Art. 904 Self-authentication of copies of public documents

If a public document is considered automatically genuine under certain rules (like ones with official seals or signatures), then a copy of that document can also be treated as genuine. This works as long as the person in charge of keeping the original record, or someone else with the authority to do so, certifies that the copy is true and correct.

This means you don't always need the original document in court. A properly certified copy can be used instead, as long as the certification itself meets the same standards that would make the original document automatically trusted. This saves time and avoids the hassle of tracking down original records, since a certified copy carries the same legal weight.

In short, this rule lets courts accept certified copies of public records without requiring extra proof that the copy matches the original. The key is getting the right person, someone who has legal authority over that record, to certify it properly.