Where can I get a “certified” document translation?  

Is it the same as a “legalized”, “sworn” or “authentic” translation?

In countries other than the United States, the terms “authentic” or “authenticated” is more common. Such as is the term “legalized (or sworn) translation”.

Here in the United States, the term we use in the industry is “Certified”. Meaning that you would obtain a “certified” translation, not an “authentic” translation.

Do you need the document for a legal proceeding or for something else? Your country may have specific rules regarding who can translate a document to be used as evidence in court.

I can answer the question as it relates legal documents for proceedings in the United States.

It is ultimately up to the Judge as to what he/she will accept. Here in the U.S. we do not have a list of interpreters and translators that are “exclusively” authorized to translate, but the list is merely a recommendation on the courts. Judges can, and VERY regularly do accept non-certified interpreters and translations.

However, do you really want to wait until the day of trial or evidentiary hearing, to find out that your key witness won’t be able to testify or that your incriminating email will not be admitted?

There are some things to take into consideration when selecting a good legal translation services company, and I go into detail in my response to another question, here.

I recommend you get a company that specializes in legal interpreting and translation and that can provide you with a “Certificate of Accuracy”, preferably one signed by a State or Federal Court Certified Interpreter, or alternatively, an American Translator Association Certified Translator.

Note that not all languages have certifications available. If you are trying to hire an interpreter/translator in a language that is not very common, you may have no choice but to hire someone that is not certified. That is when the services of a specialized translation company, such as ours, would come very handy. The company has a curated list of interpreters and translators to assist you.

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