Understanding Certified Translations

What Are Certified Translations?

Certified translations mean that a translator has added a statement to the translation they produced that ensures it is honestly authentic, accurate, and meets industry standards. Most of the time, the statement is made under oath and a notarization authorizes the identity of the person signing the statement. Certified translations include these statements so as to ensure that the client is receiving the most accurate and highest quality translation.

Various institutions require certified translations for the sake of validity. The type of certification that a document needs is dependent on a number of factors such as: geographic location, local laws, authenticity verifications, and stringent regulations within a particular industry. Many countries are very thorough when it comes to translations in order to find fake or forged documents.

Certificate of Accuracy

Basic certified translations must consist of many elements in order for it to be considered official. Certain documentation requires a notarized certificate of accuracy to be accepted in a legal proceeding. This certificate shows that the English or non-English translation of a foreign document is accurate.

A person who specializes in both languages has to sign his or her name. This signature affirms that each English translation is an accurate translation of the foreign language document. The person signing the certificate does not have to be the person who produced the translation. All that is required is that the signer be fluent in both languages, read both documents, and declare that each English translation is pinpoint accurate.

When Certified Translations are Important

Certified translations are important when it comes to different legal circumstances for court systems and government agencies due to the legal terminology in translations that use precise language. Many government agencies require a translation to be certified before they consider it valid. This requirement frequently occurs when it comes to immigration cases, international commercial litigation, divorce decrees, and government bids. This is the case because accurate translation is absolutely necessary when handling sensitive legal matters.

Most universities, colleges and credential evaluation firms require certified translations of diplomas or transcripts in order to be admitted. Business and corporations also use certified translations on a daily basis.

Certified translations are able to help verify a company’s financial reports, patent filings, legal documents and business agreements for all stakeholders. A stakeholder is a person or group that has an investment, share, or interest in something, as a business or industry. Lawyers are also in an industry that demand quality and certified translations for local court systems.

Examples of documents that typically need to be certified: