How do you get a copy of something "certified"?

You could try a local Notary Public.

A certified copy is a copy of the original made by the originator of the document. So if you want a certified copy of an insurance policy, you call your insurer, have them make a copy from the original policy that they have on file, stamp it "certified" and send it out to you/or the place you want it to go to. The reason it is called certified is that the insurance company is stating that it is a "true" copy that could not have been embellished in any way.

Some notaries can do this for you, but it depends on the document and where it originated from.

Yes boomer, like Arthur said, a notary can certify your copies.
If you need it for the adoption, then it is sufficient (I needed to do
that as well with some documents).

It's a pain and usually costs something outrageous. I think when I needed my certified birth certificate it was $25.

Which is not a lot but for a piece of paper with a seal? ugh.

I called the county clerks office for that.

Thanks!

I'll take the documents to my attorney's office next week and have notorized copies made. Easy!

I had to order my birth certificate - it cost $23. I hope it doesn't take long to get here.

Ack.

Notarization isn't necessarily the same thing as certification (laws differ among states). Contact the issuer of the document and ask. Your attorney's notary may or may not be able to do this but better safe than sorry.

I don't remember what I paid, I was just grateful that I didn't need
to have my birth certificate translated into English.

Okay!

I think I'll email my attorney and ask if they can do it and if they can't I'll know to contact the agency directly!

Turns out that you DO have to order it from the issuing agency. At least in Oregon, you do.

(I thought that since I just paid my attorney to answer that question that I'd pass the info along to others.)