Legal Definitions - duplicate

Duplicate

In legal terms, a duplicate refers to a copy of a document or record that is produced by a reliable method and is considered to be as accurate and legally effective as the original. This means it can often be used in legal proceedings in place of the original, provided its authenticity is not disputed. It can also refer to an identical original document created at the same time as another, where both are equally valid.

• Example 1: Digital Scan of a Signed Contract

  Imagine a company signs a significant business contract on paper. To ensure easy access and secure storage, they create a high-resolution digital scan (a PDF file) of the fully executed document. This PDF is then stored on a secure server and shared with relevant teams.

  This digital scan serves as a duplicate. It was produced electronically, accurately reproduces all the terms, signatures, and details of the original paper document, and for most legal and business purposes, it carries the same weight and effect as the physical original. If the original paper contract were ever lost or damaged, this digital duplicate could often be presented as evidence in court.

• Example 2: Certified Copy of a Public Record

  When applying for a new driver's license, an individual might be asked to provide proof of identity, such as a birth certificate. Instead of presenting their original birth certificate, they submit a certified copy obtained from the state's vital records office.

  The certified copy is a duplicate. While it is not the very first document created at the time of birth, it is an official reproduction made by an authorized government agency. The certification attests to its accuracy and legal validity, making it legally equivalent to the original birth certificate for official purposes like identity verification.

• Example 3: Multiple Executed Lease Agreements

  A landlord and a tenant are finalizing a new apartment lease. Instead of signing one document and making a photocopy, they both sign two identical copies of the lease agreement simultaneously. Each party then keeps one of these signed copies.

  In this scenario, both signed documents are considered "duplicate originals." Neither is a copy of the other; rather, they are two equally valid, original legal instruments created at the same time, each carrying the full legal force of the agreement. Should a dispute arise, either document could be presented as the original lease.