Contract Translation Services
Espresso Translations offers high-quality contract translation services in more than 150 languages. Working for many years with legal documents, we are able to translate contracts of any type in a fast turnaround time and with the strictest confidentiality.



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Our Legal Contract Translation Services
At Espresso Translations, we provide our clients with the highest standards of translation expertise and legal knowledge for all kinds of contracts. Whether you have a business contract, work agreement or non-disclosure agreement, our team can translate your documents with accuracy, speed and attention to detail.
We understand the need for precision and how even the smallest change in terminology during translation can impact the content of a contract. That is why we assign each project to a translator with the appropriate legal expertise and background knowledge according to the specific requirements of your contract.
It is important to engage the services of a professional translation agency for any contract translation project. The contractual terms are legally binding and if the translation changes the meaning of any of these terms, the translated contract may be null and void or lead to a breach of contract.
By using native speakers of the target language who are fluent in the source language and have the necessary legal specialization, you can have confidence in the accuracy of your translated contract. We only use human translators who translate into their mother tongue thus guaranteeing an authentic and natural sounding translation.
In the United Kingdom, a certified translation will be accepted by all UK authorities but if you require a sworn, notarised or legalised translation, we can also provide those services.
Contract Type | Specify the type of contract (e.g., employment contract, sales contract, etc.) | Examples: Lease agreement, License agreement |
Languages | Source language and target language | Examples: Italian โ English, English โ Italian |
Terminology | Ensure specific legal terms are consistent and accurate | Creation of a glossary for key terms |
Structure | Ensure the contract structure meets the legal requirements of the target language | Examples: Paragraph numbering, formatting, and mandatory sections |
Accuracy | Verify the accuracy of the translation to avoid interpretative errors | Multiple quality checks, including review by legal experts |
Confidentiality | Ensure the confidentiality of the information contained within the contract | Use of non-disclosure agreements and data security measures |
Legal Compliance | Ensure the translated contract complies with local regulations | Verification with lawyers or legal experts for compliance in the relevant jurisdiction |
Terminological Consistency | Maintain terminological consistency throughout the document | Review for consistency with glossaries and corporate standards |
Tools Used | Software or CAT tools used to improve efficiency and consistency | Examples: SDL Trados, MemoQ, SmartCAT |
Final Review | Final review of the translated contract by a qualified reviewer | Review by translators and legal experts in the target language |
Importance of accurate translation of contracts
Espresso Translations have a wealth of experience translating contracts and other legally binding documents and understand the implications of an imprecise representation of a contract in another language. That is why we have a commitment to providing the highest standards of excellence when translating your contract and maintaining the meaning of each word in the proper legal context.
Translating contracts is not merely an exercise in linguistics but an important legal process. The terms of a contract are its essence and have integral meaning to the agreement between the two parties, therefore it is important that any translation is accurate and true.
Employment or working contracts are legally binding agreements between an employer and employee and set out the terms and conditions of that working relationship. When needed, it is important that a professional contract translation is carried out to protect both parties against any misunderstanding, misinterpretation or ambiguity.
The same applies to international business contracts, confidentiality agreements or NDAs all of which are a type of legal document. This type of translation requires an expert linguist with legal knowledge and experience of contracts so that all parties can understand the content and there are no discrepancies.
Espresso Translations has a global network of professional translators who work in more than 150 languages in a fast turnaround time, without ever compromising quality. We have extensive experience in translating contracts and other legal documents in many language combinations for commercial, personal, court or government use. You can trust us with translation of any official documents which will be carried out by an experienced translator and we guarantee that these translations will meet all regulatory requirements.
What is the legal translation of a contract?
While law firms and lawyers may draw up contracts, it is the work of translation companies to translate these documents. The responsibility for retaining the contract’s legal validity and original meaning, once translated, remains with the translator.
If a business is located in a country that is linguistically different to both parties, a translation into the local language may be required for the contract. Similarly, if the parties speak different languages, a legally valid translation for both will be required. It is imperative that both parties to a contract understand the terms of the agreement. This avoids any misunderstanding or unintentional breach of the contractual terms due to an error in translation.
Depending on the requirements of the requesting authority, the type of certification that accompanies a contract translation can differ. A certified translation requires a statement of truth, a sworn translation must have an affidavit attached, a legalised translation will have an apostille certificate and a notarised translation will be signed by a notary public. Espresso Translations can provide all of these translation services according to your needs.
Official contract translations
In common law countries such as the UK, a certified translation of contracts is accepted by all UK government departments and public authorities. A certified translation is accompanied by a statement of truth which attests that it is an accurate representation of the source document. This statement of truth is signed and stamped by the translator.
However, if one party of the contract is from a civil law country such as Spain, Italy or France, a sworn translation may be needed. Sworn translators will take an oath in front of a court or public official that asserts that the translation is a true and accurate representation of the original.
Notarised translations are signed by a notary public but this is purely to confirm the identity of the translator and does not seek to verify the accuracy or completeness of the translation. Legalised or apostille translations will typically be accepted in countries which are signatories to the Hague Convention.
