Death Certificate

[maggiethecat]

Not sure this is the right board but thought I'd ask.
Is the original of a death certificate marked as a certified copy of the death entry as per the attached or is there something that distinguishes it as an original eg being marked "Original"
www.apostille.org.uk/death-certificate

I expect that certified copies should be acceptable by institutions but a family member is having a difficult time with a lawyer dealing with overseas land who say they need the original document rather than a certified copy.

The certificates on crown copy right paper with certified copy of an entry on the top are what are considered original certificates and should be accepted for legal purposes.

an original is the signed (wet ink) one on the crown copyright paper. For overseas registries / purposes, you may need to have that original apostilled to confirm that it indeed an original. Certified copy is different - it's a lawyer promising that a photocopy is an accurate copy of the original.

@Dancingalong and @EuroTrashed
I think that it is confusing that the "original" with wet signature on crown copyright paper is described as a certified copy of an entry especially since a certified copy of a document is usually as you describe Euro Trashed ie stamped/signed by a solicitor to certify it is a true copy of an original.

Is apostillation just a notary public signing to confirm its legitimacy?

Can I just check - although the ones described above are considered originals is there one copy that is issued after registration of the death that is actually marked "original' or is otherwise distinguished from those marked as certified copy?

there is the original register which is the big book that doesn't get moved from teh registry. The original death certificates are then the official crown paper versions with wet ink signature, but yes you're right - they're certified copies of the register itself, but still "original" death certificates. The apostille is as you say an official / formal confirmation that it is what it says it is - so that a foreign lawyer who has no idea what UK death certificates look like can rely on the notary / UK lawyer's confirmation that it is an original doc. Phew.

No there isn’t @maggiethecat. The only other document is the register page. This stays with the Registrar in the register and would never be given out. The certificates are all certified copies of this entry but are what are considered originals for official purpose. I agree it is confusing.

Well that is reassuring because although my aunt obtained a number of these certified copies she was not quite sure if she had ever received one marked "original" or was in some way distinctive from the others.

Thank you both - very well explained that these copies are certificates of the register entry and are effectively originals.

@EuroTrashed - it seems my aunt will have to pay to get the apostille which is a shame because she's just paid to get other docs notarised for the same matter and the foreign lawyer has just flagged up about the death certificate having had it for many months 🤬