Translating Legal Documents: The Process

When is Legal Document Translation Required?

Legal document translation is required when official documents issued in one language require use in another. This will call for high-level, certified, legal and official translation services.

The most common need for translating foreign documents arises from people requiring overseas use of personal legal documents: for example, immigration purposes, family law, birth and death certificates, injury law or business and employment law.

Please get in touch with us if you need a professional translation, and we can discuss your options.

The Types of Document Translation Services

As already established, legal document translation services may need to be certified, legal and official. Yet, these categories can be further broken down depending on the level of legalisation required.

Certified Document Translation

Being the least formal option, certified translations are most commonly associated with legal documents required for use by non-government bodies. This type of translation can be carried out and certified for organisations such as schools, universities and insurance providers.

Also referred to as official translation, certified services cover the translation of documents such as marriage certificates, academic qualifications, household bills, power of attorney, contracts, official reports and transcripts, e.g. school and medical statements.

Sworn Document Translation

As the name suggests, a sworn translation calls for the translator to swear an oath before a Public Notary. This oath confirms that they did indeed complete the certified translation themselves.

Notarised Document Translation

Required by more formal government and legal bodies, notarised translation is more complex than certified and sworn translation services. The process of notarisation involves the translator attending a Public Notary and declaring in writing and oath that their document translation “is a true and honest translation.”

Once established, the notary will approve the translator’s identity and qualifications before providing the translation with a certified ‘notarised’ stamp.

You may need notarised document translation when you are establishing a new company or if you require the use of immigration or emigration application documents.

Legalisation or Apostille Document Translation

As with notarised document translation, legalisation or apostille services necessitate an original document coupled with its interlingual rendition.

To achieve an apostille certification stamp, the original document and translation itself will need to be processed by the Foreign Office and Commonwealth Office. Here, an additional copy will be issued to confirm that the notary was indeed in a position to give a document notarisation in the first place.

Although this process can be lengthy, this additional document means that “the authenticity of the document should not be contested.”

Although we have given examples of when to use the above translations, it is vital that when translating a legal document, you check what level of wording, certification and authentication is used when requesting any translation service. Such a high document translation and approval level are most commonly required for international papers regarding overseas marriage, adoption, visa and job applications. If you are in any doubt, get in touch, and one of our team will be able to guide you to your best option.

Why is Document Translation so important?

With 40% of our clients from the legal sector, we know how vital detailed document translation is; the slightest error in language, messaging or format can have serious consequences.

A certified translator can offer both businesses and individuals expert translation services to keep your message intact whilst using the correct local terminology and dialect to allow their processing. This level of localisation can make all the difference by allowing for easier, more human communication and contact.

Contact Kwintessential

As an ISO:17100 accredited translation agency, all Kwintessential work is inspected and cross-checked according to international standards. Alongside this, we also operate our stringent Quality Management Systems.

Our certified translations are used nationwide for legal, business and individual purposes. Please get in touch with us today to find out how our document and language translation services can help you.