odpis

Odpis is a Polish term with several related meanings in legal, administrative and everyday language. In general use it can mean a reply or answer to a letter or inquiry. In official contexts it refers to a certified copy or extract of a public document, produced by a competent authority and used as evidence in administrative or legal procedures.

In bureaucratic practice an odpis may concern civil status records (for example birth, marriage or death certificates), land and mortgage register entries, court decisions and other public records. There are different forms of odpis, commonly described as a full copy (odpis zupełny) and a shortened copy (odpis skrócony). Such copies bear official seals and signatures to attest their authenticity and may be issued to persons who have a legitimate interest or legal need to obtain the document.

In genealogical and historical research, odpis copies are frequently used as verifiable sources for family history and legal histories. Access to odpis documents is typically governed by public access rules, and requests usually require formal application, identification, and, in some cases, a fee.

Summary: odpis can denote a written reply in everyday language, or a legally certified copy of a document issued by public authorities. The term covers various types of copies and extracts, serving administrative, evidentiary, and historical purposes.