term:

Certificate

certificate n

1 a : a document containing a certified statement esp. as to the truth of something [a birth ]
b : a document certifying that a person has fulfilled the requirements of and may practice in a specified field [a teaching ]
2 : certification [the signature…constitutes a that the attorney or party has read the document "U.S. Code"]
3 : a document that is proof of ownership or indebtedness [stock s] [gold s]
[sər-ti-fi-kāt] vt -cat·ed
-cat·ing
: to testify or authorize by a certificate
;esp
: to recognize as having met special qualifications (as of a governmental agency or professional board) within a field see also certificated security at security
cer·tif·i·ca·to·ry [-kə-tȯr-ē]
adj

Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.