the wedding and permits it; the certificate comes after and records it. Every agency wants the certificate.
How do I check whether my decree restores my former name?
Look in the final judgment, among the ordering paragraphs near the end, for a line that names a former name and restores it. Ending a marriage does not restore a name on its own.
What do I do while my document is still in the mail?
Get everything else ready. You can build the whole kit while the copy is in the mail, and it names what you are still waiting for and how to order it.
My document was issued in another country. Will it be accepted?
Yes. Social Security does not require the document to be in English; it requires the original or a certified copy, plus a translation.
Does my name change document expire?
No. The document that authorizes your name change is a record of an event, not a permit with a date on it — and neither it nor your kit runs out.