In a message dated 9/20/00 8:10:42 AM Pacific Daylight Time, Lou2538@aol.com writes: << Why do I want a certified copy? Do they both contain the same information? thanx, Lou >> Certified copies have the raised (embossed) seal and are the "official" certificates that you sometimes are required to use, like when obtaining a passport, etc. Plain copy is pretty much that...a photocopy, without the embossing. The death certificates that I've been receiving from Ohio are all stamped with "For Statistical Use Only" which has been a minor irritant, because they sometimes stamp over vital information. I've been able to get past that, though :-) They are both copies of the same document i.e. the original birth, marriage, or death document that the state has on file. Doris