Are You Looking for a Certified Legal Translator?

Translating legal documents requires an especially high level of accuracy and knowledge.  Because of that, many individuals and legal representatives search for a “certified legal translator.”  While obtaining certified work is critical, searching for a certified translator is a bit confusing.  Here’s why:

1. There is no such thing as a “certified legal translator” in the United States. In other countries, there are legal processes in place to officially certify a translator who has successfully passed government-issued exams.  However, no such process or designation exists in the U.S.  In fact, anyone who conducts language translation services can deem himself or herself a “translator”.

The American Translators Association provides the profession with a code of ethics and industry-specific education.  Members of the ATA can achieve “certification.”  This certification within the ATA is a positive qualification, but does not make the person a “certified translator.”

Another type of certification a translator may have is a simple language skills certification.  These certifications can be achieved via a myriad of sources. Receiving a fluency certification is common for employment where bilingual skills are required.

In many legal situations, you may need to receive a “certification statement” showing that a translation can reasonably be relied upon as accurate and complete.  A professional translation company should be able to provide this to you.  Such a statement will include:

• • A statement of the translator’s qualifications,
  • A statement affirming the completeness and accuracy of the document,
  • Identification of the translated document and language, and
  • The translator’s name, signature, and date.

2. For legal translations, the best qualifications are those professional translators with language fluency AND in-depth knowledge or expertise in the legal work of both countries and cultures. In other words, if you’re handling a real estate deal in the U.S. for clients residing in China, you will be best served by choosing a professional translator with a background or experience in real estate work in the U.S. and China.
3. When your work is critical, contract your work through a professional translation company. These agencies have very high standards for ethics, accuracy, and timeliness as well as are committed to finding the best translator with the legal experience you need for the job.  They should know what type of “proof of accuracy” is required for the specific type of translation work you need.

When you have important documents, contact our team at The Perfect Translation.  We provide certified translation services for all types of needs such as immigration, business, real estate, financial, academic, legal, and medical.  We provide certification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for all immigration purposes including education enrollment and other government-type uses.  In fact, we offer a 100% acceptance guarantee that our certified translations will be accepted upon submission to the USCIS.  Contact us today for a free quote!