If you're getting certified mail or a certified letter then it could be for a number of reason.
Some common reasons you would be getting a certified letter are court summons, court papers, Jury Duty, Debtors and the IRS.
However individuals can send you certified letters and mail just like any business, government etc.
Anyone can send certified letters but they cost around $6.50 to send the certified letter.
Yes someone does have to sign for certified mail.
When someone sends you a certified letter or certified mail then the addressee of the certified letter must sign for the certified mail.
If the addressee is not available to sign for it then the letter will not be released.
Or if the person does not want to sign for the certified letter then they do not have to sign for it and it will be sent back to the person or whoever sent the certified letter.
Certified Letters are not always bad news.
However sometimes a summons, city letter etc can be sent through certified mail.
But just because you get a certified letter it does not mean that anything bad is happening is gonna happen.
Some people send certified letters when they want to ensure you get it.
I've had a friend who was trying to contact me and sent me a certified letter to ensure I got it.
But I've also had court summons, city code enforcement letters etc sent by certified mail.
If it is a legal document being sent by certified mail it's best you accept it as refusal to accept a certified letter can result in the Judge deciding against you.
But you don't have to legally sign for a certified letter if you do not want too.
Sending a letter through certified mail costs at around $6.50 per certified mail piece.
Some places may be a bit higher and some may be a bit lower but whenever I had to send a certified letter from my local post office it cost me $6.50
There's no guarantee that you'll get the letter to the recipient though even through certified mail.
But if someone does get the letter the addressee must be the one that signs for the certified letter to get it to them.
If no one signs for the certified letter then it will be sent back to you at no additional charge.