Sworn translations
Translations that stand up in court
Legal translations that are certified by a sworn translator carry the same weight in court and with official authorities as the original document. discover legal has a team of sworn translators enabling us to certify any document we have translated.
We translate pleadings in cross-border legal disputes, evidence documents for submission in court, corporate law documents such as extracts from the commercial register, articles of association or bylaws for submission to German or foreign authorities, investment fund documentation such as offering memoranda, limited partnership agreements, etc. and of course annual financial statements and financial reports.
If you need certified legal translations of your deeds or company law documents, discover legal is your first port of call.
What is behind the term “certified translation” or “sworn translation”?
The terms are used interchangeably. Certified translations or sworn translations can only be issued by translators who have passed the official state exam and have been approved and sworn in by a public authority in Germany.
The oath they take obliges them to always translate conscientiously and faithfully to the original. They are also obliged to point out any irregularities in the document (deletions, handwritten notes, etc.).
A sworn translation is thus a legal document, which, if required, can be given additional validity by being legalised. Thus, when a translator certifies a translation, it simply confirms that the translation is correct and accurate and does not validate the authenticity of the original document. Depending on the purpose and origin of the document, the local or central registration office or a notary public are usually responsible for authenticating the original.
How to get a sworn translation
You send us a scan of the document which we then translate and certify. This certification confirms that the translation is complete and accurate.
For notarised extracts from the commercial register or certified copies, recipients sometimes require that the translation be firmly affixed to the original. Please always ensure you ask the recipient about the exact requirements in advance to avoid delays.
Legalisation
It is sometimes necessary to have a document issued in Germany legalised or apostilled in order to be able to use it abroad. This is an additional authentication of the signature.
Depending on the requirements of the institution where the document is to be presented, this may either be the signature on the document or the signature of the translator who prepared the certified translation.
Apostille
The apostille is a simplified form of legalisation for international document exchange and is valid in countries that are party to the Hague or Apostille Convention.
It confirms the authenticity of the signature on the document, the capacity in which the signatory has acted and, if any, the authenticity of seals and stamps on the document.
This may also confirm the signature and stamp of the translator or the person issuing the document, as required.