Hi everyone!
Today I decided to write a very special topic: certified legal translations. I recently talked about this in one of my favorite translation podcasts, “Translation Confessional”, and I’d like to expand on it.
Depending on where you live, they can be legal sworn translations, certified legal translations, certified translations… and I am sure there are many more names for them.
Essentially, we are talking about translations of legal documents that need to be done by a certified or sworn translator, who gives the translation legal validity. Usually, the translator signs and seals the translation, and the format is different.
Also, you need to know and understand all legal terms, since they are very specific and they can change from language to language, and from country to country. For example, a legal term used in Guatemala might not be used in Argentina.
This is why you need to understand who the client is, where the client is from and what use will they give to the document you are translating.
You also have to be familiar with legal documents like birth and death certificates, marriage and divorce certificates, visa applications, school transcripts (for applying to scholarships), and contracts, among others.
Sometimes the use of the word “certified” can lead to confusion. In some cases, certification involves a verification and authentication process involving a third party. For legal document translations, though, certified translations are simply translations that are validated with a statement from the translator that highlights their credentials in translating the document.
Translators themselves may be certified by an outside organization, but a certified translator doesn’t automatically produce certified translations. Regardless of whether a translator holds any certifications of their own, translations are certified simply through written documentation that attests to the accuracy of the translated legal document.
Also, most legal sworn or certified translators can only validate translations in their country of residence. You cannot validate a translation in another country unless you have gone through the process of getting certified or sworn there.
Thank you to Day Translations for sponsoring this special blog post. And if you want to find out more about the business services they offer, you can visit this website: https://www.daytranslations.com/business-services/
If you have any questions or more information about how legal translations are done where you live, feel free to live me a comment, I’d love to hear from you!
Until next time, take care and stay safe!
XX
Translation Expert 