What Exactly is a Certified Translation?
Preparing your legal documents might seem hard, but it doesn’t have to be.
Picture this: you just moved to the United States, and there’s a wall of legal requirements to figure out. Take a deep breath, and keep going – it gets easier. I’m here to answer the question, “What is a certified translation?”
When your documents are translated by a professional, you know they’re accurate word by word and complete.
That’s why I’m here – to make sure that you get everything squared away, just how you need it. I’ll explain the ins and outs of getting your documents translated so that you can move forward with your new life.
What is a certified translation?
When your translation is certified by a professional, that means that the translator is guaranteeing that the translated document is 100% correct.
Certified translations will:
- State that the document is complete and accurate word by word
- Identify what the document is, and which language it was translated from
- Explain the translator’s credentials and qualifications
- Show the translator’s name, signature, and date.
You can learn more about what is a certified translation from the
American Translators Association, but I will explain everything you need in this post.
How do you know if a translation is certified?
It will have a certification statement right on the translated document. Each certified translation is delivered with a certification of accuracy statement, and if your translation doesn’t include this statement, the translation is not certified.
Can anyone certify a translation?
Technically, yes. Anyone with translation qualifications (education, training, and experience) can certify a translated document.
If you try to submit a translation
without
the translator having professional studies in translation, whoever you’re submitting paperwork to might not accept it.
This is especially true for government paperwork – you really don’t want to get that wrong. It may be tempting to want to do your own translations, I don’t blame you. However, documents may get rejected by government agencies if they are not 100% accurate, word by word in the legal context that is needed. Plus, many agencies don’t accept documents translated by the owner, because there is a conflict of interest and it can be considered unethical.
That’s not always the case, but it does happen. At the end of the day, going to a translation service or professional will always be your best option.
Why do I need a certified translation?
You’ll need a certified translation whenever your most important documents need to be accurate word by word. So, for things like:
Government procedures
- Applying for a visa or Green Card
- Getting a driver’s license
- Claiming any public benefits
Legal proceedings
- Adoptions and divorce
- Going to court
Education
- Diplomas
- Transcripts
Whoever you’re submitting paperwork to (the court system, case workers, potential employers) will let you know when you need your documents to be translated and certified. Everything listed above is a pretty safe bet!
Does it need to be notarized, too?
Usually, no. Sometimes, though, whoever you are submitting your certified translation to will ask that it is notarized, and then you have another step to take.
If this is the case and your legal process requires a notarized translation, you must let your translator know from the beginning because only the person who translates your documents can ask for your documents to be notarized.
Do I need to get my document translated in person?
No, not at all! It is perfectly okay to get your certified translation online. It doesn’t matter where you are physically located. You can ask for your certified translations online.
In fact, this is usually much faster, especially when you are submitting the paperwork online as well. The online translated documents will still have the certification statement and everything else you need.
How much does a certified translation cost?
Every document is different! The cost of getting your certified translation depends on the kind of document you have.
Some documents have difficult vocabulary, complex content, or have different seals and stamps that need translation. Handwritten pages are more difficult to translate, and they’ll take longer.
So, the professional working with your documents will price the certified translation according to what you need. But you’ll always get the same result: a high-quality, 100% accurate word by word, guaranteed translation that won’t hold you back.
Get your certified translations with me, I’m here to help with my boutique translation services.
You already took the first step of learning what is a certified translation. Reading articles like this helps you make an informed decision about your next steps. Researching is half the battle, and it’s the best thing you can do to safeguard your future.
If you need a certified translation, my
translation services can help. I make translation services easy, and have years of experience with people just like you. I’m a boutique translation agency, meaning that I’m passionate about working 1:1 with people like you that want a personalized service and approach. When you work with me, you’ll work with a friendly face and someone you can talk to during your translation process, not a huge agency or support ticket where you get lost with doubts and emails about the process.
To start your journey, you can
upload your documents to my website, and request a custom quote. I’ll take a look at what you need and let you know what to do next.
Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll take it from here.
Welcome
I'm Araceli Patino. I was born and raised in Mexico City. As an immigrant myself, I know how it feels to be in a hurry to get your documents in order to finish any legal process you are going through. I'm passionate about building bridges that allow people to communicate.
Need a certified translation?
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