Everything AboutCertified Mail

What it is, when to use it, and how to get tracking and proof of delivery without visiting the post office.

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What is Certified Mail?

Certified Mail® is a USPS service designed to create a paper trail for important documents. Unlike regular mail, it provides:

  • Proof of mailing with an acceptance timestamp
  • Real-time tracking throughout delivery
  • Signature required upon delivery
  • Delivery record stored by USPS

This makes it ideal for legal notices, disputes, and any correspondence where you need to prove when something was sent and whether it was received.

When to Use Certified Mail

Legal Notices

Demand letters, cease and desist, and formal legal communications that may need court documentation.

Debt Disputes

Validation letters and dispute documentation where timing and delivery proof matter under FDCPA.

Landlord-Tenant

Security deposit disputes, lease terminations, and eviction notices with clear paper trails.

Contracts & Cancellations

Time-sensitive notices where you need to prove the date something was mailed.

Signature vs Return Receipt

A common confusion: all certified mail requires a signature at delivery.

But if you want a copy of that signature for your records, you need the Return Receipt add-on.

Without return receipt, USPS records the signature but doesn't send it to you.

Learn more about return receipts
The Difference

Certified Mail®

Tracking + proof of mailing + signature collected (but not sent to you).

+ Return Receipt

Everything above, plus you get a copy of the signature (electronic PDF or physical card).

Frequently Asked Questions

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