New York State Notary Practice Exam

What is a copy of a public record that is signed and certified as true by a public official?

1. Certified copy

2. Deposition

3. Contract

4. Authentication

The correct answer is: Certified copy

A certified copy is indeed a copy of a public record that has been signed and verified as a true and accurate representation of the original document by a public official. This process ensures that the content of the record is officially recognized and can be relied upon for legal or administrative purposes. Certified copies are often used in situations where the authenticity of a document is necessary, such as when submitting documents to courts or government agencies. The other options do not fit this definition. A deposition refers to a witness's sworn testimony taken before a trial, and while it is an important legal procedure, it does not pertain to public records in the same sense as a certified copy. A contract is a private agreement between parties and is not inherently related to public records. Authentication generally pertains to verifying the legitimacy of documents or signatures but does not specifically denote a copy of a public record, making "certified copy" the correct term in this context.