Certified Mail: What It Provides When Sending Records
Certified Mail is an extra service from the United States Postal Service that gives the sender a mailing receipt and a tracking history. The Postal Service says it can only be added to First-Class Mail and Priority Mail.
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What it provides
According to the Postal Service:
- A mailing receipt for the sender
- Tracking history
- On request, electronic verification that the item was delivered or that a delivery attempt was made
Another USPS publication says it lets you confirm a letter was sent and when it was delivered or a delivery attempt was made, and that it also provides a postmarked mailing receipt on request. Items sent this way are handled in transit like ordinary mail.
Do not confuse it with a certified copy
Certified Mail is a mailing service. A certified copy is an official copy of a record issued and stamped by the office that holds it. Sending an application by Certified Mail does not make a document certified.
Using it with records requests
Some people use it to prove an application or supporting papers were mailed. Check the issuing office's instructions first, since it may name its own payment, notarization and mailing requirements. Do not send original ID documents in the mail.
Frequently asked questions
Does Certified Mail guarantee a faster delivery?
No. The Postal Service says items with this service are handled in transit like ordinary mail.
Does the recipient have to sign for it?
The sources reviewed describe electronic delivery verification. Ask the Postal Service about signature options.
Is a certified copy sent by Certified Mail?
Only if the office chooses it. The mailing service and the certified copy are separate things.
Sources
US Records is a private company and is not a government agency. Government agencies issue certified records; we help you order them.
Written By
US Records TeamThe US Records Team writes and reviews guides on birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates, using state statutes, agency instructions and court records as sources.
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