1.8 I was told I need certified or verified documents. What does that mean?

The VCF requires some documents to be certified or verified.  Union records, school records, and school transcripts should be sent directly from the union or school to the VCF by mail or email. 

If they are not sent directly to the VCF, they must be certified or verified.

How to certify or verify your documents:

• Documents that are sent directly to you from the union or school can be certified by the school or union employee who provides them. A document is “certified” when it is accompanied by a letter signed by the employee who provided the records. The letter must certify that the records are true and accurate, and contain the employee’s name, title, and contact information.
• Documents that are sent directly to your attorney from the union or school can be verified by your attorney. A document is “verified” when it is accompanied by a letter signed by an individual attorney (not a job title or the firm’s name) personally attesting that the records they are submitting to the VCF are accurate and unaltered copies of the records that their office received directly from the school, company, or organization. Documents can be verified only when they are received by the law firm directly from the source.