afskriftur

Afskriftur is an Icelandic term for a copy or transcript of an original document. It is a reproduced version that preserves the essential contents of the source and is used where the original is unavailable, impractical to present, or needs to be kept as evidence or record.

Afskriftur can be issued for a wide range of documents, including civil registration records (such as birth, marriage, and death certificates), court decisions, contracts, land records, and archival records. The word is formed from af- meaning "off" or "from" and skrift meaning writing and is used in legal and administrative contexts.

In practice, an afskriftur may be certified as a true copy by the issuing authority or by a notary to attest its authenticity, or it may simply be a copy kept for reference. Distinctions between afskriftur and other terms, such as afrit, can vary by institution, but both refer to reproduced copies rather than the original document.

Access generally requires a request to the relevant authority or archive; identification and a fee are common, and many institutions offer online requests or email delivery, with copies supplied as paper prints or digital files.

Afskriftur plays a central role in administration, genealogy, and legal processes where original documents are not necessary or impractical.

See also: afrit, notary, and official records.