In most countries, including the United States, court proceedings are held in the language prevalent in the country or the specific jurisdiction. According to the Hague Service Convention, Article 5(3): “If the document is to be served under (Article 5), the Central Authority may require the document to be written in, or translated into, the […]
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Accurate Legal Translations: Why the Seemingly Simple is Actually Complex
For the casual observer, performing accurate legal translations may seem like a mundane activity: take a word from one language, convert it to the equivalent word in another language, and eventually, you’ll have a fully translated text. Literal translations like this may serve an occasional tourist well but do not illustrate the full scope of […]
Translating Idioms and Why You Need a Professional Translation Partner
It stands to reason that if human brains are relatively identical and human psychology from one culture to the next is similar at its core foundations, languages across borders should have very similar characteristics. To convert a text from one language to the next should be as easy as transforming the material word for word […]
Legal Translations of Adoption Documents
International adoption processes are complicated at best. Every country has different requirements, but one element you can count on is that it will require a long list of documentation. Most countries require documents to be submitted in their original version in your native language as well as being translated into the other country’s language. To […]
How Does a Bad Translation Impact the Immigration Process
For many people, immigrating to the United States represents an opportunity for freedom and personal achievement. The “American Dream” continues to attract people worldwide, and as of 2019, more than 44.9 million immigrants call the United States home. It may be shocking to viewers of mainstream media’s news outlets to learn that most immigrants are […]
Don’t Overlook SEC Translation Requirements
Publicly traded companies are highly regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The purpose of the SEC is to ensure all stockholders are provided true and accurate information about the company to make educated decisions about their investments, resulting in fair, orderly, and efficient markets. When foreign entities own companies, the SEC translation requirements […]
Growing a Business in China Requires Knowledge and Translation Expertise for Contracts
It can seem that the United States does not manufacture many products, as it can be challenging to find items marked as “Made in the USA” on store shelves. Yet, the United States exports a considerable amount of products, and at the top of the list is food, beverage, and feed at about $133 billion […]
Yet Another Reason You Shouldn’t Trust Your Legal Translation to Non-Professionals
If you’re tempted to send a contract to one of those mass translation services or do it yourself with automated software, you need to think twice. Your clients may hold you responsible for translation errors, and here’s why. As an attorney, you likely outsource many tasks to subcontractors. Doing so provides you with many benefits, […]
Are You Providing Your Employee Handbook Translated to Your Employee’s Native Language?
Employee handbooks contain critical policies for employee behavior and performance in your organization. However, those policies are only as good as your team members understand them. Non-English speaking employees or those with minimal understanding of the language will have difficulty understanding your expectations without an accurate translation, and legally the courts may not support your […]
Translation Requirements for Wills Written in a Foreign Language
Legal documents that require language translation are always challenging, but one that is often paired with heightened emotions is a last will and testament. When a person holding a foreign language passes away, it’s essential to translate the document accurately to ensure it is handled correctly by probate courts and all parties involved fully understand […]