Documents can be certified by professionals or officials who are in trusted positions and recognized for such tasks. Common persons who can certify documents include solicitors or lawyers, notaries public, commissioners for oaths, bank officials, chartered accountants, doctors, dentists, ministers of religion, teachers or lecturers, social workers, police officers, members of parliament, local councillors, and justices of the peace. The exact acceptance of these certifiers depends on the requirements of the institution requesting the certification. It is important that the certifier is independent and not related to or living with the person whose document is being certified. The certification typically involves confirming that a photocopy is a true copy of the original document, signing, dating, and adding professional details on the copy. The list can vary slightly by jurisdiction, and for documents intended for international use, notaries public are often preferred or required for their internationally recognized status.