Do contracts need to be translated?
There are often instances when a contract needs to be translated such as when doing business with a company abroad or leasing a property in another country. International transactions are often multilingual and in these situations, interpretation and translation requirements are a priority.ย
Whatever the contract, if you need to have it translated from the original language into another language, it is essential that you use legal translation services such as Espresso Translations. By using certified translators, the context of the document and its legal status will be maintained so that it is valid in both the source and target languages.
Contract translation requires the highest level of linguistic expertise, legal knowledge and attention to detail. This kind of translation work should only ever be done by those with experience translating legal documents and the qualifications to carry them out. Using machine translation programs will not give you an accurate translation and the document will not be accepted as a legal translation.
What are the different types of contracts translated?
There are numerous types of contracts, any of which may need to be translated. Whether they are technical in nature, relate to a simple agreement between two parties or are packed with legal terminology, it is vital that everyone involved understands the content and its implications.
Instances where contracts may need to be translated include:
- International or cross border business
- Companies expanding into foreign markets
- Property or equipment leases
- Sale agreements
- Employment contracts
- Licence agreements
- Insurance contracts
Espresso Translations works with international organisations, commercial businesses and individual clients. We approach each project with the same professionalism, personalised attention and high standards throughout the translation process.
Template for certified contacts translation
What is the process for translating contracts?
Translating contracts follows much the same process as other legal document translations.
- In the first instance, you request an instant quote via our online contact form. Through this you will provide us with the project brief, source and target languages, required delivery date and your contact details. Included in this form you will indicate which service you require e.g. certified translation, sworn translation, etc.
- You will receive a response to your request within an hour. If you accept the quotation, your dedicated account manager will locate the most appropriate translator for your project and send your brief to them.
- The translator will be a specialist in the subject matter of your contract e.g. a property lease, an employment contract or a non-disclosure agreement. They will be a native speaker of the target language and professionally fluent in the source language.
- Once your translation is complete, it will be sent to a second subject matter expert with the same linguistic qualifications to be proofread. Your dedicated account manager will then carry out final quality control checks to make sure the document is error-free and send it to you.
Where can I find the best contract translator near me?
Finding the best contract translator near you is not difficult as all of Espresso Translations language services are available online. Your file is sent to us digitally and when the translation is done, the completed paperwork, translation and certification is returned to you in the same way.
This makes the process much faster and allows large files to be sent instantly and securely. Of course, if you wish to have a hard copy of your translated documents, we can send them to you by post for a small fee.
Being an online service allows us to have a global network of fully qualified translators who can work with clients regardless of where they are in the world. We can match you with the most appropriate translator for your project and all communication with them is swift so your project manager can keep you updated on your contract translation.
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How much does a contract translation cost?
Certified translations, which are accepted by UK authorities and most common law countries, cost from ยฃ30 plus VAT. For civil law countries, a translated contract may need to be sworn and this costs from ยฃ50 plus VAT. Notarised or legalised (apostille) translations cost from ยฃ90 plus VAT due to the need for a third party.
The price that you pay for a contract translation will depend on several factors including:
- Length of the document
- Complexity of the language and terminology
- Contract specialisation
- Format requirements
- Rare or unusual languages
- Required turnaround time
- Hard copy needed
Espresso Translations offers a range of translation services with a clear per-word or per-page pricing policy. There are never any hidden fees or charges and the price in your quote is the price that you will pay.
The best way to understand how much your legal translation will cost is to request a free quote.
What do our customers say?
Our accredited translation agency is proud of its excellent customer service, which includes prompt support and comprehensive guidance from our project managers. Take a look at our client reviews:
Espresso Translations has demonstrated exceptional competence in translating our rental agreement. Their deep knowledge of international commercial law was reflected in an accurate and faithful translation that perfectly captured all the legal nuances. The customer service was excellent, with timely communications and great flexibility to accommodate our last-minute change requests. I will not hesitate to turn to Espresso Translations again for future contract translations.
โ Roberto Conti, Direttore Legale
The legal translation services offered by Espresso Translations exceeded my expectations with their impeccable legal terminology accuracy. Their attention to detail and deep knowledge of legal language made the translation of our company merger contract absolutely flawless. The team met tight deadlines, delivering a high-quality document that fully satisfied our lawyers and business partners. I highly recommend Espresso Translations for any type of legal translation.
โ Giulia Ferraro, CEO
How long does it take to translate a contract?
We offer 48-hour, 24-hour and same day delivery for all our language services. If you need documents translated at short notice we can also offer our express service. Our translators offer translations of the highest quality and speed without ever compromising the integrity of the translated document.
However, there are many variables which can determine the turnaround time for translating contracts. This includes how long the document is, the language pair, what specialisation or industry it relates to and the complexity of the language.
We understand that with contractual documents, time is of the essence and we will always work with you to meet any deadline or non-negotiable dates.
Our legal translators are used to dealing with international legal documents, registration paperwork for companies house or standard employment contracts so donโt hesitate to contact us for all your translation needs.
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