In Virginia, notaries public may certify copies of original documents with the exception of vital records belonging to the public.  These types of documents prohibited from being certified by a notary include birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage certificates.  Additionally, some notaries place their own restrictions on the types of documents that they are willing to certify.  In addition to what I am prohibited by law from certifying, I will also not certify copies of social security cards, most instances of passports and government issued IDs (including military ID), school records (unless the school is no longer in existence and there is no entity appointed record custodian), medical records, adoption decrees, divorce decrees, and most other documents that can be obtained from the clerk of courts.

In some cases, you can request notarization of a Copy Certification by Document Custodian.  This form is essentially where you photocopy the document and then you write and sign a statement attesting that you created a photocopy reproduction of an original document.  A notary would then notarize that statement.  You are responsible for drafting and completing that statement, however, I do have pre-printed statements available free of charge, under the condition that you acknowledge the general disclaimer that I cannot guarantee the legality or acceptability of said forms.

The primary difference is that a certified copy is when a notary attests that the copy was made by them or in their presence and is an exact duplication or photocopy of the original document.  The Copy Certification by Document Custodian is when a notary attests that you appeared before him/her and acknowledged signing the statement you made regarding the copy.  In this instance, the copy itself is not certified but there statement you made is.  Essentially, it’s a certified copy of a document versus a certified statement by the signer.

At no time can a notary guarantee that either a notarized certified copy or a certified statement attesting to a copy of a document will satisfy the requirements by the party to whom you are sending the notarized document.  It is your responsibility to contact that party and verify what their requirements are.