What is a certificate of mailing?

• A. A certificate issued by a post office on special request and for a small fee attesting the nature, destination, and date of mailing of a particular piece of mail.
• B. A receipt for certified mail that confirms delivery to the recipient.
• C. A general airline mail receipt.
• D. A form used to request expedited delivery for international mail.

Answer: (A)

A certificate of mailing is a post office document you can obtain on request for a small fee that proves a specific piece of mail was mailed. It attests to the nature of the item, where it was sent, and the date it was mailed. This serves as evidence that you sent something by a deadline, which can be crucial for deadlines in legal or administrative matters. It does not guarantee delivery or receipt of the item—that’s a separate service and would require other proof of delivery. This distinguishes it from a receipt for certified mail, which concerns proof of delivery, and from any forms used for airline or expedited international mail.