If you have a document which is in a language other than your own or from a different legal system than your home country, you may need to have it translated. Espresso Translation have native speaking translators who work in more than 150 languages, many of whom have expertise in legal document translation.
What is legal document translation?
Legal document translation involves translating a document which is to be used for legal purposes from its source language to a different, target language. The translation of legal documents require the meaning and context of the text to remain the same to ensure that the translation can still be used for legal reasons.
Legal translators must be fluent in the original and target languages as well as understanding legal terminology and the legal systems of the source and target languages. This is why it is very important to choose a certified translation service with qualified legal translators such as Espresso Translations.
Who can translate legal documents?
As noted, important legal documents must be translated by individuals with the appropriate expertise, legal and linguistic. The following can carry out with accuracy legal translation of official documents:
Certified Translators
In the United Kingdom, most professional translators are certified. This means they are members of a professional body or association such as the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) or the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI). To be admitted to these institutions, the translator must pass their stringent admission requirements.
Professional Translators
For accuracy, legal translations must be carried out by a professional translator. Translating a legal text from one language to another requires high levels of accuracy as well as knowledge of legalese and legal concepts.
In the UK, only certified translators are recognised by HM Courts & Tribunals, UK Visas and Immigration, the Home Office and most public and government bodies. Therefore, professional translators must have accreditation before providing legal translation services.
Legal Translation Companies
For complete authentication of your official legal documents, the use of a legal translation company such as Espresso Translations is strongly recommended. We work to the highest standards, often dealing with sensitive data and confidential information. From immigration documents to witness statements, legal translation companies are the right choice. All of our legal translators are accredited and have more than five years of experience in the industry.
Notarized Translators
Many legal documents require a notarization. This is when the certified translator takes the translated documents to a notary public who adds their signature and stamp to them. This notarization doesn’t confirm the accuracy or completeness of the translation but confirms the identity of the translator along with their credentials.
What type of legal documents need translating?
The following legal documents often require translation:
- Contracts e.g. business, employment, property
- Identity documents such as birth certificate, passport or marriage certificate
- Documents related to a lawsuit or legal proceeding
- Witness statements and court documents
- Immigration paperwork
- Intellectual property documents
- Legal agreements
This is not an exhaustive list. In the UK, if any document must meet legal standards and is not in English, it will need to be professional translated.
Legal translation: what you need to know when translating legal documents
Any legal writing, document, text or file should be translated only by an accredited translator who has deep knowledge of the legal industry, its concepts and terminology. In fact, when translating from a foreign legal system into that of the UK, they need to understand the systems of both the source as well as the target language.
Checking the accuracy
For any translation of legal documents, accurate and faithful representation of the original is essential. All meaning, legal and linguistic must be precisely translated from the source document to the translation. There can be seriously legal implications and financial consequences for mistranslation, omissions or errors. This is why it is imperative to have professional language service providers such as Espresso Translations to work on your documents.
How to translate legal documents?
The following is a step-by-step process for translating your legal documents.
1. What documents do you need to translate?
Identify the type of legal documents, contracts, identity papers or immigration forms that you need to have translated. You will typically need the originals of these documents and they should be completely legible.
2. Get your official documents ready for translation
You will typically need the originals of these documents and they should be completely legible. Make sure you understand what type of translation certification is required by the requesting authority. It could be certified, sworn, notarized or legalised.
3. Find a translator for your documents and get a quote
Look for a professional translator or translation agency such as Espresso Translations that have specific legal translators with the right legal experience relating to your document type. This could be in business law, family law or international property purchase.
4. Choose a Certified Translation Provider
Ensure that the translator or translation company that you use is property certified. Espresso Translations has ISO 17100:2015 Certification for guaranteed quality assurance. Our professional legal translators have more than five experience in the translation industry and are native speakers of the target language. This adds another level of accuracy and experience to our translation service.
5. Review and submit the translations
When you have received your translated documents, review them carefully and check for any errors. The team at Espresso Translations offer multiple levels of quality control checks and up to 14 days of free alterations of the translated text.
Our Certified Legal Translations
The certified legal translation service provided by Espresso Translations is one of the best in the UK. We offer:
- Accredited and experienced translators
- Fast turnaround times without compromising quality
- Consistency across translations
- Competitively priced services
- Native speaking translators
- ISO 17100:2015 Certification
- Guarantees of confidentiality and data security
- Excellent reviews from established clients
Get in touch today via our contact form or by phone and enquire about our legal translation services.
Machine Translation Software
Machine translation software is available for many purposes. However, there are some situations where it should not be used, legal, medical or official translations, for example. The legal language used in many texts and files must be translated accurately and within the context of the whole document for the document to retain its legal relevance.
Machine translation doesn’t always pick up the nuances needed or the specificity of many terms used in these documents. For legal requirements, you should always use human translation by a certified and reputable translation company like Espresso Translations.
Tips for Legal Document Translation
For accurate translation of legal documents, affidavits, contracts and court papers there are some helpful tips for professional translators.
- Maintain the structure of the document in the translation.
- If in doubt about any aspect of the law contained in the document, consult a lawyer.
- When dealing with foreign legal systems source a reliable advisor for any points of law.
- Keep updated on all legal terms related to your field of legal specialization.
- Spend extra time proofreading your translations or get a colleague to proofread for you.
Legal Translation Documents: FAQs
The following are some of the more commonly asked questions about legal translation.
Can I translate legal documents myself?
Even if you have the knowledge, legal and linguistic, a translation done by a non-accredited translator will not be recognised in the UK. The translation must be accompanied by the correct certification which is not something you can do if you’re not a professional translator.
How do I know if a company is certified?
Most translation companies will have their accreditation on display on their website, official documents and advertisements. If you’re in doubt, just ask what their certifications are and what they are valid for.
I’m not sure what type of certification I need – what should I do?
In the UK, certified translations are accepted by most public bodies, government departments, private businesses and academic institutions. However, other countries may require sworn, notarized or legalized transitions. Check with the requesting authority if you’re not sure and get the confirmation in writing.
How much do your translations cost?
Espresso Translations offer certified translations from £30, sworn translations from £50, notarized and legalised translations from £90. All prices are plus VAT. Remember, each translation is different so the final cost is determined by the length of the document, the language pair, the complexity of the file, formatting required and the requested turnaround time. For a precise amount, request a free quote via our contact form.
What legal fields do you cover?
We cover a range of legal specialisations including criminal, family, commercial, labour, immigration, property, clinical negligence, civil and contract law among others. Get in touch and ask us about your particular legal need. We’re here to help.
