When translating important documents for business or legal purposes, it may be necessary at times to certify the translation. Certified translations are frequently requested by government agencies and other organizations in order to assure a translated document is accurate and can stand up in a court of law.
Despite the growing need for certified translations, many individuals are still uncertain of how to certify a translation in the first place, what it is and what it entails.
How to Certify a Translation
To certify a translation, a certification statement must be written and signed by the original translator or another translation specialist attesting to the accuracy of the translated document. If the translation is certified by someone other than the original translator, the certification statement must specify this.
What Should Be in the Certification Statement?
A proper certification statement must include the following:
- A statement attesting to the accuracy of the translated document
- A statement regarding the qualifications of the translator
- Identification of the language the translated document is in
- The translator’s name, signature, and date
- Whether the certification was done by the original translator or a reviewer
Who Can Certify a Translated Document?
In the US, any qualified translator can certify a translation, however, by signing the certification statement, the translator or reviewer is making a legal statement regarding the accuracy of the documents and can, therefore, be held accountable for that accuracy in a court of law.
For an extra degree of assurance, it is recommended to use a professional translator for all your certified translation needs, especially when dealing with crucial documents.
What Types of Documents Require Certified Translations?
Many types of documents may require certified translations such as immigration paperwork, school transcripts, medical records, financial statements, diplomas, legal proceedings, and government-issued documents such as birth certificates and marriage licenses.
Some documents may also require that the certification be notarized for an extra degree of protection.
Choosing a Translation Service for Your Certified Translation
As mentioned above, when choosing a translation service for your certified translations it’s best to choose a team with a track record of quality performance, such as ABS Translations. We can also make the process simpler by offering notarized translation services. This is one of the many reasons ABS Translations has been the number one choice for translation services in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey area for over 20 years.