A certificate of merit is a statement from another medical professional that confirms that the plaintiff has a legitimate cause of action. In order to file a certificate of merit, an individual will need to have an expert, usually another physician, review the relevant medical records and certify that his or her health care provider strayed from accepted medical standard of care, which resulted in injury to the individual. The plaintiff's attorney will then file the certificate of merit, which confirms that the attorney has consulted with a medical expert and that the plaintiff's action has merit. The requirements for certificates of merit vary by state.