a system and method for issuing insurance certificates through a web site using a single database of certificate information for both issuers and receivers of certificates . interfaces and features are provided for certificate holders , producers , insurers , and insured , and for parties who may receive large numbers of certificates . control and security features enable a certificate holder to obtain certificates directly from the disclosed web site in a manner that is consistent with information entered by a producer associated with the insured . the levels of security and control may be tailored to individual insured parties , and / or to specific types of coverage to be listed on the resulting certificates . producers may further indicate appropriate approval processes to be imposed on certificate requests for individual insured parties , and / or to specific types of coverage to be certified . the certificate information database maintained by the disclosed system is advantageously accessible to parties that are involved in either incoming or outgoing certificates .